15S39 LCM Bypass Recall - Issue (?)

gdmjoe

gdmjoe

Member
Recently had the LCM bypass done (May 25).

Has anyone else who has also had this performed notice that the "wiper activated headlamps" feature (introduced in the 2003 production year) no longer works?

e.g. when the wipers are activated ...
  • you can hear a LCM relay -click-.
  • the dash lights turn-on and illuminate.
    however ...
  • no exterior lights are automatically turned-on - headlights, corner lights, and taillights.
And, yes, they are operational -IF- the headlight control switch is turned to the -ON- position.

Stopped at the dealership service department today to pose the question, however, was greeted with ...
  • (wiper activated headlamps) wasn't a feature on that vehicle. *I explained that according to my experience being the original purchasing owner since 2002 -and- the 2003 order guide, this wasn't true.
  • there's no indication of others having the issue.
  • OK, we'll contact the Ford HotLine and get back to you.
.
 
gdmjoe said:
Stopped at the dealership service department today to pose the question, however, was greeted with ...
  • (wiper activated headlamps) wasn't a feature on that vehicle.
Click to expand...
From the owner's manual, page 50:

"Windshield wiper/washer features:

The exterior lamps will illuminate after 10–20 second delay when the
ignition is ON and the windshield wiper control is in the interval, LO or
HI position.
The lights will remain on for 30 seconds after the wipers are turned off."

Apparently dealers are still as clueless as ever. :shake:
 
RF Overlord - From the owner's manual, page 50:

"Windshield wiper/washer features:

The exterior lamps will illuminate after 10–20 second delay when the
ignition is ON and the windshield wiper control is in the interval, LO or
HI position.
The lights will remain on for 30 seconds after the wipers are turned off."
Click to expand...
Crown Victoria counterpart(s) .....

Owner's manual
  • page 54
    wiper-activated-headlamps-owners-manual-p54.jpg
  • page 63
    wiper-activated-headlamps-owners-manual-p63.jpg
Order Guide

  • wiper-activated-headlamps-order-guide.jpg

Apparently dealers are still as clueless as ever. :shake:
Click to expand...
nonono.gif

.
 
gdmjoe said:
Recently had the LCM bypass done (May 25).

Has anyone else who has also had this performed notice that the "wiper activated headlamps" feature (introduced in the 2003 production year) no longer works?

e.g. when the wipers are activated ...
  • you can hear a LCM relay -click-.
  • the dash lights turn-on and illuminate.
    however ...
  • no exterior lights are automatically turned-on - headlights, corner lights, and taillights.
And, yes, they are operational -IF- the headlight control switch is turned to the -ON- position.

Stopped at the dealership service department today to pose the question, however, was greeted with ...
  • (wiper activated headlamps) wasn't a feature on that vehicle. *I explained that according to my experience being the original purchasing owner since 2002 -and- the 2003 order guide, this wasn't true.
  • there's no indication of others having the issue.
  • OK, we'll contact the Ford HotLine and get back to you.
.
Click to expand...

Checked mine last night. Same issue. I hear the relay and the parking lights come on, but no headlights. I have already put something in writing to Ford in the form of a survey reply. I will likely send a letter to the dealer as well.
 
kirk - Checked mine last night. Same issue. I hear the relay and the parking lights come on, but no headlights.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the confirmation that mine wasn't an isolated fluke.

I have already put something in writing to Ford in the form of a survey reply. I will likely send a letter to the dealer as well.
Click to expand...
.
 
This could become an issue in states (like Massachusetts) where the law requires headlights to be on when the wipers are on. (Not that I agree with it...)
 
Omg I would be mad if they deleted that feature from me. It's one of the features I love.
They deleted the automated headlights on wipers, they really need to fix this.
 
'joe and kirk, have you confirmed that the headlights don't come on after the 10-20 second delay? Sorry, but I have to ask this before I can become even more indignant...
 
I had a Lincoln dealer do LCM repair a few weeks ago. Checked headlight/wiper issue today and mine seemed to work as they should.

BW
It's better to burn out than fade away
 
Just checked mine, lights in off position wipers on, lights do not go on. Also, they disabled my daytime driving lights. I'm hoping that was a separate module they didn't bother to plug in


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
RF Overlord - 'joe and kirk, have you confirmed that the headlights don't come on after the 10-20 second delay? Sorry, but I have to ask this before I can become even more indignant...
Click to expand...
ACK(nowledged) and -CONFIRMED- (several times).

