Hi,

Just bought an XLT w/ FX4, 3.5L eco, 302A and was wondering...

Is there a way to control the timer on the bed and tailgate lights? By default they stay on for 10 minutes after you've closed and / or locked the doors. I couldn't find anything in the owner's manual, SYNC3 menus, or the gauge cluster configuration screen that allows you to change this.

I frequently monitor sea turtle nests at a local beach and need a way to minimize light.

If this is not possible to change, can anyone recommend replacement bulbs that are red for the bed light and tailgate light?

 

Seems like you would benefit from having your dealer activate "police mode":

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/dark-...estion-339410/

 

It's also called "dark mode" and you can enable it your self through FORscan. Go to the sticky at the top of the page for 2015 to present and click on FORscan enable and disable features.

 

Thanks! FORscan is on my 'todo' list so if it can switch it on and off with that then I'll be set.

 

Try to press the Cargo Light button on the left hand side of the steering wheel on the dash that is located by the headlight selector. One thing Ford forgot to do was install an indicator light when you activate the cargo lights
On my vehicle i have the round headlight selector and four buttons around it. The button on the bottom left is my cargo light button.

Page 89 of the manual;

Cargo and Trailer Hookup Lamps
The cargo lamps are positioned in the
central high mounted stop lamp and to
either side of the cargo box.
The trailer hookup lamp is positioned on
the tailgate next to the handle.

To switch on the lamps, press
the button located in the lighting
control panel, or the button
located in the cargo box near the lamp.

When switched on, these lamps light the
cargo area of your vehicle and the trailer
hitch.
Note: The cargo and trailer hookup lamps
turn off automatically when you reach a
speed of 3 mph (5 km/h). They also turn off
automatically after 10 minutes, fading
gradually to off

 

My cargo light turns off as soon as I lock truck with fob, yours doesn't?

Edit: or maybe after the 2nd push of lock button for the alarm...can't remember.

 

Mine go off immediately after the doors are closed or after any of the switches are pressed.

 

Tried that and it seems to have no effect once I've exited the vehicle.

Nope -- the lights stay on for 10 minutes, even after I push the lock button twice. Yesterday my remote start did not respond either so maybe something is up with the FOB or the truck.

I'll mess with it a little more today and see if I might have missed a step somewhere. The first day I owned the truck I hit about a million buttons in an unknown order so could be operator error on my part...

 

I have noticed a value in the BCM module that causes exactly what you're describing while I was testing things with FORScan. When you get around to getting setup w/FORScan hit me up via pm or in that thread and we'll see what you have at the address/value I found.

 

I've been going through a bit of trial and error as I get a chance to and I think I have it narrowed down to this:

If I press the button for the interior light so the lights are on when a door is open, the bed and tailgate lights stay on for 10 minutes.

If I press the button for the interior light so the lights are off when a door is open, the bed and tailgate lights do not stay on for 10 minutes (more like seconds).

So I at least have some control over the exterior lights. I'm curious if anyone sees a similar pattern or if there are differences between model years and or trims...