(Testing) Success in Disabling Lowbeams for DRLs

[Maverick_Innovation_Designs]

I've wanted to get away from using the LED lowbeams as DRLs since they can't be replaced. I found a hack through the normal Forscan interface to use the turn signal bulb as the DRL instead, but there was also a concern that it could cause pre-mature failure since the turn signal brightness results in excess heat.

I think I finally found the "goldilocks" solution of using the parking lamp as the DRL. It requires a few steps and going through the As-Built Data:

BCM Settings:

1. Include Parking Lamp with DRLs

BCM (As-Built)

• 11-04: x422-xxxx-x0xx
• 12-02: 422x-xxxx-xxxx

Other Things I've Found:

• 10-01: xxxx-xxx*-xxxx
  • 0 = Default
  • 8 = Police dark car mode Enabled
• 11-04: xxxx-xxxx-x*xx
  • 0 = DRL circuit enabled
  • 8 = DRL circuit disabled
• 11-04: xxx*-xxxx-xxxx
  • 1 = Left turn light: turn + DRL
  • 2 = Left turn light: turn only
  • 3 = Left turn light: turn + position
  • 4 = Left turn light: constant on
• 12-02: *xxx-xxxx-xxxx
  • 4 = turns lowbeam off for DRL
  • 5 = turns lowbeam on for DRL
• 12-02: xx*x-xxxx-xxxx
  • 1 = Left turn light: turn + DRL
  • 2 = Left turn light: turn only
  • 3 = Left turn light: turn + position
  • 4 = Left turn light: constant on

Enjoy and let know if it works!

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[23OxOrdered]

I got this link off here a while ago from a user "LIVitup" -- great information for research for as-built
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[The Real Maverick]

There is a setting in my dash to turn off DRL.

There us a setting on my dash to turn on parking lamps.

No programming skills needed.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

There is a setting in my dash to turn off DRL.

There us a setting on my dash to turn on parking lamps.

No programming skills needed.

Do you have to select the parking lamps every time you start the vehicle up?
Manually turning on the parking lamps also disables the auto headlamp feature.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Do you have to select the parking lamps every time you start the vehicle up?

Yes. But like putting on your seatbelt it becomes natural after 3 or 4 times. If you forget to turn them off, they do go off automatically after 10 minutes. Just 8.5 minutes later than is standard anyways.

Sure. "Programming" can be fun if you are into it. And have the tools. But I don't fret it.

Same with the seatbelt chime and acknowledgement statement. I turned mine off mechanically by buckling the seatbelts in the unoccupied seats. Simple. One and done. No chimes or messages ever.

 

[Maverick_Innovation_Designs]

Do you have to select the parking lamps every time you start the vehicle up?
Manually turning on the parking lamps also disables the auto headlamp feature.

I used to have an older F150 with manual lights. Even though it became muscle memory, there were still a handful of times that I'd forget. It's not much of an excuse, just taking one more thing out of the stuff I have to do when I start the truck.

It also is a hybrid and like others, I'm plagued by the battery drain and deep sleep issue. It's gotten to the point where it immediately goes into power save mode when I turn it off (no app connectivity). While I will upgrade to a better battery in the future after my warranty expires, I'm doing everything in the meantime to disable as much power drain as I can.

 

[Maverick_Innovation_Designs]

I

Yes. But like putting on your seatbelt it becomes natural after 3 or 4 times. If you forget to turn them off, they do go off automatically after 10 minutes. Just 8.5 minutes later than is standard anyways.

Sure. "Programming" can be fun if you are into it. And have the tools. But I don't fret it.

Same with the seatbelt chime and acknowledgement statement. I turned mine off mechanically by buckling the seatbelts in the unoccupied seats. Simple. One and done. No chimes or messages ever.

I also will admit that there is a certain amount of excitement that happens when I figure out something that was previously locked away in the As-Built data or otherwise. It takes a lot of trial and error, but it really is satisfying to see things come together and better understand the backend of why the truck behaves the ways it does. Ideally, there is a point where you can fix things on the truck that you otherwise wouldn't be able to get around (easily).

 

[Maverick_Innovation_Designs]

Do you have to select the parking lamps every time you start the vehicle up?
Manually turning on the parking lamps also disables the auto headlamp feature.

Parking lamps also triggers certain (ambient) light circuits that remain unpowered during the daytime. I'm not positive, but I believe it also lowers the max brightness for certain keys and dash components, I think because they assume you're using it at night?

