[ianincheshire]

I've recently taken delivery of a Mk4 Focus Titanium 1.5 Ecoboost.

Does anyone know how to turn off the Auto headlamps ?

Even when the light switch is rotated to OFF, as soon as the ignition is turned back On it defaults back to Auto headlights.

I can't see any options in Vehicle settings or Driver Assist either!

I'd prefer not to have Auto headlamps on all the time. On dark cold mornings it's not good for the battery to have the headlamps go on immediately and then have to start the car. Much better to start it first and then turn on the headlights!.

I've only ever had one battery fail in the last 20 years and that was on a 2 yr old car that I'd used autolamps on.

 

[tellmah]

I've recently taken delivery of a Mk4 Focus Titanium 1.5 Ecoboost.

Does anyone know how to turn off the Auto headlamps ?

Even when the light switch is rotated to OFF, as soon as the ignition is turned back On it defaults back to Auto headlights.

I can't see any options in Vehicle settings or Driver Assist either!

I'd prefer not to have Auto headlamps on all the time. On dark cold mornings it's not good for the battery to have the headlamps go on immediately and then have to start the car. Much better to start it first and then turn on the headlights!.

I've only ever had one battery fail in the last 20 years and that was on a 2 yr old car that I'd used autolamps on.

I agree, it's a bloody nuisance. It does it on my 18 plate Fiesta Titanium. As to how to turn it off, I've been through the settings but can't see anything on mine, so i don't think yours is any different.

What i have noticed though, is as soon as i get in the car it has switched to auto, so i turn it off before i start it up. Bit of a pain really like the start / stop.

 

[TreborB]

Well that sounds really odd. I don't fancy that BUT

Is it more aimed as a safety feature so you can't drive off with no lights on?? (so many do drive with no lights on when they should be)

It does not say that in my Focus handbook, although I do have a MK 3.5.

I don't have auto lights on current driver but in the handbook it reads, and picture of switch, same as Mk 5 Mondeo I had.

Switch/round knob has 4 positions in Mk3 Focus and Mk5 Mondeo

Off

Sidelights

Side and Headlights

AUTO Lights

So, you get whatever you select on Mk3 Focus and Mk5 Mondeo

Ian, it won't harm the battery buy doing what it does.

If you leave the light switch on auto on other models the lights come straight on

 

[tellmah]

Well that sounds really odd. I don't fancy that BUT

Is it more aimed as a safety feature so you can't drive off with no lights on?? (so many do drive with no lights on when they should be)

It does not say that in my Focus handbook, although I do have a MK 3.5.

I don't have auto lights on current driver but in the handbook it reads, and picture of switch, same as Mk 5 Mondeo I had.

Switch/round knob has 4 positions in Mk3 Focus and Mk5 Mondeo

Off

Sidelights

Side and Headlights

AUTO Lights

So, you get whatever you select on Mk3 Focus and Mk5 Mondeo

Trevor, it could be a safety feature.

I think the reason they may see it a safety feature, is because when the DRL's are on the dash is lit up, so people assume that with the dash being illuminated that the front and rear light are on. I've seen many a car in the evening with just DRL's on.

I don't really see why the dash needs to be illuminated just because the DRL's are on. I suppose they've created their own problem by doing this.

 

[TreborB]

Yes, I have been having a think about it since I posted and, up to now, I have decided it is an absolutely brilliant addition to safety.

As you say, due to DRLs and dash being lit up we have thousands driving about with no correct lights on.

At least if they auto light up on start up a driver should actually know if they then turn them OFF

As a matter of interest, as they default to auto, do they still come on when you start up if ambient light conditions are bright enough for them not be legally required

 

[tellmah]

As a matter of interest, as they default to auto, do they still come on when you start up if ambient light conditions are bright enough for them not be legally required

I suppose that's down to the manufacturer as to what ambient light setting the sensor is set to.

If street lights are anything to go by, the time range could be quite wide.

I've noticed another way in which to tell on the Fiesta, the Sat Nav screen goes into night mode so I's much darker. Quite cool really, but as Ian pointed out your headlamps are on as soon as you press the ignition button as the engine is starting up, which is when you want minimum drain on the battery.

I'm going to Fords later today so I'll see if they can throw any light on this (no pun intended)

 

[TreborB]

Martin,

sorry, what I was trying to ask was, as they default to "auto" when you come out to the car and start it up in excellent daylight conditions do the lights still come on

It won't hurt for the lights to come on as you are starting the veh, so momentarily, nothing in it, especially with these high output uprated stop start batteries

 

[ianincheshire]

I don't have auto lights on current driver but in the handbook it reads, and picture of switch, same as Mk 5 Mondeo I had.

Switch/round knob has 4 positions in Mk3 Focus and Mk5 Mondeo

Off

Sidelights

Side and Headlights

AUTO Lights

So, you get whatever you select on Mk3 Focus and Mk5 Mondeo

Ian, it won't harm the battery buy doing what it does.

If you leave the light switch on auto on other models the lights come straight on

Trevor,

I have a Mk5 Mondeo(company car) and it's switch does have 4 positions as you say.

On the Mk4 Focus, whilst there are the same four positions shown on the bezel, the switch is a continuously rotatable switch and an led indicates the selected position i'e it's a 'soft' switch so the actual selected function can be changed when you turn on the ignition without the switch having moved.

