Day - Night light sensor replacement?

[Cancunbadlands]

It doesn't matter what mode your in its dark, the only way to get a bright screen is turn headlamp switch to O, its dark in Auto, Day and night, turn off headlamp to O and screen gets brighter in all modes.

Ah ok I got you now

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[a***h]

When this dimming occurs, are the headlights/tailights coming on in the daytime? I'm assuming they do, but I don't think you've mentioned it.

Yes, the headlights and other lights all come on as if it were night. The system thinks its night all of the time.

 

[Tbone289]

Yes, the headlights and other lights all come on as if it were night. The system thinks its night all of the time.

That settles it then. Wait in line to have the system diagnosed at the dealership under warranty. They'll likely need to replace the sensor as you suspect.

 

[a***h]

That settles it then. Wait in line to have the system diagnosed at the dealership under warranty. They'll likely need to replace the sensor as you suspect.

My problem is that I have very little confidence in my local Ford dealer service department. Don't ask me why I have that opinion. So I most likely will have to trouble shoot it myself and fix it, or live with it.

 

[Tbone289]

My problem is that I have very little confidence in my local Ford dealer service department. Don't ask me why I have that opinion. So I most likely will have to trouble shoot it myself and fix it, or live with it.

Yeah, I suffer that same dilemma, with good reason: history of poor service.

The problem with this type of thing is that there are no error codes (DTCs) to follow, so, logically you would replace the sensor yourself, but it could actually be something else such as the aforementioned connection. I would pull it out, check the connection, then if that's not it, replace the sensor. If that's doesn't fix the problem, I don't know what the next logical step would be other than the dealer.

 

[ScottyC]

My problem is that I have very little confidence in my local Ford dealer service department. Don't ask me why I have that opinion. So I most likely will have to trouble shoot it myself and fix it, or live with it.

So, if you have that little confidence in your local dealership - why would you buy it from them?

 

[a***h]

So, if you have that little confidence in your local dealership - why would you buy it from them?

I didn’t buy it from them, they didn’t have what I was looking for. That shouldn’t make any difference, because I’ve bought a lot of new vehicles from them. That’s why I know the service department quite well.

 

[a***h]

Yeah, I suffer that same dilemma, with good reason: history of poor service.

The problem with this type of thing is that there are no error codes (DTCs) to follow, so, logically you would replace the sensor yourself, but it could actually be something else such as the aforementioned connection. I would pull it out, check the connection, then if that's not it, replace the sensor. If that's doesn't fix the problem, I don't know what the next logical step would be other than the dealer.

I agree with you, You have laid out the logical approach and that’s what I plan to follow. Who knows, I might get lucky. The biggest problem I see is that this is not an isolated issue. This has affected many other people besides me. So it’s not likely a loose or broken wire.

 

[ScottyC]

I didn’t buy it from them, they didn’t have what I was looking for. That shouldn’t make any difference, because I’ve bought a lot of new vehicles from them. That’s why I know the service department quite well.

So, why not bring it back to where you bought it? I fully understand the whole "its a Ford warranty item" mantra about getting it fixed no matter where you bought it but I would think that the selling dealer might have a little more "iron in the fire" attitude when it comes to repair what they actually sold.

 

[a***h]

So, why not bring it back to where you bought it? I fully understand the whole "its a Ford warranty item" mantra about getting it fixed no matter where you bought it but I would think that the selling dealer might have a little more "iron in the fire" attitude when it comes to repair what they actually sold.

That is a possibility, but not until I’ve exhausted all other avenues. I don’t share your opinion that the selling dealer will be any better than my local dealer.

 

[ScottyC]

That is a possibility, but not until I’ve exhausted all other avenues. I don’t share your opinion that the selling dealer will be any better than my local dealer.

Not saying that at all, just making an observation that they may be a little more "motivated" to satisfy you as a customer than the dealer that you have such a low opinion of service wise that doesn't seem to be too all concerned with your business to slough you off for almost a month....

 

[El Kabong]

Methinks it's not only Ford service departments that are booked well in advance especially for electronics gremlins.

 

[WJOHNM]

Yes, the headlights and other lights all come on as if it were night. The system thinks its night all of the time.

If that's the case, the system thinks is always night why is this happening when in display mode is set in day mode and why when turning light switch to O for OFF does the screen and instrument cluster brighten up to where it should be, I think theres more to this than a sensor and why is the service dept telling me its normal and operating as designed, I have been driving 55 years and have had 3 mavericks the latest a 25 lariat they worked fine, well maybe not the 22 FX4 I had sync 3 had bugs but at least I could see it. I still say this is software and they dont have a fix for it and not in a big hurry to because there are not that many vehicles that have the problem.
If you have this problem call Ford and make a complaint don't live with it. 1-800 392-3673. If you start messing with it yourself there going to say you caused it.

 

[a***h]

If that's the case, the system thinks is always night why is this happening when in display mode is set in day mode and why when turning light switch to O for OFF does the screen and instrument cluster brighten up to where it should be, I think theres more to this than a sensor and why is the service dept telling me its normal and operating as designed, I have been driving 55 years and have had 3 mavericks the latest a 25 lariat they worked fine, well maybe not the 22 FX4 I had sync 3 had bugs but at least I could see it. I still say this is software and they dont have a fix for it and not in a big hurry to because there are not that many vehicles that have the problem.
If you have this problem call Ford and make a complaint don't live with it. 1-800 392-3673. If you start messing with it yourself there going to say you caused it.

This problem is exactly what a bad or disconnected day/night sensor would cause. However, I certainly don't know if that's what it really is. There are many possibilities here. I'll let the service department take a crack at it, and see where we go from there.

 

[WJOHNM]

This problem is exactly what a bad or disconnected day/night sensor would cause. However, I certainly don't know if that's what it really is. There are many possibilities here. I'll let the service department take a crack at it, and see where we go from there.

I hope they find the problem and please let me know if they do, I will bring that back to my dealer that says its normal even though they know its not, all you have to do is go to any 26 and see its not normal, am waiting for 1k than going in for oil change I usually change break-in oil at 2k than am going to speak to service manager and GM if necessary. Am sure they checked the sensor, after 2 trips to dealer I think that would be the first thing to check, I know they checked for all faults in system and for software updates none found, which means nothing, that's what brought them to the conclusion NO PROBLEM FOUND, SYSTEM WORKING AS DESIGNED. Please let me know what they find. Thank you

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