Daedalus1

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I went over to an auto stereo and alarm company to see if they could isolate the door switches, thereby preventing the perimeter lights from illuminating when camping. The company was Sound FX. They told me it could be done. They would put a camping switch in the dashboard that would isolate the doors. Cost? 6 to 8 hours @ $75/hour. Yes, that's right...$600!! New plan: i will disconnect the headlight connectors and tape red gelatin sheet over the rear license plate lighting. That's 10 minutes @ $0/ hour.

Thanks for your suggestion. I actually tried the very same procedure just after my first contact with Ford. (It is in various Ford truck forums.) I'm convinced that there is no option other than modification. Too bad, but not nearly fatal, you know? I'm happy with my choice of vehicle type, and I really like Transit Connect. So, I'll post my solution when the problem is solved. I will, however continue to solicit suggestions. Thanks, everyone. Tony

One could argue that point, I suppose, if one is a homicidal maniac who can't work in the dark. I'm joking, of course. I had a 2007 Jeep Patriot. It had an exterior lighting disable function. I also had a 2007 Dodge Ram "four by". It, too, had a disabling method. That's so one can temporarily disable the exterior lighting function when appropriate, such as campsites, star parties, drive ins, etc. Not to be able to temporarily disable this feature is problematic for me. My son suggested I visit an automobile security system or sound system installer. That's not a bad idea, and I will do that soon.

I don't know. I have not seen this happen before, and I haven't been to a star party with this question in mind. My friends tell me that this is too new a feature, and that in previous models the programming could disable it. This seems not to be related to the security alarm system. When you open any door on your vehicle all the exterior lights (except for headlights and in bumper foglamps) illuminate. All of them: parking lamps, turn signals, backup lights, all. And they stay on, as far as I can tell, until all the doors on the vehicle are closed. It has been suggested that there is a ten minute time limit, but that is reset when any door is closed and reopened. I have to find a way to modify the electrical system, perhaps by having a switch of some kind, installed. At this point, I'm not sure if that is possible. By the way, I have a LWB van, a stock XLT. I love it! It handles well, it is comfortable, the doors are huge, and the 2.5L engine seems adequate. Very good gas milage, and will serve my purpose very well once I get the lighting modified. Good luck!

Well, Guys, Ford called me to follow up on my inquiry. They say that there is absolutely no resolution to my problem. The perimeter lighting with any door opening is a design feature that is working as designed on my vehicle, and there is no means by which it can be disabled without modifying the electrical system in some unorthodox way. It cannot be disabled by programming. I am looking elsewhere to modify the system in some way to perhaps provide some working solution. Too bad.

"And a million surplus Maggies are willing to bear the yoke, And a woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke. Rudyard Kipling, "The Betrothed" I have a new Silver Metallic LWB van (2 seater), no windows. I will use it to bring my telescope equipment to "Star Parties", astronomical dark sky sites. Lights after dark are absolutely not allowed!! I have contacted Ford through the Customer Service website. They promise to contact the dealership to help provide a solution to my dilemma. We'll see... but thanks for the suggestion.

I have a 2014 Van that I will use for camping at Astronomical dark sites. Absolutely no lights allowed after dark. My van's perimeter lights will illuminate when any door opens and will remain lit until all doors are closed. I would like to disable that feature. Does anyone know how that can be done? I can't believe that the perimeter lighting cannot be programmed out. Perhaps someone knows the procedure for my dealer to follow. Pulling fuses can be a viable workaround, but the owner's manual is not very forthcoming in describing which fuses to pull.

Thanks, but this is a new car. I'm loathe to start cutting wires and drilling holes on a new vehicle until all other options have been exhausted. My own mechanic suggested the same thing. I'll give some time to come up with a solution, then fire up the cutting torches and diagonal wire cutters...

I can't believe that this is true... There must be some way to program a module, or some other workaround. I am an amateur astronomer, and if I am camping at a dark sky site any lights are absolutely forbidden after dark. This is a real problem for me, and anyone else who needs their vehicle to remain dark. I hope that someone can come up with a solution.

All the exterior perimeter lights illuminate when any door is opened on my 2014 van. How can I disable this feature?