15S39 LCM Bypass Recall - Issue (?)

[gdmjoe]

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.
.

[RF Overlord]

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.
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:

[gdmjoe]

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."
Crown Victoria counterpart(s) .....

Owner's manual page 54
http://www.gdmjoe.com/gothvic/documents/wiper-activated-headlamps-owners-manual-p54.jpg
page 63
http://www.gdmjoe.com/gothvic/documents/wiper-activated-headlamps-owners-manual-p63.jpg
Order Guide
http://www.gdmjoe.com/gothvic/documents/wiper-activated-headlamps-order-guide.jpg


Apparently dealers are still as clueless as ever. :shake:
http://www.gdmjoe.com/nonono.gif
.

[kirk]

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.
.

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.

[gdmjoe]

kirk - Checked mine last night. Same issue. I hear the relay and the parking lights come on, but no headlights.
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.
.

[RF Overlord]

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...)

[GoldPanther]

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.

[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...

[04 Quicksilver]

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

[kirk]

'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...

With out a doubt! I've checked it 2-3 times.

[RF Overlord]

Cool...I feel righteously indignant now.

[stevengerard]

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

[gdmjoe]

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...
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.
.

[MyBlackBeasts]

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.
.

Ford needs to know this, their "repair" is FUBAR and going to end up with them getting sued... :shake:

[Mr. Man]

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.

[kirk]

Ford needs to know this, their "repair" is FUBAR ...

Which is why I have now notified them in writing by two different channels. We'll see where it goes.

[MENINBLK]

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...

[gdmjoe]

Mr. Man - Do the Marauder and the Crown Vic use the same system.
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.
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.
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.
.

[kirk]

However, FoMoCo should have issued an alert and/or warning to owners having the LCM bypass performed.


This is the issue that I'm chasing.

[ByronRACE]

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.

[RF Overlord]

Byron, are you referring to the autolamps function that turns the lights on when it gets dark, or the headlights-on-with-wipers function?

[Dragcity]

I thought that was a Canada only thing. The auto lamps with wipers on function. I never had that on my Marauder.

[gdmjoe]

Dragcity - I thought that was a Canada only thing. The auto lamps with wipers on function. I never had that on my Marauder.
Excerpted from the 2004 Mercury Marauder owner's manual (page # 38) ...


Driver Controls
.
.
.
Windshield wiper/washer features
The exterior lamps will turn on with the ignition on, Headlamp control in the Autolamp position and the windshield wipers are turned on.
.

(owner's manual) Don't have one -OR- would like a digital, searchable desktop document?
Owner's Manuals (https://owner.ford.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Owner/Page/OwnerGuidePageVehicleLookup&BackToLogin=Owner/Page/OwnerGuidePage&ord=49565539) ««« -click-
http://www.gdmjoe.com/icons/selectvehicle.jpg
» Select Your Year [ Choose One ]
» Select Your Make [ Choose One ]
» Select Your Model [ Choose One ]
» http://www.gdmjoe.com/icons/select-this-vehicle-50.jpg

[RF Overlord]

I never had that on my Marauder.Both my 2003 300A and Mary's (now SergntMac's) 2003 300B have it.

[Dragcity]

I know it never worked before. I just had Fastblack repair my LCM, and it works as advertised now. I have put 107,000 miles on this thing, drove it every day for it first four years. That function never worked on my Marauder. Dove it back and forth from Buffalo to Rochester in all sorts of weather. Always left my lights on auto. Lights never came on with wipers. Unless it was dark out, of course.

Funny, after 13 years and 107,000 miles, things are finally working right!

[gdmjoe]

Got a call-back from the dealership and the response from the FoMoCo HotLine is that the LCM bypass should not have affected the wiper activated headlamps feature and that a pin-point inspection of the LCM needs to be performed.

Dealership couldn't give me a time estimate to perform the inspection and suggested that I plan an early AM drop-off and a PM pick-up. *arg*

Left them with, "I'll get back to you."
.

