Principles of Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mercury Sable and 2003 Ford Taurus. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The autolamp feature provides automatic control of the headlamps and park lamps. The automatic headlamps are activated when the driver selects autolamps and the ignition switch is in the RUN position. When the headlamp switch is placed in the autolamp position, the photocell and amplifier detects the light level outside of the vehicle, and in turn, will determine whether to turn the vehicles headlamps and parklamps off or on, respectively. The feature is deactivated when the driver turns the autolamp feature off or when the ignition switch is placed in the off or accessory position.

The autolamp feature will also delay turning off the headlamps and parklamps after the ignition is placed in the off or accessory position. The delay period for turning off the headlamps or parklamps is 20 seconds.