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Car Forum / Chrysler Cars / September 2004

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Upgrade to Automatic Headlights?

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Rich Heimlich - 31 Aug 2004 22:23 GMT
I have a 2002 Town and Country LXi and the one feature it's missing
that I want that the Limited has is automatic headlights.

Is it possible to install the Limited automatic headlight feature into
the LXi?
Kevin - 01 Sep 2004 03:16 GMT
I'm trying to do the same thing. I have a 2003 LX,  and it looks like the
two pieces needed (per the FSM) light sensor and the auto headlight switch .
So far I got the light sensor with the auto dimming mirror on e-bay but have
yet to come a cross a headlight switch.

Kevin

> I have a 2002 Town and Country LXi and the one feature it's missing
> that I want that the Limited has is automatic headlights.
>
> Is it possible to install the Limited automatic headlight feature into
> the LXi?
Rich Heimlich - 01 Sep 2004 06:34 GMT
>I'm trying to do the same thing. I have a 2003 LX,  and it looks like the
>two pieces needed (per the FSM) light sensor and the auto headlight switch .
>So far I got the light sensor with the auto dimming mirror on e-bay but have
>yet to come a cross a headlight switch.

Great! I assume you're talking about the switch on the Limited that
lets you turn one more setting to Auto, correct? If so, I can't
imagine that piece costing too much to buy from a dealer, then again,
it's certainly possible.

I don't own the FSM. Where does the light sensor go and does it look
easy to install?
Kevin - 02 Sep 2004 01:18 GMT
I haven't checked the dealer yet, but it's not just the switch it looks to
be an assembly with the remote mirror control also.

> >I'm trying to do the same thing. I have a 2003 LX,  and it looks like the
> >two pieces needed (per the FSM) light sensor and the auto headlight switch .
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> I don't own the FSM. Where does the light sensor go and does it look
> easy to install?
Rich Heimlich - 02 Sep 2004 02:48 GMT
>I haven't checked the dealer yet, but it's not just the switch it looks to
>be an assembly with the remote mirror control also.

Hmm, I already have power mirrors.
James C. Reeves - 02 Sep 2004 02:42 GMT
|I have a 2002 Town and Country LXi and the one feature it's missing
| that I want that the Limited has is automatic headlights.
|
| Is it possible to install the Limited automatic headlight feature into
| the LXi?

Just so you realize that typically in daytime fog, snow, smoke (and sometimes
rain) situations you will very likely still need to turn your headlights on
with the manual switch.  The "auto" feature is extremely unreliable at applying
the proper vehicle lighting (or legally required lighting in some states) under
those situations.  It's only reliable for night use.  In Maryland, vehicle
lights are required when sight distance falls below 1000 feet.  A "auto" system
doesn't exist that can know when that situation occurs or can apply different
laws when driven in different jurisdictions.  Lesson?  Don't come to rely on
_any_ "auto" light control for all situations when lights should be on.
Rich Heimlich - 02 Sep 2004 02:49 GMT
>Just so you realize that typically in daytime fog, snow, smoke (and sometimes
>rain) situations you will very likely still need to turn your headlights on
>with the manual switch.  The "auto" feature is extremely unreliable at applying

Absolutely. The main reason I want it is for them to just turn off on
their own when I turn off the vehicle. I hate the stupid beep telling
me they're still on. Just turn them off! <grin> They're also handy
when going through tunnels and such.
Kevin - 03 Sep 2004 02:34 GMT
I had this feature in my Chevy Venture and I just loved it. Pull into a
parking ramp or tunnel and the lights were on before I needed them and off
as soon as it didn't. I do like the Chrysler version better with the option
of auto, manual on  and manual off.

KS

> |I have a 2002 Town and Country LXi and the one feature it's missing
> | that I want that the Limited has is automatic headlights.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> laws when driven in different jurisdictions.  Lesson?  Don't come to rely on
> _any_ "auto" light control for all situations when lights should be on.
James C. Reeves - 03 Sep 2004 18:06 GMT
Interesting...the GM's I've driven usually have about a 8-10 second on delay
and a 20-30 second off delay (some are adjustable).  So, in my case, I turn the
lights on manually while entering a parking garage several seconds before any
"auto" system does that I've driven.  But, whatever.

The larger issue with "auto" systems is that for a seemingly significant
percentage of the driving population it seems to train them to no longer think
about this important safety device.  Since it's called "auto" (short for
automatic), they believe it really is automatic thus they never have to do
anything (which is very wrong).  At best it's nothing more than a ambient
control system...only reliable for night use and nothing else...so is far from
being truly automatic.

I agree, the Chrysler implementation is much preferred over the GM
implementation.  It gives the lighting control choice to the vehicle's operator
who best knows what works best for them.

|I had this feature in my Chevy Venture and I just loved it. Pull into a
| parking ramp or tunnel and the lights were on before I needed them and off
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
| on
| > _any_ "auto" light control for all situations when lights should be on.
 
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