Ford Repair: Problem with automatic lights, printed circuit board, fuse box

Question
Hi Dave-

I have a 2000 Ford Taurus 4-door. It has the automatic lights feature, so if I turn the headlight knob to auto, the lights will come on when it gets dark. My problem is that now, when the headlight control is set to auto, just the parking lights come on and not my headlights. I took it in to my service man and he said it was a relay that is part of the fuse box and to fix it I need to replace the entire fuse box. $400! Yeow!

Does this sound right to you? Do I have any other options? Note that I put a cap over the light sensor so my automatic lights function as DRLs.

Thanks.

-Bill

Answer
From what I can tell from the EVTM (Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual), the Autolamp relays are part of the Central Junction Box's printed circuit board.  If an Autolamp relay is bad, it is not serviceable, and the Central Junction Box would have to be replaced.  Placing a cap over the light sensor (simulating darkness) would not cause a problem, but it would make the relay operate more often.  If the autolamp headlights work in simulated darkness, I don't know what could cause them to not work in natural darkness.

I hope this helps,
Dave