Hi I am new to all this mechanical stuff and want to find out if anyone has seen a video that helps you to replace the headlight/trunk switch panel mine is not working and I cannot afford a Mechanic so I bought a new switch online and need to find out how to replace it myself. My husband, before he passed away did all that sort of thing, now I have to learn how to do this stuff myself. So can anyone lead me to a video that will help me or at least tell me how to word it so I can find a youtube video about it? thanks for any and all help.

 

Because all vehicles are not the same, it is important to know your vehicle year of manufacture, model and any other info you can provide.
If you do not have a copy of the owner's manual, , a lot of info can be obtained from the vehicle identification number, VIN, located below the windshield inside on the drivers side.
That info is also contained on a sticker label on the door post ,pillar, on the inside driver's side door.
If you type in your vehicle year make, model , you can obtain loads of info that way also.

 

Before replacing anything, it is always a good idea to check the fuses that protect those functions.

If you cannot find which fuse, in your owner's manual, protects that function have someone do that for you before spending a lot of time and $$$ that may not be necessary.

 

2007 Ford five hundred SEL 6.0L sorry did not realize I had not put that in there thank you. ps the fuses were checked all of them and they are all fine.

 

1) Read my signature below
2) Attach a pic of that switch or panel or whatever here
3) What is not working, be specific (i.e. you can't turn on head light or you can't pop the trunk or what)

 

Make ford
Model five hundred
SEL
engine 3.0L
front wheel drive
Automatic trans
the headlights are supposed to come on automatically when you turn the key in ignition and turn off automatically also
I have to manually turn them on now My son told me it was just the switch, it needs to be replaced we checked all the fuses they are fine. and I am getting up there in age so do not always remember to turn stuff off. The autolight works for me, they are sending me the switch headlight/trunk assembly so need to find a video so I can learn to do this myself. thank you for working with me as I really have no clue yet about this stuff.

hope this helps

 

Because there MAY be more to this than a switch problem, could you please ask your son how it was determined to be the light sw ?

 

When autolamps are not turned on automatically can you check your license plate lamps are they ON or OFF?
Blindly throw random part at it doesn't help, if you must throw a part at it you would get the "light sensor" instead of the switch. The chance you have a bad switch is less than 10%.








As mentioned in Pinpoint-G's step 1 below, you will need a ford specific scanner like Foxwell NT510 Elite to retrieve the Ford's DTC. You can buy that on eBay (all free returns now), but keep it if you like it.
You will also need a multimeter to check resistance and voltage.


Locate C205 (headlamp switch) and C286 (autolamp sensor) from above location diagram.
How to remove the headlight switch panel, simply use plastic trim panel removal tool and pry the left side first, I'd pry between the center and the top, once you get it out a little, don't pull the tool out, instead you push it in slightly (1/4 inch) further, let it stays there, now you use another tool to pry the top between the left and the center. Your goal is to get the upper left to pop out first, then work on lower left.
How to check or remove the autolamp (sunload) sensor search the web first, you shouldn't need to remove the whole dash. Update, I found this link:
Here are the chances IMHO:
bad headlamp switch - 10%
bad autolamp sensor - 20%
bad wiring - 50%
A headlamp preference setting from your cluster - 20% (you will need to grab the owner manual and see how to set its preference, even you haven't manually changed it recently)

 

Thank you so much will get with my son he will understand all this stuff and can teach me what it means.

 

With a scanner you can diagnose this much quicker, without it you can tell your son to skip step 1 in pinpoint G pdf file. Do the easiest procedures first, like using a cloth to cover the sensor, and a flashlight toward the sensor, while testing the autolamp switch. Another thing you can try is to play around with the setting on the cluster and see what preference can be set on autolamp, you or your car's computer might have turned it off. Don't forget to check the license lamp (I mentioned previously), both head lamps and license lamp should be turned ON together when autolamp is functioning, this is mentioned in page 1 of pinpoint G. If only license lamp gets turned on automatically and not the head lamps, this indicates a wiring problem for sure. Then you will need to remove the headlight switch and check for open or closed circuits (instructions already provided previously)
Good thing is that light sensor is inexpensive around $30, so it might be better off to just throw this part at your car and take a try, and return it if it's not the culprit.
To test the light switch you will need a multimeter, but you can skip this procedure for now. Instructions already provided previously.
Automatic climate control relies on the same autolamp sensor, per the electrical wiring diagram shown above, so anything abnormal to your climate control?
Pinpoint-C attached below is to test or bench test just the autolamp sensor (C286).