Ok, this is a little goofy.....

[Joeychgo]

My Mark viii normally has the headlights on... you know - automatically..


A WEEK AGO, I got in and immediately got a message warning to check exterior lamps --- and they were both unlit. However, when I actually turned the switch - they lit fine, same with the brites. But they dont come on unless I turn the switch.

Then, a day later, they came back on again all by themselves...No idea why.

Now they are back off again..... Again, no reason I can notice. HELP!!!!!!

 

[driller]

Usually, that's symptomatic of a switch going bad.

 

[Joeychgo]

but what switch? I almost never use the headlight switch since they come on automatically

 

[MonsterMark]

Could be a problem with the sun. The sun comes up in the morning and then goes down in the evening. If your switch timer is set for p.m. instead of a.m., then the lights are trying to come on during the day and then turning off at night. Have you checked the daylight savings timer? That's usually the problem.

 

[Joeychgo]

No this only happend for like one day then went back to normal

 

[driller]

Solar eclipse? j/k

Actually, the thumbwheel switch which adjusts the autolamp feature.

 

[BRIAN O'KEEFE]

Did you have someting on the dash covering your light sensor, or maybe disabled your Autolamp accidently?

 

[Pepsi2185]

Did you check your relays or controller for the headlights. I do believe the switch is separate from the nightime light controller.

 

[aristo1963]

My Mark viii normally has the headlights on... you know - automatically..


A WEEK AGO, I got in and immediately got a message warning to check exterior lamps --- and they were both unlit. However, when I actually turned the switch - they lit fine, same with the brites. But they dont come on unless I turn the switch.

Then, a day later, they came back on again all by themselves...No idea why.

Now they are back off again..... Again, no reason I can notice. HELP!!!!!!

joey in 1996 lincoln issued a tsb on the light module for the continentals.the way you knew you had a problem one was that the auto function would quit working,but the lights would work fine by using the manual switch.
it sounds to me like yours is going south in the same manner,i would go to ebay and find one for cheap.i have two spares for my conti that i got for 9.99 off ebay.and they both work perfectly and came from 97's which didnt have the failure problem.
john :L