Canadian OEM DRLs options ? ? ?

[PNW Paul]

Question for those lighting experts out there . . .

Have a 2011 ranger that started life in Canada, and as such has the daytime running lights. I'd really prefer to have the lights come on when I activate the switch, but the Ford dealership states there's no way to alter the headlights, probably as much for liability purposes than ECM wiring configuration. Not interested in bypassing the switch to the e-brake, looking for better outcome.

Anyone know how an aftermarket set that incorporates LED strips for daytime running lights would work with a Canadian spec'ed Ranger? Don't mind the safety aspect of having the DRLs, just would prefer not to have the entire headlight illuminated while driving.

Here's a possible option, with halo DRL:

Would want the DRL halos illuminated, but wouldn't want the headlight to burn (even at reduced percentage) any and every time the truck is started.

Appreciate any insight out there,

Paul

 

[franklin2]

You would still have to do some wiring and deactivate the factory DRL function with the aftermarket lights I did a little research, looks like the DRL function may be embedded in the smart junction box and may be very difficult to get rid of.

 

[55trucker]

Having a Canadian vehicle I've been down this road,

mine is a '98, the module is located to the rear of the driver's side headlamp/turn lamp assembly, one has to remove this assembly get access to the module. My understanding is the design was altered for the 2000 model year. For my model year Ford wired the DRL's across the high beams at less than 8v.

I went into the harness at the module & removed/bypassed the wiring for the high beam indicator in the cluster, bypassed the park brake circuit thru the module, bypassed the wiring thru the module that allows flash to pass by the multi function switch, cut the wiring to the headlamps after the module, went into the harness & soldered the short section of harness after the module to a length of jumper conductor & soldered that to the forward park lamps harness. Doing this requires a diode to be soldered into the park harness to prevent feedback to the rest of the park lamps to keep them off when just the DRL's are on. Now my DRL's are on the forward park lamps. My headlamps are LED's and cannot function on a circuit that is less than line voltage.

 

[PNW Paul]

Steve -

Thanks and appreciate the info - - I think the module alteration after 2000 is problematic for me - - - there is not one behind the driver's headlight, so don't know if there is a solution or not.

Thanks again,

Paul

 

[55trucker]

Don't quote me on this but....I believe that up to the '05 year there is/was a revised module in the same basic location that could be bypassed by a jumper which was plugged into the end of the harness. Not sure what Ford did after '05 but it wouldn't surprise me if the headlamps are controlled by the PCM.

 

[PNW Paul]

A Ford buddy relayed the same - - "its programmed into the smart junction box and uses the same circuits as the headlamp functions." Looks like I'm stuck - - just wish I could have the DLRs just to a halo instead of the whole headlight. . .

Thanks again.

 

[snoranger]

Daytime running lamps are not a programmable parameter for this vehicle... Straight from Ford. You can’t disable it

 

[PNW Paul]

Put a fork in it, it's "done" . . .

Thanks for the input - - appreciate confirming what I thought I know. . . Wish there was a solution, but can live with it. . .

Paul

 

[55trucker]

Do not know for certain but Forscan might be able to reprogram the DRL's.

Apparently someone on the F150 forum used Forscan to relocate the DRL's to the foglamps on his '13 F150.

 

[snoranger]

Do not know for certain but Forscan might be able to reprogram the DRL's.

Apparently someone on the F150 forum used Forscan to relocate the DRL's to the foglamps on his '13 F150.

You can only change programmable perimeters with Forscan. You can’t change stuff that’s hard wired in the SJB. You can change the SJB to a non DRL one and use the As-built data from a non DRL truck to eliminate any body codes that it would set.

 

[tinman_72]

Might be a good use for an Arduino.

 

[PNW Paul]

Holy thread resurrection. . . Forscan can turn off DRL, but no guidance from Ford. The guy I know was able to "figure it out" - - guess he's done enough Forscan work to work the right coding. So now the lights come on when I activate the switch. . .

Not that I'm a Control Enthusiast, well, wait. . .