 

[The Real Maverick]

I believe it also lowers the max brightness for certain keys and dash components, I think because they assume you're using it at night?

No. That ambient light sensor on the center of your dash still knows if it is day.

 

[Maverick_Innovation_Designs]

The ambient light sensor still knows, but I've noticed that when I turn on the parking lights it also activates the ambient light powerpoint (that I've tapped for interior underlighting).

Note: the ambient light I'm talking about is the one under the central console, separate from the ambient light sensor. It's an unfortunate naming convention coincidence.

 

[Nemo]

From other posts by other smart people. You can get the front turn signal lights as DRL, but not just the front parking lamps. Turn signals are on a separate circuit, while the front parking lamps are not. If you make them the DRL, all your parking lights will come on, including the rear. I got switchback lights on mine and have the yellow turn signals as DRL with the headlights off. There are quite a few parameters that need to be changed to make it all work. If you miss something, it either won’t work or revert back to headlights as DRL, on the next power cycle.

 

[Maverick_Innovation_Designs]

From other posts by other smart people. You can get the front turn signal lights as DRL, but not just the front parking lamps. Turn signals are on a separate circuit, while the front parking lamps are not. If you make them the DRL, all your parking lights will come on, including the rear. I got switchback lights on mine and have the yellow turn signals as DRL with the headlights off. There are quite a few parameters that need to be changed to make it all work. If you miss something, it either won’t work or revert back to headlights as DRL, on the next power cycle.

Digging into the other posts, it seems like the primary confusion/issue is that the DRL circuit is spliced to the low-beam for the non-Lariat models. At the very least, it threw me off when I was trying to characterize it since certain options like "low-beam only" should've disabled it... but didn't.

My running theory is that there are two options:
1. pull the pin from the DRL circuit that's spliced because it isn't needed
2. in one of those changes is the digital DRL circuit behavior. In the F150s and other Fords, there are a handful of DRL options including various combinations - DRL, low-beam, parking lamp, turn signal - in the As-Built data... and sometimes contained within a single block. If I can isolate the right option, just parking lamps might be possible.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

I used to have an older F150 with manual lights. Even though it became muscle memory, there were still a handful of times that I'd forget. It's not much of an excuse, just taking one more thing out of the stuff I have to do when I start the truck.

It also is a hybrid and like others, I'm plagued by the battery drain and deep sleep issue. It's gotten to the point where it immediately goes into power save mode when I turn it off (no app connectivity). While I will upgrade to a better battery in the future after my warranty expires, I'm doing everything in the meantime to disable as much power drain as I can.

The easiest way to turn everything off asap (delay courtesy lamps, (maybe not the 12v cab & bed(?)), dash, radio screen, only Ford knows what else) is when you exit vehicle DOUBLE lock (PUSH TWICE) using either key fob, ridges on door handle, or key pad = Everything turns off in one second. Plus by double locking and not getting double honk you have verified that truck can be locked and if not in deep sleep will remote start successfully.
ETA: If you want to use courtesy lights for 4-6 seconds to walk to porch just wait until you get there before double locking key fob: 1 honk = success, 2 honks= truck could not lock, hood, or doors not completely closed.
ETA: DOUBLE lock also turns off some of anticipatory clicking, etc as walking by truck with fob won't cause it until you place fingers behind door handle.

 

[Maverick_Innovation_Designs]

From other posts by other smart people. You can get the front turn signal lights as DRL, but not just the front parking lamps. Turn signals are on a separate circuit, while the front parking lamps are not. If you make them the DRL, all your parking lights will come on, including the rear. I got switchback lights on mine and have the yellow turn signals as DRL with the headlights off. There are quite a few parameters that need to be changed to make it all work. If you miss something, it either won’t work or revert back to headlights as DRL, on the next power cycle.

Updated the initial post with the As-Built info that I've decoded. Try that and let me know if you have any issues!

 

[Nemo]

Updated the initial post with the As-Built info that I've decoded. Try that and let me know if you have any issues!

Thanks. So change parking lamps to DRL and then the as-built stuff:
- High beam to high beam only.
- Low beam to low beam only.
- Turn signal for turn only.
- Disable police silent mode.

But how is this decoupling the front parking lamps from the back? Parking lamps implies all, not just the front. Wasn’t the original issue the rear parking lamps being on as well?

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