Issue came to light (pun intended) this past Wednesday (Aug'02 - hadn't driven in the rain prior to that after having the LCM bypass done). Encountered a HEAVY down-pour while on a trip - sky darkened and a frog-drowner happened. Turned-on the wipers, heard the familiar LCM relay click and the dash lights came-on (all previously normal). The rain got so intense that the traffic stopped on the expressway. While waiting for the traffic to move (several minutes), it was then that I noticed that my headlights weren't being reflected on the rear of the vehicle ahead of me. Turned the headlight switch to the -ON- position and blow-and-lea-hold the headlights came-on. Turned the switch -OFF- and the headlights turned-off.

Once I got home I tested to be sure that the issue existed and was persistent - was sprinkling, started the vehicle and turned-on the wipers to 1st-click intermittent. After a few seconds there was a click from the LCM and the dash lights turned-on. Got out of the car and did a walk-around - no headlights, no cornerlights, no taillights were illuminated. Even turned-on the turnsignals to see if the cornering lights illuminated - nope. Turned the headlight switch to -ON- and all were functionally operational.
.
 
gdmjoe said:
ACK(nowledged) and -CONFIRMED- (several times).

Issue came to light (pun intended) this past Wednesday (Aug'02 - hadn't driven in the rain prior to that after having the LCM bypass done). Encountered a HEAVY down-pour while on a trip - sky darkened and a frog-drowner happened. Turned-on the wipers, heard the familiar LCM relay click and the dash lights came-on (all previously normal). The rain got so intense that the traffic stopped on the expressway. While waiting for the traffic to move (several minutes), it was then that I noticed that my headlights weren't being reflected on the rear of the vehicle ahead of me. Turned the headlight switch to the -ON- position and blow-and-lea-hold the headlights came-on. Turned the switch -OFF- and the headlights turned-off.

Once I got home I tested to be sure that the issue existed and was persistent - was sprinkling, started the vehicle and turned-on the wipers to 1st-click intermittent. After a few seconds there was a click from the LCM and the dash lights turned-on. Got out of the car and did a walk-around - no headlights, no cornerlights, no taillights were illuminated. Even turned-on the turnsignals to see if the cornering lights illuminated - nope. Turned the headlight switch to -ON- and all were functionally operational.
.
Click to expand...

Ford needs to know this, their "repair" is FUBAR and going to end up with them getting sued... :shake:
 
Do the Marauder and the Crown Vic use the same system. RF posted the lights will come on when the wiper switch is in the Intermittent, LO or HI positions. gdmjoe posted a page from the CV owners manual that says the feature works in the LO or HI positions. Slightly confused.

Personally never use the Auto feature anyway, Wipers on, Lights are on. Don't need a revenue stop.
 
This is why we stressed to most of you to have your LCM REPAIRED !!!
There are a number of members offering to REPAIR your LCM.
It is a simple REPAIR, we just replace all 4 relays.

The LCM BYPASS MODULE is a BYPASS MODULE, NOT an LCM MODULE...
It will NEVER Operate the same...
 
Mr. Man - Do the Marauder and the Crown Vic use the same system.
Click to expand...
Yes. Same LCM. Same signal switch. There is a difference in the headlight switch - the Crown Victoria does not have fog/running lights.

RF posted the lights will come on when the wiper switch is in the Intermittent, LO or HI positions. gdmjoe posted a page from the CV owners manual that says the feature works in the LO or HI positions. Slightly confused.
Click to expand...
It is a bit contradictory since the Autolamp control section (page 54) indicates ... "when the windshield wipers are activated" ...

15 years of past experience, however, had the wiper activated headlamps function any time, or position (intermittent, -LOW-, -HIGH-), that the wipers were turned-on. That is until the LCM bypass was done.

Personally never use the Auto feature anyway, Wipers on, Lights are on. Don't need a revenue stop.
Click to expand...
Understand and agree that manual intervention isn't a BFD. However, FoMoCo should have issued an alert and/or warning to owners having the LCM bypass performed.
.
 
My automatic headlight feature hasn't worked (at all) since the recall. It has been repaired TWICE because of this, automatic still doesn't work.
 
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