Auto/Light Sensing Headlights

Mk3 Auto Headlights On A Budget

Background

If like me you fancy having auto headlights but dont want the huge expense of retrofitting the ford unit ( requires new windscreen & rear view mirror as well as the auto light/auto wiper system & wiring ) then the following may be worth a try as it should come in at under £10 for everything & require only the lower drivers dash panel, glovebox & windscreen vent grill on the dash removing to fit it.

The way that you fit it will be decided by how you want the lights to operate & the list of parts will be near enough the same for both methods ( probably a relay & some connection crimps extra for one method compared with the other.

Method 1

Daytime Running Sidelights & Auto Dipped Beam Headlights ( the method i went with )

Parts Required

Light Sensor Kit ( Maplins £6 ).

Soldering Iron & Solder.

Wire.

& the items from this guide too as this is an add-on to that system

Method

this is a quick diagram of the new Daytime running Light Circuit

Build the kit as the manual describes with just 2 minor changes :-

1. Instead of fitting the provided connection pins solder 2 wires direct to the circuit board ( 1 for the ground & will need a ring connection on it & the other needs looping round the the block connector to pickup the power from the running light relay - see later piccy )

2. fit the light sensor diode to a length of wire & not directly to the circuit board. ( i used about 30cm per wire & i had plenty to spare with the unit sat behind the glovebox )

you should end up with something like this thats ready for fitting to the car

the daytime running light relay powers both the circuit board & provides the feed that needs switching by the relay on the circuit, then when the switch activates at the desired level ( adjustable via the dial on the circuit board ) the relay completes the circuit to the fusebox & brings on the headlights.

the tiny light sensor can be placed wherever you want it to be placed to get the best function, i chose to fit it under the dashboard airvent grill in a similar position to the ford sunload sensor & so far it seems to have worked a treat ( its a begger to get a piccy of but you get the idea from the following piccy )

after final tweaking of the sensor circuit to get the desired activation level on a night you should ( hopefully ) not have to touch the headlight switch again.

Method 2

Auto Sidelights & Dipped Beam Headlights ( both systems lighting up together )

Parts Required

Light Sensor Kit ( Maplins £6 ).

Soldering Iron & Solder.

Addition Relay

Wire.

& the items from this guide too as this is an add-on to that system

Method

this is a quick diagram of the new Daytime running Light Circuit

Build the kit as the manual describes with just 2 minor changes :-

1. Instead of fitting the provided connection pins solder 2 wires direct to the circuit board ( 1 for the ground & will need a ring connection on it & the other needs looping round the the block connector to pickup the power from the Headlight Switch Wire - see later piccy )

2. fit the light sensor diode to a length of wire & not directly to the circuit board. ( i used about 30cm per wire & i had plenty to spare with the unit sat behind the glovebox )

you should end up with something like this thats ready for fitting to the car ( just ignore the connectors on the wires to the left of the piccy, they will differ on this setup )

the Headlight Switch powers both the circuit board & provides the feed that needs switching by the relay on the circuit, then when the switch activates at the desired level ( adjustable via the dial on the circuit board ) the switch then activates the addition relay & completes the circuit to the daytime running light relay & brings on the headlights.

the tiny light sensor can be placed wherever you want it to be placed to get the best function, i chose to fit it under the dashboard airvent grill in a similar position to the ford sunload sensor & so far it seems to have worked a treat ( its a begger to get a piccy of but you get the idea from the following piccy )

after final tweaking of the sensor circuit to get the desired activation level on a night you should ( hopefully ) not have to touch the headlight switch again.

Submitted by Compuwiz_uk