How to disable "Courtesy Lights?"

[tuffcap]

My head lights come on when I use the remote to unlock my doors which I realy hate. When camping i dont use the remote at night because it can light the other campsites at night which I feel is disrespectful. Does anyone know how to disble this?

[scamperbee]

There is no switch on the interior overhead light above the front seats on my 2011 ford van to allow a shut off for the automatic light. So, had to go to the dealer and have them open it up and disconnect the automatic light in the middle. My exterior lights such as running board lights and turn signal lights (not headlights) come on when entering and exiting at night when camping. Not a popular item for myself or others who use this van or those camping nearby. I am going to take it to the dealer and see if they can do anything else.

thanks

[maxacceleration]

My van is going in for service tomorrow at Ford.
I will ask if they can delete this bothersome lighting 'feature'.
Ya can't take a piss in the night without 'alerting' others with the damn parking lights going on.
I can't tell you how many people have said I left my lights on anf then they go out a short time later...
Definitely a dumb feature. Wait... I can't find my van lol.

[Tammy]

My van is going in for service tomorrow at Ford.
I will ask if they can delete this bothersome lighting 'feature'.
Ya can't take a piss in the night without 'alerting' others with the damn parking lights going on.
I can't tell you how many people have said I left my lights on anf then they go out a short time later...
Definitely a dumb feature. Wait... I can't find my van lol.

So how did your visit to the dealership go? Were they able to provide a solution?.

Thanks

[baybeegg]

A friend of mine just got back from the dealer with the same issue. Answer was the feature of lighting up at night when opening the door, could not or would not be changed or disconnected at that dealership. They said no, sorry. So, no dark and quiet slipping in and out of the van....

[Viejo]

I solved a similar problem on my Tacoma PU by installing a rocker switch in the kick panel just forward of the door. I ran the wire from the door-open plunger switch thru it. When it's closed the vehicle behaves normally. When it's open, the vehicle never senses the door being open so no unwanted lights or buzzers.

[maxacceleration]

Originally Posted by Tammy

So how did your visit to the dealership go? Were they able to provide a solution?.

Thanks

Tammy no luck at my dealership either, sorry to say. I will try jages method and see if it works on my 2010 van.

[maxacceleration]

The 1-8 sequence does not work on my 2010 E-350 van.
I tried multiple times with 30 second plus pauses in between. I too got the chirps from the horn but the procedure did not eliminate the perimeter lights.
There is a 'police blackout' feature I found elsewhere that does not apply to our van computers either - supposedly a feature for LEO vehicles only. My last straw is talking to a roving regional engineering tech/field rep to see if they have a solution.
My dealer service rep is sick of me.
Argh

[johnolden]

I have a 2010 E350 Wagon (ie passenger van) that I took to SMBwest in Nov 2011 for conversion. As a part of the build I asked them to disable the courtesy light switch at the barn door and rear door. SMB said they would not do that and I should take it to the Ford dealer after their build. The dealer said they could not do that. My solution is low tech but works well. I took a piece of sheet metal cut fron an old lic plate and formed a u-shape to cover the switch and screwed it into the door frame. Works like a champ. I tried to attach photos but got a message that they were too large.

[johnolden]

Attached are photos of my low-tech solution.