[junior]

I have a feeling that this whole Recall was specifically for headlights. Anything else will be "So Sorry", "Bye". I have been a Ford man all my adulthood and recent experiences with their warranty repairs (and lack thereof) and the lack of quality personnel in their service dept. has me thinking bowtie..... Gawd I hate even saying that!

[fastblackmerc]

I feel for you guys...

[MyBlackBeasts]

I have a feeling that this whole Recall was specifically for headlights. Anything else will be "So Sorry", "Bye". I have been a Ford man all my adulthood and recent experiences with their warranty repairs (and lack thereof) and the lack of quality personnel in their service dept. has me thinking bowtie..... Gawd I hate even saying that!

GM is worse.

I'll never buy brand new GM ever again.

[gdmjoe]

kirk - Which is why I have now notified them in writing by two different channels. We'll see where it goes.
Have you received any response from your channels?
.

[kirk]

Have you received any response from your channels?
.

None :confused:

I got a survey from my service and complained about some issues other than the light function being lost (because I didn't know yet). They sent me another survey because of my complaints and it was on the second survey that I complained about the loss of function. Crickets since then.

I also wrote a letter to the dealership pointing out this loss of function since their service. More crickets.

Still waiting.

[RF Overlord]

Don't hold your breath. Since this kludge addresses the terms of the recall, no one will care whether you lost a non-safety-related function. Your dealer won't help because they're "just following orders". Ford wants to wash their hands of the Panther platform and hopes everyone buys new cars. (which of course will have OTHER problems)

[kirk]

Don't hold your breath. Since this kludge addresses the terms of the recall, no one will care whether you lost a non-safety-related function. Your dealer won't help because they're "just following orders". Ford wants to wash their hands of the Panther platform and hopes everyone buys new cars. (which of course will have OTHER problems)

Yep, that's pretty much the way I read it. There's more I could say, but not in a public place.

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

This function: Windshield wiper/washer features
The exterior lamps will turn on with the ignition on, Headlamp control in the Autolamp position and the windshield wipers are turned on..


This has never worked on my Marauder.
I'm on my third LCM.


Note: California has a headlight law with wipers on.

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

Send a letter to the NHTSA.


https://www.nhtsa.gov/




I also show no recalls on my Marauder

[alec2538]

I had my LCM replaced last year just by asking my local dealership. This was before the recall was official and it was still just a bulletin.

My "lights on with wipers" function works perfectly. I leave my lights in the autolamp position 100% of the time.

[MENINBLK]

I had my LCM replaced last year just by asking my local dealership. This was before the recall was official and it was still just a bulletin.

My "lights on with wipers" function works perfectly. I leave my lights in the autolamp position 100% of the time.

This is because you had a LCM Module installed, not a BYPASS Module ...
I repaired my own LCM years ago, before the recall and it has worked perfectly since then

[rkk]

Well it took awhile to confirm, (my MM is not my daily driver) but alas, the LCM bypass module did in fact break what everyone said, NO headlights just a relay click and dash lights on.

Oh and the parking lights were illuminated too, big frigging deal! :mad:

[1Marauder]

Had my son's CV HPP in for AC issue three weeks ago. They CHANGED MY LCM without my specific approval and without telling me until AFTER it was done. I asked which brand of LCM they installed--and they wouldn't tell me. I asked for the old LCM and they said I couldn't have it--that they needed to submit it for re-imbursement (this makes sense).


If it wasn't my son's 90,000 mile car I would have been more irate.


I will go out and check his car soon to see if the lights come on with Windshield wipers.

[fastblackmerc]

Had my son's CV HPP in for AC issue three weeks ago. They CHANGED MY LCM without my specific approval and without telling me until AFTER it was done. I asked which brand of LCM they installed--and they wouldn't tell me. I asked for the old LCM and they said I couldn't have it--that they needed to submit it for re-imbursement (this makes sense).


If it wasn't my son's 90,000 mile car I would have been more irate.


I will go out and check his car soon to see if the lights come on with Windshield wipers.

Bet they didn't install a new LCM. Check under the dash for new wires.