Auto Headlamp Setting Problem

[Dad]

I just had the recall done last week or so, and just had this issue happen to me post recall. I sent a PM to the Ford Account on here and they are going to look into it. I will attach both videos below to see if maybe you experiencing the same issue as I am. If I physically turn off and on the lights, the one that is not fully lit up, will turn back on like nothing is wrong. But now it has happened to the driver side when it only happened before to passenger side.

PS, the hyperflashing issue is due to Ford Recall and the LED bulbs (rear). quite a few posts talking about that on here, plus solutions with FORSCAN if you want to turn off the notification yourself, or end up putting old bulb back in.

Many thanks for your response.
I replaced one of the incans I had in the affected light module (passenger side) with a Lasfit LED and the auto headlamp problem ceased to be a problem. I have the Lariat so I was still getting dash hyperflash. I figured it was just the issue with the recall & older Lasfits, but I decided to check it out and sure enough I had a bad Lasfit "bulb" on the driver side. Replaced with one of the incans I removed and no more hyperflash so far. Very weird, but will hold Lasfit responsible for burning out a light in less than a year.

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[redskins5]

I've had my Maverick for almost two years and have always kept the headlight switch in the Auto position without any issues . . . until recently, that is.
Now, the auto headlamp switch turns on all the proper lights except for the passenger side tail lights. Must be a burned out bulb, right? Except, both bulbs light up when the brake is applied. I replaced one of the bulbs thinking one burned out bulb might somehow be "influencing" the other one and because that seemed the simple path. No difference. If I start the truck with the headlight switch in auto, none of the rear passenger lights come on. If I turn the knob to "On", the lights work and if I turn the knob back to Auto, they stay on, but if I start the truck in auto mode, no lights in that passenger taillight. Clearly, a head scratcher. Was wondering if anyone else has experienced this issue or does it reek of 'take it to the dealer'?

Update: Decided to add this issue to my recall visit to local dealer. Dealer would not work on it because they said I had tapped into the factory wiring (added a dynamic hood light). Highly unlikely since I did that about a year ago and the switch issue is only a couple weeks old. They wanted to rewire the truck for $615. Seriously? No thanks. Did anyone bother to check the switch itself?
To clarify, two of my bulbs were incandescent and two were LED. I was trying to budget my bulb spending. Decided to go ahead and replace the remaining incans with the LasFit LED's and lo and behold, I no longer have the dead passenger side rear light issue. Go figure. However . . . now I'm getting hyperflash on my dash display, but the signal lights themselves are blinking at a normal rate. Looks like I traded one mystery for another.

Depending on the lasfit lights you have there waas a problem with a certain model of them and they are replacing for free contact lasfit

 

[24MavPuy]

I wish the light controller had an "off" position. I feel uneasy walking away with the lights on. I dislike many of the "auto" functions. More to fail.

I hit the lock button on my key fob when walking away and lights go out.

 

[Dad]

Depending on the lasfit lights you have there waas a problem with a certain model of them and they are replacing for free contact lasfit

My reply to a previous post might shed more light on this. Thank you for your response

I replaced one of the incans I had in the affected light module (passenger side) with a Lasfit LED and the auto headlamp problem ceased to be a problem. I have the Lariat so I was still getting dash hyperflash. I figured it was just the issue with the recall & older Lasfits, but I decided to check it out and sure enough I had a bad Lasfit "bulb" on the driver side. Replaced with one of the incans I removed and no more hyperflash so far. Very weird, but will hold Lasfit responsible for burning out a light in less than a year.

 

[Art Vandelay]

I'm having the same issue with my 2023 Lariat. About a week ago I was leaving the house at night and my wife was outside with the dog when I left. She called to tell me that my lights weren't on and I knew they were because the headlight setting always defaults to the "Auto" setting and the indicator for the headlight indicator on the dashboard was on. So I got out of the truck and sure enough no taillights but the headlights were definitely on. I switched the Headlight switch to the "On" position and the the taillights came on and they stayed on when I switched it back to "Auto".

Now in the past week every time I use the vehicle at night I get out after starting it and make sure they are on. Sometimes both are out, sometimes only passenger side out and sometimes they are both on and working correctly. When one or both are out I can always force them on by turning the headlight switch to "On".

Yesterday I was starting to wonder if this is part of the reason we have seen so many Maverick's get rear ended. Because if my wife wasn't outside with the dog that night I would have never known that my taillights weren't always turning on when I drive at after dark.

I have an appointment at the dealership tomorrow for the never ending deep sleep issue so I'll definitely be sure to bring up this issue as well. They need to figure it out because this is a very dangerous issue.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Does anyone know where the sensor is for the automatic headlights? Of course the dealership is saying they can't duplicate the problem with my taillights. It's daylight now so I want to go there and cover the senor so the auto headlights turn on and then I'll see if I can duplicate the problem for them.

