Zetec business - Upgrading to auto lights?

[Thom90]

Hi all,

after some advice please. I have had new cars for the past five years all fitted with auto lights. Have gone ‘back in time’ I am constantly forgetting to turn my lights on which is embarrassing if not dangerous.

I’ve bought an auto light switch from eBay (grand total of £15) and hope this may be plug and play however realise I’m missing auto dimming rear view and also rain sensitive wipers.

I do appear to have the rain sensor on my windscreen which I believe controls the auto lights. Should my new switch be plug and play? My hesitation is that I have what appears to be the rain sensor but no rain sensitive wiper and I also rear the auto dimming mirror may help to control the light system so may need this too?

[alanfp]

45 minutes ago, Thom90 said:

I do appear to have the rain sensor on my windscreen which I believe controls the auto lights.

I don't think it does. I think there's a separate sensor which detects ambient light level - nothing to do with if there's rain on the windscreen

46 minutes ago, Thom90 said:

Should my new switch be plug and play?

Doubt it - without the light sensor.

 

47 minutes ago, Thom90 said:

I have what appears to be the rain sensor but no rain sensitive wiper

I don't think Ford go to the expense of fitting a rain sensor if it doesn't have rain sensitive wipers.

 

48 minutes ago, Thom90 said:

I also rear the auto dimming mirror

Sorry - not clear what you mean.  Do you have an auto-dimming mirror?

[StephenFord]

50 minutes ago, Thom90 said:

... I am constantly forgetting to turn my lights on which is embarrassing if not dangerous...

 Honestly, the youth of today, the trials of having to use a button to turn your lights on LOL My god, how did I ever drive a car where you had to use a choke to start the car and turn it off when it warmed up. I'm amazed more people aren't killed having to press buttons on their car  How did us oldies ever survive to this age...

[Thom90]

20 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

 Honestly, the youth of today, the trials of having to use a button to turn your lights on LOL My god, how did I ever drive a car where you had to use a choke to start the car and turn it off when it warmed up. I'm amazed more people aren't killed having to press buttons on their car  How did us oldies ever survive to this age...

You see - I have had the luxury of semi-autonomous vehicles for these past years I’ve become increasingly reliant! Even my fairly mundane VW camper has auto lights, select and forget! I’d be harking back to around 2012 since I had to ‘remember’ to manually turn my lights on 😂 

[StephenFord]

11 minutes ago, Thom90 said:

You see - I have had the luxury of semi-autonomous vehicles for these past years I’ve become increasingly reliant! Even my fairly mundane VW camper has auto lights, select and forget! I’d be harking back to around 2012 since I had to ‘remember’ to manually turn my lights on 😂 

It's obviously an age thing. I had to rent a car a couple years back, a Renault Captur, it had auto lights, and auto wipers. I absolutely hated them. I like to be in control of a car when I'm driving it. That's one (!) reason I do not like EVs, you can't even turn the temperature up/down without going into a sub menu on an obscure touch screen, not idea;l when you're looking ahead at 70mph. Nothing wrong with a good old fashioned button, or rotary knob. LOL