Auto headlights with auto wipers--do yours work?

[ScubaDadMiami]

We also had the storm effects for several days.  Both the wipers and headlights seemed to be working fine. 

 

I don't get why Ford only made the rear work automatically when going in reverse.  Sounds like something that needs changing.

[eruss]

I just returned from the dealer. I asked about this same thing. My headlights do not come on with the auto wipers. The service manager explained the special service message to me. I know he can not do any more until Ford comes up with a change or reprogram for this problem. We are required to have our lights on when the wipers are on. I can leave my switch in "auto" and the wipers will run intermittently or continuously on low or high speed as required. The lights should be on during this time. They are not.

I am going to contact Ford and see if they have worked on a fix for this.

I know the service message says this was done "by design", but why would you design it this way?  After all, we MUST have our lights on when the wipers are on.

[eruss]

I did send this to Ford by email. I went to  corporate.ford.com  and filled in the information on the web page. I will post when they reply. I hope I do get a reply soon.

[eruss]

I did not hear back from Ford and I don't think they will respond.

I'll check with Ohio about the law requiring headlights be turned on when the wipers are on.

[Bob999]

Because many state have a legal requirement to turn headlights on when wipers are on, and because the Manual supplied to CMAX owners says that headlights will be turned on when wipers operate (when auto wipers and auto headlights are set) I suspect that the failure of the car to operate as specified in the manual may be considered a safety defect by NHTSA.  You might want to consider filing a report with NHTSA.

 

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

 

I did not hear back from Ford and I don't think they will respond.

I'll check with Ohio about the law requiring headlights be turned on when the wipers are on.

[Mike]

Mine don't operate as the manual states either.  I took it to the dealer, who claims to have fixed it by reprogramming something-or-other, but it still doesn't work.

[eruss]

I just received my reply from Ford. This has been over a month now.

They might have missed the point as they wanted me to purchase a service manual!

My original complaint was sent to Ford on or about June 18. Today is July 25. I am encouraged that they did get back with me on this. I try to contact somebody that has info on the upcoming mileage reprogramming and see if the headlight issue was addressed.

 

I did check the Helm service manual site. I believe the 1996-2014 service manual DVD is $2495.00.

 

 

 

 

Hi Edward,

 

My name is Yvette and I am with Ford’s Customer Relationship Center.  I received your email inquiring about the head lights and auto wipers on your 2013 Ford C-Max.

 

I understand that your vehicle’s headlights do not come on with the auto wipers.  I am sorry for the inconvenience that this may had caused you.  I have looked into this matter for you.

 

To better assist you, I have escalated your inquiry to our Technical Subject Matter Expert.  As per workshop manual the headlights will only come on with the wipers if the headlights are set to auto.

 

You may refer to Shop Manuals for information on such topics as vehicle repair. By purchasing a time-based subscription you can get online access to Ford Shop Manuals through the Motorcraft website.  To purchase a hard copy of your vehicle's Shop Manual visit the Helm Website.

 

Online Access to Shop Manuals:

www.motorcraftservice.com

Purchase Hard Copies of Shop Manuals:

www.helminc.com

HELM Customer Service:

1-800-782-4356

 

Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company.

 

Yvette

Customer Relationship Center

Ford Motor Company

 

Sometimes e-mail communication does not allow us to gain additional information that may be helpful in responding to your inquiry. Should you feel that we have not adequately addressed your questions, please feel free to contact us via telephone at (800)392-3673 between the hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (Monday-Friday), 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Saturday).  Hearing-impaired callers with access to a TDD may contact 1-800-232-5952. Should you need it in the future, your reference number is CAS-2703254-Q1T2P5.

 

For online support visit us at www.owner.ford.com which contains answers to frequently asked questions and links to other key product and service information.

 

Ford Confidentiality:

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For security reasons, please do not submit any sensitive personally identifiable information, such as credit card numbers, driver license number, SSN, DOB, etc.  Thank you.

 
------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: Ford Motor Company - Contact Us (Generic)
 

Ford Motor Company

Main Topic: Vehicle Service Issues

Your Inquiry: I have an issue with auto headlamps and wipers. I will reprint a post I just made to a CMax Forum. C-MAX Hybrid Member Pip 1 posts 0 warning points My Age Group:61+ My Region:U.S. Great Lakes Region LocationOhio Current Vehicle:2013 CMax Hybrid Color:White Platinum Posted Today, 01:22 PM I just returned from the dealer. I asked about this same thing. My headlights do not come on with the auto wipers. The service manager explained the special service message to me. I know he can not do any more until Ford comes up with a change or reprogram for this problem. We are required to have our lights on when the wipers are on. I can leave my switch in "auto" and the wipers will run intermittently or continuously on low or high speed as required. The lights should be on during this time. They are not. I am going to contact Ford and see if they have worked on a fix for this. I know the service message says this was done "by design", but why would you design it this way? After all, we MUST have our lights on when the wipers are on. He checked the car over and verified they did work as designed. He provided me a copy of the Special Service Message. I said I would like to check into this some more and I would ask Ford about it. He provided the number to call. I thought Monday would not be the best day to call so this email. I would like the headlights to come on with the auto wipers. The owners manual does state that is how they work. Page 88: Note: If autolamps have been switched on in conjunction with autowipers, low beam headlamps will illuminate automatically when the rain sensor activates the windshield wipers continuously

[Arthur]

My automatic lights with wipers work fine, they need to be set at slow or fast and wait about 15 sec to light, they are not automatic with intermittent setting, but you can set them to slow and after the lights come on set them back to intermittent and they stay on. The computers light setting needs to be 'on'.

[Phil1336]

Too bad having your Daytime Running Lights enabled/activated for U.S. Spec Vehicles was so simple.  Unless ordered as a Fleet Purchase with a Valid "FIN" or a Vehicle being shipped North of the Border for Canadian Registration, as "Charlie Chan" used to say, "So Sorry".  DRL Option Code # 942 not available for Retail Sales, Fleet Only.  Makes sense to me!