Questions and Answers

Chrysler LHS Automatic Headlights Q. I noticed that when the headlight switch is in the Automatic mode, that the headlights are always on and the instrument lights reduced to the night time level, regardless of whether it's day or night. I'm assuming that this has something to do with the sun sensor located on the center of the dash up next to the windshield.

I've taken a clean dry rag and tried to wipe the sensor to make sure it wasn't dirty and that didn't help. Is there anything else I that I can check and if it is indeed a faulty sun sensor, how difficult is it to replace?

• 1997 Chrysler LHS
• 3.5 liter V-6
• Automatic transmission
• 106,000 miles
• Fuel Injection
• ABS brakes
• P/S, A/C, Cruise control
• Rack and pinion steering

Thank you for any assistance and for all of your useful tips and advice.
Sincerely,
Shane

A. I'll be honest with you, I have never seen a sun load sensor go bad. There are no moving parts and it is, basically, just a solar cell. I would think it far more likely a bad headlight switch, Body Control Module (BCM) or Headlight Time Delay Relay. And this being a Chrysler and knowing the history of their BCMs, I would say that is the most likely of all.

It is easy enough to check. First unplug the headlight switch. If the lights go off, you have a bad headlight switch. Then with the key off, unplug the BCM. If the lights go off, you have a bad BCM. Same thing with the Headlight Time Delay Relay.