[stss95]

Just installed my sun sensor and turned on my auto headlights. For anyone wanting to do this mod it is fairly easy. My van came with manual headlights and manual climate controls. For this mod you will need the following.

​

56046258AD

Headlamp Switch with auto headlights, with fog lights.

​

68230115AB

Sun Load Sensor with auto headlights, without auto climate.

​

68080566AA

Wiring-4 Way connector kit for the sun sensor.

Either alfaobd or diagfca to turn on the auto headlights setting.

Start by installing the headlight switch, move to parking push in and turn and the old switch pops right out, simply plug in new switch and push back into dash. Remove radio and heater control panel. The sun sensor only has 2 wires and they connect into the blue connector on the back of the climate control panel. My van already had the wires running into the connector which means that they are probably in the wiring harness, but after taking the dash apart twice trying to find the connector in the harness I came to the conclusion that you cannot get to that part of the harness where the connector would be.

Take the connector and add 2 wires to pins 1 and pin 4, you will have to add some wire to reach down to the heater controls. I used wire taps to connect the sensor wires into the wires going into the heater controls. Pin 1 from the sensor goes into A6 white/violet on the blue connector in the back of the ac/ heat controls. and pin 4 on the sensor goes in A9 dkblue/dkgrn on the same connector.

Remove plug and install sun sensor on top of dash, plug in connector. Load up your alfaobd or DiagFCA and turn on auto headlights option.

Congratulations you now have auto headlights.

 

[Honeybadger]

Thanks! My wife couldn't believe our new 2019 GC doesn't have auto headlights. Every new car we have bought in the last 28 years had auto headlights, except the GC.

 

[gltaylor74]

Kind of crazy isn't it. You would think anymore it's just standard.

 

[HiQ]

You rock! I was going to attempt this before, but the information on the wiring was too vague. Thank you very much for explaining it. Definitely doing this once I can get to a junkyard and pull that connector. No way in heck I'm spending $30 online for just the wiring connector. I'll buy the switch and sensor new, but that's crazy talk. Thanks again.

 

[Michalb]

For anyone who is going to read this, the auto headlamps connector for the sun sensor is most likely there. I have a 09 caravan SE (manual climate). The connector is taped to the wiring harness at the front where the front dash center speaker is. There are actually 2 connectors there, one mystery connector and one sun sensor connector. To get it, you need to remove the dash plastic right by the windshield, as well as loosen the front driver windshield vent as well as removing the speaker cover in the center (Or speaker in premium system). If you shine a flashlight through the center speaker opening from the outside, you will be able to see a set of wires which appear to make a 180 degree turn. That's what you need to grab. It was closer to the driver side on mine. Push the driver side vent down and reach for the wires, once you grab them, pull. The small piece of tape holding it will break with some effort. Don't pull by the connector. Then you need a sun load sensor, either ebay, or grab it from a dodge caravan, journey, or town and country.

There are also wires for the outer 2 dash speakers in almost every caravan. These tweeters make a huge difference in sound and I highly recommend everyone to get 2 dash speakers and hook them up, it sounds way better then the base 4 speaker system. You will need to remove the plastic just above the driver foot well, once that's out of the way use a light and look for a white 2 wire connector taped to the harness. You won't miss it. On the passenger side remove the glove box. There is a metal housing which the harness follows from the center outwards, the white 2 wire connector is tapped far right just out of sight.
These tweeters are plug and play and will improve sound by A LOT.

 

[Michalb]

I am doing manual temp controls to auto temp controls for a 2009 caravan, that is how I know about the auto headlights connector. And all I have to say it has been the hardest project I have ever done, but along the way I have done auto headlights and the premium sound system. I sorted every sensor out for the auto climate, but driver side blows max cold air so I need to find where i messed up. Will make a video on how to if I ever get it running how it should.

 

[stss95]

I took my dash apart 2 times and if the connector is there it is inaccessible, it’s much faster and easier to just buy the connector.

 

[Pgh_AL]

Do you all mean to tell me that it is possible to retro fit an Automatic climate control on an 09 tc?

