[Rdkeith99]

On new 2018 F150 Diesel Lariat that we have owned since June 2019 does this truck have the headlight auto-dimming option? I have never been able to get into auto-dimming mode if it has such a thing. Headlight switch stays in the "auto" position where headlights do go on as needed for the available light. However I have to switch between high-beam and low-beams manually using the stalk, won't dim when meeting an on-coming vehicle.
There are two reasons I think this truck should have this feature:
(1) From reading the user manual it reads (to me) that it should be on there.
(2) I drove a 2019 F150 XLT for 2 months and that truck did have that feature and I found it really handy by not having to remember to dim headlights. It worked great. On that truck I could turn the headlight auto-dimming feature on and off by pressing the stalk forward. When the auto-dimming was enabled the setting "stuck" so that it was there even after shutting truck off and later restarting. Also, on that truck there was an icon (white circle with an 'A' inside it) that came on when auto-dimming was enabled.
My 2018 F150 Lariat doesn't seem to have or do any of this. Surely this would be a feature on the Lariat if the XLT has it, certainly the manual seems to indicate that.
I asked the Ford dealer about this but they weren't sure, they thought it wasn't on there (this just doesn't seem right to me). I'm trying to find out if it has this feature or not. If not, that's ok, I can live with that. If this feature is on there then I need to find why it isn't working. I would appreciate any help anyone could give. Thanks!

 

[BriGuy]

My 2018 has this feature. It drove me crazy so I turned it off right away, but there is a toggle in in the instrument panel menu somewhere to turn it on or off.

 

[ScotsSkier]

IMHO this is one of the most convenient features!.. It is activated within the instrument panel. It should be there on a lariat (unless it is lariat trim level dependent?). Certainly the 502A has always had it.

BTW, I thought the white circle with an A was auto start/stop....??!!

 

[Rhawkins52!]

Go into your vehicle settings menu. Scroll to auto dimming and make sure it is turned on. Turn your headlights on and use the stalk to turn on your bright lights. Next to the bright indicator will be a small circle with an A in the middle. If it is not there, push the stalk away from you to go to low beams, and then again to back to brights. The A should be there now if your truck is equipped.

 

[Old Ray]

Here is some useless information, mostly because I'm to lazy to confirm it.
I took my 2018 KR for the block heater cord recall yesterday (two hours in and out) at 6:00 am for a 8:00 am appointment, dealer is 130 km away. I normally disable most tech programs but the auto dimming feature actually worked well ... and sometimes beat me to the activation ... or ... I don't have it at all and I am hallucinating and losing it, which is certainly possible.

 

[Rdkeith99]

Well, guys, I really appreciate the input but apparently this truck does not have that feature. Bummer, 'cause I really liked it on the 2019 XLT and thought it worked great. I've looked everywhere in the display settings but haven't found any such settings. There is a section under VEHICLE settings called 'LIGHTING' but it only gives options for headlight-off delay, etc, nothing about the headlight auto-dimming. I tried again with the headlight stalk but no luck. It still seems odd to me that this Lariat trim level wouldn't have that feature. So, yea, I'm a little bummed about it!

 

[Old Ray]

I am sure that with enough time and MONEY, a software mod or retrofitting hardware or both, this can be fixed. Not sure that it's worth it.

 

[BriGuy]

I checked mine and it is there under the Lighting setting (Auto Highbeam)

I am not sure, but this might be something that Forscan can add or hide. Maybe someone hid it on you and you just need to make it reappear.

 

[jmperlik]

@Rdkeith99 - I'd be really surprised that an 2019 XLT trim has this feature and a 2018 Lariat Trim does not...

Did you get a VIN-specific Vehicle Orientation Guide when you bought your truck?

• Looking at this Orientation Guide for my 2018 Platinum, the feature is listed as: Auto High Beam w/Rain-Sensing Wipers
• Here is a URL to the instructional video for this feature:

I would think that your 2018 Lariat should have this feature -- hope this helps...

 

[jmperlik]

@Rdkeith99 - I did a little further research and I stand corrected: You are right and not crazy!

Back when I was factory-ordering my 2018 Platinum, I found the 2018 Ford F-150 Order Guide PDF online, which lists out every option and what options are available as a standard base option or an optional orderable option, in addition to what options are not available. Although one would think that this option seems "simple", it does require a light sensor tucked up behind the rear-view mirror to work, and I am going to guess that this is the same mirror assembly used for the Lane Sensing technology, hence why it may have been only available on the higher trim levels on the 2018 models.

I have attached some screen captures from the 2018 and 2019 Ford F-150 Order Guides to confirm what you have found:

• Looking at the 2018 Ford F-150 Order Guide, the Auto High Beam dimming feature is only available in the Lariat Luxury 502A package (not included in 500A or 501A packages)
• Looking at the beginning of the 2019 Ford F-150 Order Guide, the Auto High Beam feature is listed as standard equipment across all 2019 Trim levels

 

[Rdkeith99]

Thanks for the video link. That is pretty much how the 2019 XLT worked for the two months I drove it. I could manually turn the AutoHigh Beam on/off by moving the stalk forward. I played with it a few times but found the AutoHigh Beam (a great feature, in my opinion) so handy that I just left it on. To me, any vehicle I've had it I want the high beams on most of the time for better visibility but then all too often forget to dim them when needed (which I don't like to forget since I don't like oncoming cars to leave their high beams on either). And I have searched EVERY setting in all the menus for the AutoHigh Beam enable/disable but it just isn't there. I just got ForScan and a ELM327 and want to see if it just isn't enabled on this truck. I also believe it would surely be an included feature, just maybe got disabled somehow.

By the way, as I was typing this I just remembered that very shortly after I bought this truck new I had the dealer install an integrated brake controller (for towing our camper) and of course they had to enable the new brake controller at the time of installation. Perhaps the tech accidentally disabled the AutoHigh Beam setting when he enabled the brake controller. Anyway, I'll look using ForScan in next few days and will post an update.

 

[jmperlik]

@Rdkeith99 - what Lariat package is your 2018?
- 500 (Base)
- 501 (Mid)
- 502 (Luxury)

 

[Rdkeith99]

@Rdkeith99 - what Lariat package is your 2018?
- 500 (Base)
- 501 (Mid)
- 502 (Luxury)

The window sticker says 501A. It also says "HEADLAMPS - AUTOLAMP (ON/OFF)", but I think that only means the day/night on-off which works fine. No mention of auto-dimming headlights.