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Auto/Light Sensing Headlights
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 Overview Guide | |
| Ford Model: | Mondeo |
|---|---|
| Petrol/Diesel: | ???? |
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Contents
Mondeo 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.
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