 

[Michalb]

Do you all mean to tell me that it is possible to retro fit an Automatic climate control on an 09 tc?

I'm actually quite certain you can, I got every function to work minus one which I am trying to solve. I have got wiring diagrams and the pin out legend for the manual climate and a pin out legend for the automatic, and I made an adapter for my harness so in case it doesn't work out I can always hook up the manual...
I have already tested it and with Appcar I can see and test the climate system and it's performance, had some issues earlier with hooking up the wrong wires in the adapter and missing both the solar sensor and the infrared sensor, but now I only have one issue left: The driver side blend door is stuck blowing maximum cold air (left blend door 1 travel too large), I know I hooked the wire up correctly because when I disconnected the wire it read as the circuit is open (Broken) and the code stayed the same as well as testing to make sure there is a proper connection and no short anywhere else. And with every other actuator I can move it through appcar, just the driver side is non responsive. Yes I have calibrated the system multiple times, it won't move. (manual climate operates as it should when hooked up) I have not been able to solve this issue yet, I have literally made 3 adapters and each one had this same issue, and I know the wires are hooked up exactly how they should be. (according to the pin outs I got from dodge)
So I have a few more things to try, maybe the auto system had a different actuator for the driver side blend door and every other actuator is the same as manual system, and when I take it apart I will also see if I can push the actuator from the max position and see if it's just stuck or if something else is the issue. so I will be swapping that to see if that will solve the issue, also try swapping the ATC unit itself in case that had some malfunction as a last resort. if it doesn't I will be very disappointed as I have spent so much time into this soldering and hunting down the different parts, I am so close!
Any ideas or suggestions are helpful, as it's not an easy thing to do and figure out all by myself.

I will make a video step by step process of how I did it if I do succeed, there's been a few people who would like to do the upgrade as well.

 

[Pgh_AL]

I will keep watching hope you are successful good info
I may have access to a donor vehicle

 

[Michalb]

I will keep watching hope you are successful good info
I may have access to a donor vehicle

If you do decide to go forth, here are the things you will need to get from either a GC or T&C from 2008-2010. When getting the components cut it so you have the wire connectors for it as well, (Roughly 5 cm is good)
-ATC unit and ATC connector
-Infrared sensor (mounted in between the front roof dome lights (The dodge journey has the same sensor in the same location, you can get that) )
-Sun sensor, must have 4 wires coming from it (Can get it from the journey as well)
-Optional auto rear control for the rear passengers to control (the only difference between the manual and auto is the auto has 10 fan speeds with a "Auto" setting, the manual will work fine with the atc unit, just no "auto" option) (You can get from the journey as well)
-2 power modules for the blowers, as well as the wires that go into the resistors, as they have different wiring arrangement between the manual and auto.

I will keep you updated, so far that is all I needed to get this far, again, still have the driver side blend door to sort out, might need a new blend door motor.

 

[HiQ]

So I went to the salvage yard the other day to find a sun sensor and wiring pigtail. Grabbed one and came home to install it. Thought I would give it one more look before starting to wire it up. After digging around the dash for a few more minutes I actually found the connector in there as Michalb said it would be. Really hard to reach. Reached way up from under the pedals and did manage to find it. Found a different connector first so I knew it must be there and kept looking.

Got it all installed, but now I'm having issues with AlfaOBD and programming the fog lights and auto headlights to work.

Where exactly do you go and what do you change? I think I've found the setting under BCM and then reconfigurable vehicle options (I think that's what it was called). When I go to write the new enabled setting it just sits there and then fails saying it didn't get a response. I've been able to program a new FOBIK before, but now I can't get it to write this setting. I have a ELM327 which might be causing the issue. Might have to just pony up for a nice OBDLink device so I know that's not the issue.

 

[Michalb]

So I went to the salvage yard the other day to find a sun sensor and wiring pigtail. Grabbed one and came home to install it. Thought I would give it one more look before starting to wire it up. After digging around the dash for a few more minutes I actually found the connector in there as Michalb said it would be. Really hard to reach. Reached way up from under the pedals and did manage to find it. Found a different connector first so I knew it must be there and kept looking.