As to the battery, I'm just going by empirical evidence. The first car I had with auto headlights killed it's battery in 2 yrs. Since then I've had a Mk4 and Mk5 Mondeo and have always switched off auto headlights and have had no battery problems. I just don't think it's good for a battery on a cold dark winters morning, to have to take the load of both headlights and starter motor. It's got to reduce it's life against just the load of the starter and then turning on the lights once the engine is running.

 

[TreborB]

Thanks for the info on how the switch works.

Don't worry Ian, just enjoy

You could, repeat could, be putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 5 re your thoughts on your battery prob.

In the 7 years I drove my Mondeo's the auto light setting was on auto for the whole of the 7 years so your 2 year prediction is not proveable, lol

Everybody I know never take their switches off the auto setting.

Now with the little baby I have at the moment I keep forgetting to turn my lights on!!

 

[ianincheshire]

Trevor,

You could well be right on my adding up. I just don't like the idea of being forced to have Auto lamps.

As a matter of interest, as they default to auto, do they still come on when you start up if ambient light conditions are bright enough for them not be legally required

I don't think they do come on if the light level is high enough. I was parked in front of the garage earlier today when testing and I'm fairly sure that the headlights didn't actually come on.

 

[tellmah]

Martin,

sorry, what I was trying to ask was, as they default to "auto" when you come out to the car and start it up in excellent daylight conditions do the lights still come on

It won't hurt for the lights to come on as you are starting the veh, so momentarily, nothing in it, especially with these high output uprated stop start batteries

Trevor, no they don't come on in good daylight so the light sensors do work.

Ian. I'm the same with the auto lamps, i always have them off, just like the auto wipers that some days have a life of their own.

 

[ianincheshire]

Martin,

What i have noticed though, is as soon as i get in the car it has switched to auto, so i turn it off before i start it up.

Ah! so does it show the selection and allow it to be changed as soon as the door is open i.e before the ignition is on ?

If so then I can do that, otherwise it's difficult since mine is also Keyless start!

 

[TreborB]

Hi Ian,

I can see where you are coming from and don't disagree.

These latest stop start battery specs should handle things fine.

I really hope you are right about the lights only auto coming on if the ambient light level is low.

If so, I think it is a brilliant move by Ford regarding safety.

It should mean that no one can drive away with no lights on when they should be ON

(Just need Ford, and any other manufacturer, to stop the touch screen from being useable if the veh is moving, and another great safety step forward would be achieved!!)

 

[tellmah]

Ian

Iv'e just found out,even turning the switch to DRL's only doesn't help, as soon as the engine starts it trips back to autolights bringing them on when It's dark.

Mine is keyless start too. :darn:

 

[alrat]

Yea, on MK4 as soon as you start the car, it defaults to auto lights and turns on dipped headlights immediately if it's dark. You can then turn them off, moving to DRLs only, but it doesn't get round the issue the OP (Ian) is concerned about.

I'd agree with TreborB though, modern batteries, especially start/stop certainly aren't going to be stressed by this. Have you tried pressing the max defrost button, now that scares me, everything is turned on, front heated screen, rear heated window, blowers on full, A/C comes on and cannot be turned off (until you turn off max defrost). All that with the auto headlights on too LOL.

 

[TreborB]

Ha ha, don't worry, just drive on and enjoy

 

[chriscatt]

Yea, on MK4 as soon as you start the car, it defaults to auto lights and turns on dipped headlights immediately if it's dark. You can then turn them off, moving to DRLs only, but it doesn't get round the issue the OP (Ian) is concerned about.

I'd agree with TreborB though, modern batteries, especially start/stop certainly aren't going to be stressed by this. Have you tried pressing the max defrost button, now that scares me, everything is turned on, front heated screen, rear heated window, blowers on full, A/C comes on and cannot be turned off (until you turn off max defrost). All that with the auto headlights on too LOL.

With the smart charging systems of these cars if the battery is at risk it can disable certain functions to preserve the ability of the battery to start the car.
I do all of the above, only drive short journey's of around 5-6 miles and I have a dashcam that is on when the car is parked.
Never once has the car failed me...

 

[davetcollection]

Auto Headlamps are part of the ENCAP crash score and cannot be permanently turned off.

Eventually all cars will have no light switch, like some motorbikes, just fog lamp switches.

This is to prevent (irresponsible people) who have DRLs fitted driving around at night with no rear lights on

 

[soprano54]

I've recently taken delivery of a Mk4 Focus Titanium 1.5 Ecoboost.

Does anyone know how to turn off the Auto headlamps ?

Even when the light switch is rotated to OFF, as soon as the ignition is turned back On it defaults back to Auto headlights.

I can't see any options in Vehicle settings or Driver Assist either!

I'd prefer not to have Auto headlamps on all the time. On dark cold mornings it's not good for the battery to have the headlamps go on immediately and then have to start the car. Much better to start it first and then turn on the headlights!.

I've only ever had one battery fail in the last 20 years and that was on a 2 yr old car that I'd used autolamps on.

I'm pretty sure if you go into the menu 'Vehicle Settings' you can turn off the autolamps there!

 

[TreborB]

Well, I hope you can't turn them off, it's a safety feature as stated above.

It's to stop people driving with no lights on when they should be on. which is a big problem these days when the instrument panel is illuminated irrespective of other lights and there is a half wit behind the wheel.

With todays modern technology it is not detrimental to the battery