 

[Eagle11]

Does anyone know where the sensor is for the automatic headlights? Of course the dealership is saying they can't duplicate the problem with my taillights. It's daylight now so I want to go there and cover the senor so the auto headlights turn on and then I'll see if I can duplicate the problem for them.

Do a video, then show them, then explain it's their issue.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Do a video, then show them, then explain it's their issue.

I have a few videos of it on my phone and I showed it to the tech when I dropped it off this morning. I explained it all in detail and they still are coming back now and saying they can't duplicate the problem.

 

[Dad]

I'm having the same issue with my 2023 Lariat. About a week ago I was leaving the house at night and my wife was outside with the dog when I left. She called to tell me that my lights weren't on and I knew they were because the headlight setting always defaults to the "Auto" setting and the indicator for the headlight indicator on the dashboard was on. So I got out of the truck and sure enough no taillights but the headlights were definitely on. I switched the Headlight switch to the "On" position and the the taillights came on and they stayed on when I switched it back to "Auto".

Now in the past week every time I use the vehicle at night I get out after starting it and make sure they are on. Sometimes both are out, sometimes only passenger side out and sometimes they are both on and working correctly. When one or both are out I can always force them on by turning the headlight switch to "On".

Yesterday I was starting to wonder if this is part of the reason we have seen so many Maverick's get rear ended. Because if my wife wasn't outside with the dog that night I would have never known that my taillights weren't always turning on when I drive at after dark.

I have an appointment at the dealership tomorrow for the never ending deep sleep issue so I'll definitely be sure to bring up this issue as well. They need to figure it out because this is a very dangerous issue.

Thank you for the post. I posted my "fix" in an earlier comment, but I think it has to do with a bad bulb on that side. I know, I know, they light up fine when in manual on mode, but I'm thinking a bulb is deteriorating somehow and when I replaced it, the problem stopped. My dealer had no clue about taking the most obvious route and wanted big bucks to rewire the truck. Try replacing them (incans or LED's doesn't matter for this test) and see if that works. Please let me know.

 

[Dad]

I posted this on another page, see attached, but mine is similar problems to you. hope its the software update thing that will fix it. have you had it looked at yet?

Got it fixed. So simple I couldn't believe why I overlooked the easiest troubleshoot solution. I finally got the "brilliant" idea of changing out the bulbs anyway even though they seemed to be ok after using the manual lamp on/off. Problem solved. I'm guessing one of the bulbs became defective over time and somehow that affected the auto lamp setting. This simple solution also escaped Ford when I brought it to the attention of the dealer. They wouldn't honor my warranty because I had tapped into factory wiring (See Cheap DRL thread) and wanted $615 to re-wire the truck. Seriously?

 

[Eagle11]

I have a few videos of it on my phone and I showed it to the tech when I dropped it off this morning. I explained it all in detail and they still are coming back now and saying they can't duplicate the problem.

it stheir way of getting out of keeping your truck until it's dark out, welcome to the new Automotive world. I would escalate it with the factory rep.

 

[Dad]

it stheir way of getting out of keeping your truck until it's dark out, welcome to the new Automotive world. I would escalate it with the factory rep.

As I stated in this thread, I don't think this is a dealer fix-it. I changed out the bulbs and no longer have this problem.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Going to sound stupid, but pull the bulb, turn it 180 degrees and re-insert it. See if that corrects the issue. My driver side had one bulb do the same thing after switching to Lasfit LEDs, turned the stinker 180 degrees and now it lights on the auto setting.

Mine also had the same symptom with the lock/unlock via the remote, where it wouldn't light, but WOULD momentarily flash bright (brake light), just didn't remain on afterwards with the other side in running light mode.

Turning led bulb is not stupid. Led filaments are pos-neg sensitive. Current only passes in one direction.

 

[Art Vandelay]

As I stated in this thread, I don't think this is a dealer fix-it. I changed out the bulbs and no longer have this problem.

That doesn't make sense though, or at least not in my case. When my taillights don't work when I start the truck and I then turn the headlight switch to "On" it results in the taillights coming on. Even if I change the headlight switch back to "Auto" they still stay on. So basically when one or both are out I can always force them on by turning the headlight switch to "On".

 

[dusty1787]

As I stated in this thread, I don't think this is a dealer fix-it. I changed out the bulbs and no longer have this problem.

How long have you been driving it since swapping out the bulbs? My issue with the videos I posted happens maybe 1-2 times a month (with normal 5 days a week driving around town/work/etc). If you swapped them out and 1 day later it still is working... would make me a little skeptical, but if this has been a decent amount of time now, would help me think that the LASFIT bulbs and Lariat are not friends yet....and hopefully LASFIT will create bulbs that work for the Lariat in all aspects.

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