Got it all installed, but now I'm having issues with AlfaOBD and programming the fog lights and auto headlights to work.

Where exactly do you go and what do you change? I think I've found the setting under BCM and then reconfigurable vehicle options (I think that's what it was called). When I go to write the new enabled setting it just sits there and then fails saying it didn't get a response. I've been able to program a new FOBIK before, but now I can't get it to write this setting. I have a ELM327 which might be causing the issue. Might have to just pony up for a nice OBDLink device so I know that's not the issue.

The other connector you saw is for the compass module (only equipped on vehicles with the CMTC cluster or EVIC clusters)

How did you install the fog lights? I'd like to do this myself, did you just replace the entire harness?

You can contact Alford support and see what they say and what they suggest to help, they reply really fast and will help you solve the issue.

 

[HiQ]

The other connector you saw is for the compass module (only equipped on vehicles with the CMTC cluster or EVIC clusters)

How did you install the fog lights? I'd like to do this myself, did you just replace the entire harness?

You can contact Alford support and see what they say and what they suggest to help, they reply really fast and will help you solve the issue.

The fog light installation would have been a joke, but it definitely turned into one of the worst things I had to do though. The eBay seller I bought a 2011+ kit from screwed me and shipped out a 2010 kit. Basically everything is wrong except the wiring harness. I had to modify the mounting/surrounds, the lights were different and the switch was obviously completely different. I ended up just modifying the mounts and cutting a hole in the fog light block off plates. It's not pretty but it'll work. I've ordered the fog light with auto headlights switch and I should be away to the races. Just need to get my ELM327 working with AlfaOBD or just buy an OBDLink.

I've messaged the AlfaOBD people as I've heard they're pretty good about getting back to you. Fingers crossed.

 

[Michalb]

The fog light installation would have been a joke, but it definitely turned into one of the worst things I had to do though. The eBay seller I bought a 2011+ kit from screwed me and shipped out a 2010 kit. Basically everything is wrong except the wiring harness. I had to modify the mounting/surrounds, the lights were different and the switch was obviously completely different. I ended up just modifying the mounts and cutting a hole in the fog light block off plates. It's not pretty but it'll work. I've ordered the fog light with auto headlights switch and I should be away to the races. Just need to get my ELM327 working with AlfaOBD or just buy an OBDLink.

I've messaged the AlfaOBD people as I've heard they're pretty good about getting back to you. Fingers crossed.

I don't plan to buy a kit, i plan to just run wires for them. As far as I'm aware, the relay for the fog lights is there already, just the wiring from the relay to the fog lights and the lights themselves isn't. Good luck, hope you get in contact fast!

 

[HiQ]

I don't plan to buy a kit, i plan to just run wires for them. As far as I'm aware, the relay for the fog lights is there already, just the wiring from the relay to the fog lights and the lights themselves isn't. Good luck, hope you get in contact fast!

Oh yeah if you don't get the kit it should still be pretty easy. I had wires in the spots that I was supposed to add the fog light wires. I just pulled whatever they were and added the fog ones. I'm sure you could just tap the ones that were in there and run the wires straight down to the driver's side fog and then over to the passenger. Should be pretty simple honestly. I wouldn't have ever paid for the kit if I knew it was going to be the 2010 one. Useless fogs/surrounds/headlight switch. Sigh.

 

[Diamondsareforeveryone]

For anyone who is going to read this, the auto headlamps connector for the sun sensor is most likely there. I have a 09 caravan SE (manual climate). The connector is taped to the wiring harness at the front where the front dash center speaker is. There are actually 2 connectors there, one mystery connector and one sun sensor connector. To get it, you need to remove the dash plastic right by the windshield, as well as loosen the front driver windshield vent as well as removing the speaker cover in the center (Or speaker in premium system). If you shine a flashlight through the center speaker opening from the outside, you will be able to see a set of wires which appear to make a 180 degree turn. That's what you need to grab. It was closer to the driver side on mine. Push the driver side vent down and reach for the wires, once you grab them, pull. The small piece of tape holding it will break with some effort. Don't pull by the connector. Then you need a sun load sensor, either ebay, or grab it from a dodge caravan, journey, or town and country.

