’06-’11 Sport Lighting Question:

[TWolff]

Hello, guys and gals. First off, I hope I’m posting this in the right place, being my first actual “Ranger stuff” post!

Long story short, my “raised it from a pup” ’05 Edge was totaled after 16 yrs, I replaced it with this current ’03 Edge that I don’t like and am selling, and I’m looking for an ’06-’11 Sport to be my new long-term baby. Basically, the new Sport will be the “keep it forever” truck that the ’05 should have been. OK? *grins*

To the question: I just looked at a 2011 Sport that turned out to be a rustbucket, so I walked away. However, while checking it out, I discovered that it had that idiot running lights/headlights on all the time stupidity going on. My ’05 wasn’t like that, and of course the ’03 isn’t, so my first question is what year did Ford first decide to leave the lights on all the time?

Worst case, I can always go to the Stealer and pay them $175 to “black out” the truck as I did with my 2012 F-150. NO lights would come on unless I made them come on, and it wouldn’t chirp, flash, or any of that crap anymore! I could get in and out of a silent, dark truck at night!

But I need to know if I can avoid all that by buying a 2010, for example, if that started in 2011. Or an ’09, ‘08, etc.

Thanks.

 

[sgtsandman]

I guess it depends on which market the truck was built to meet. My 2011 XLT doesn't have day time running lights. THey are either on or off, depending on what you select with the light switch. Day time running lights are a thing that some Rangers had but not all of them were built with the system installed.

 

[G8orFord]

I'd imagine Forscan can turn them off if it's a problem.

 

[TWolff]

Hi, Sarge!
I think you're correct, it's dependent on something besides the year, like the market, etc. I just looked at a '10 Sport and the lights were as they should be. No permanent running lights AND I could turn on the foglights along with the parking lights, without the headlights. Same as this '03 and the '05, the way I like it and the way that seems natural to me.

I also called The Stealer and they said they could put any older Ranger into "Dark Mode" for a coupla C-notes. More important, the tech said the light setup I prefer is *much* more common than the "always on" mode. Regardless, I'll just try to avoid what I don't like, the same way I avoid red, yellow, and orange paint jobs! *laughs*

Issue resolved. Thanks.

 

[TWolff]

Gator,
If Forscan is the program the service guy used on my F-150 and can use on a Ranger as well, then we're on the same page. *smiles*

 

[G8orFord]

Gator,
If Forscan is the program the service guy used on my F-150 and can use on a Ranger as well, then we're on the same page. *smiles*

Forscan is a freeware program for diagnosing and monitoring Fords (and some Mazdas) with OBDII systems. It's not what Ford Techs use though. With an extended license (also free) you can modify certain settings for the various modules of the vehicle. Things like seatbelt dingers, tire sizes, DRL settings, fog light settings, auto stop/start, etc. etc. etc.

Exactly what you can change depends on the vehicle and how much support it has in the community. I'd guess the Ranger has quite a bit of support.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Daytime Running Lamps are a Canadian requirement.

 

[Snoranger]

I’d have to check the wiring, but IIRC you can’t turn the DRL off. It’s not a function but a permanent relay built into the SJB.

 

[TWolff]

Doggone it, Gator! You done gone and woke up my electronic tuner/tweaker/chip/etc. addiction! I didn't know about Forscan. *laughs*
Seriously, after a brief look at Forscan.org, I'm hoping that it would "play well" in conjunction with my SCT X4 tuner on my next Ranger. (I didn't waste a tune/tweak on this '03.)

Seems like it should. Hmm. I'll call SCT tomorrow to see if they conflict. Thanks.

Uncle Gump,
The 2010 I saw was originally an Alberta truck, but it was the one with normal lighting. Apparently Canuckistan hadn't gone "1984" 13 years ago. *grins*

Snoranger,
The Stealer was able to put my '12 F-150 into "Dark Mode," but it never had DRL. So you might have a point there. Ah, I'll simply avoid DRL trucks just to be on the safe side. Thanks.

 

[Roert42]

My ‘11 has running lights but they are controlled by the headlight knob. It has four positions. Off, running lights, headlights, then you pull it out for fog lights. But you have to have it turned to headlights to pull out the fog lights.

 

[Snoranger]

My ‘11 has running lights but they are controlled by the headlight knob. It has four positions. Off, running lights, headlights, then you pull it out for fog lights. But you have to have it turned to headlights to pull out the fog lights.

I thought we were talking about daytime running lights…

 

[2011Supercab]

My ‘11 has running lights but they are controlled by the headlight knob. It has four positions. Off, running lights, headlights, then you pull it out for fog lights. But you have to have it turned to headlights to pull out the fog lights.

"Daytime Running Lights" are done with the headlights.

I think what you are calling "Running Lights" are what most people call "Parking Lights"

With my '11 it has "Daytime Running Lights", but mine is a Canadian truck, only way to turn them off is to push the parking brake down.

With mine I can turn the fog lights on with just the parking lights on

 

[G8orFord]

Doggone it, Gator! You done gone and woke up my electronic tuner/tweaker/chip/etc. addiction! I didn't know about Forscan. *laughs*
Seriously, after a brief look at Forscan.org, I'm hoping that it would "play well" in conjunction with my SCT X4 tuner on my next Ranger. (I didn't waste a tune/tweak on this '03.)

Seems like it should. Hmm. I'll call SCT tomorrow to see if they conflict. Thanks.

Uncle Gump,
The 2010 I saw was originally an Alberta truck, but it was the one with normal lighting. Apparently Canuckistan hadn't gone "1984" 13 years ago. *grins*

Snoranger,
The Stealer was able to put my '12 F-150 into "Dark Mode," but it never had DRL. So you might have a point there. Ah, I'll simply avoid DRL trucks just to be on the safe side. Thanks.

Forscan won't cause any conflicts with the SCT or any other tuner. They work on different systems. You can't do any engine "tuning" with Forscan that I'm aware of.