There are also wires for the outer 2 dash speakers in almost every caravan. These tweeters make a huge difference in sound and I highly recommend everyone to get 2 dash speakers and hook them up, it sounds way better then the base 4 speaker system. You will need to remove the plastic just above the driver foot well, once that's out of the way use a light and look for a white 2 wire connector taped to the harness. You won't miss it. On the passenger side remove the glove box. There is a metal housing which the harness follows from the center outwards, the white 2 wire connector is tapped far right just out of sight.
These tweeters are plug and play and will improve sound by A LOT.

The mystery connection there is for the Compass

 

[AlexZP]

Guys, what if I soldered wires to pin 1 and pin 4 on the sunload sensor and then soldered that wires to A6 and A9 wires and after that autohead lamps works but A/C not. Now I have error b1030 evaporator temperature failed. If I’ll solder wires like it was before then AC works fine. Looks like that wires for ac sensor. But they are exactly like in post have same pins and colors. grand caravan 2015 with manual 3 zone climate control.

 

[Gymkata98]

Just installed my sun sensor and turned on my auto headlights. For anyone wanting to do this mod it is fairly easy. My van came with manual headlights and manual climate controls. For this mod you will need the following.

​

56046258AD

Headlamp Switch with auto headlights, with fog lights.

​

68230115AB

Sun Load Sensor with auto headlights, without auto climate.

​

68080566AA

Wiring-4 Way connector kit for the sun sensor.

Either alfaobd or diagfca to turn on the auto headlights setting.

Start by installing the headlight switch, move to parking push in and turn and the old switch pops right out, simply plug in new switch and push back into dash. Remove radio and heater control panel. The sun sensor only has 2 wires and they connect into the blue connector on the back of the climate control panel. My van already had the wires running into the connector which means that they are probably in the wiring harness, but after taking the dash apart twice trying to find the connector in the harness I came to the conclusion that you cannot get to that part of the harness where the connector would be.

Take the connector and add 2 wires to pins 1 and pin 4, you will have to add some wire to reach down to the heater controls. I used wire taps to connect the sensor wires into the wires going into the heater controls. Pin 1 from the sensor goes into A6 white/violet on the blue connector in the back of the ac/ heat controls. and pin 4 on the sensor goes in A9 dkblue/dkgrn on the same connector.

Remove plug and install sun sensor on top of dash, plug in connector. Load up your alfaobd or DiagFCA and turn on auto headlights option.

Congratulations you now have auto headlights.

Hi and thank you for all the information on adding auto headlights. So from what I was told my 2015 Dodge grand caravan (SXT with no auto dimming) has the sensor in the rear view mirror and doesn’t use the dome sun sensor in the dash. After reading your post above, now I’m super confused as it sounds like it does use the sun sensor (I thought this was for The Auto climate system) for the auto headlights. Anyways, I know I’m pretty late to the party on this discussion, so not sure if I will get a response, but thought I would try! I was thinking maybe your model used a different sensor than my 2015? Thank you!

 

[Diamondsareforeveryone]

Hi and thank you for all the information on adding auto headlights. So from what I was told my 2015 Dodge grand caravan (SXT with no auto dimming) has the sensor in the rear view mirror and doesn’t use the dome sun sensor in the dash. After reading your post above, now I’m super confused as it sounds like it does use the sun sensor (I thought this was for The Auto climate system) for the auto headlights. Anyways, I know I’m pretty late to the party on this discussion, so not sure if I will get a response, but thought I would try! I was thinking maybe your model used a different sensor than my 2015? Thank you!

That sensor in the dash is a dual sensor. It is used for both the auto headlights to turn them on and off as well as the auto climate control if that’s already installed. If the auto climate isn’t installed then simply installing the dash dome sensor won’t allow you to use the auto climate. However the auto headlights will still run off that sensor once installed. As far as the auto dim headlights im the rear view mirror that is for turning the high beams on and off if at speeds about 20 mph. The rear view mirror doesn’t turn the headlights on or off automatically that is what the dash dome sensor is for.