GregJmitch

Same question here. I dont want to disable ALL of the exterior lights coming on, just my HID bulbs. I actually like the way the rear and front lights come on. Suggestions?

GregJmitch

Ok, just tried it on my 08. Works perfectly. The unlock button you have to use is on the door and not on the key pad. It does turn off all of the front and rear lights except the cargo light on the top rear of the cab and the interior lights. Think i'm ok with that to save my HID's!

JohnFF150

The key-on, unlock button, key off, etc, sequence does not work on the 2010 F150 in my experience. It goes into programming mode as it chirps once, and chirps again when the key is turned off, but no change in perimeter lights. The dealer says the perimeter lights cannot be disabled, but I am skeptical. Has anyone on here successfully disabled the perimeter lighting on the 2010 F150? If so, please give the sequence.

JohnFF150

Can anyone help here? I ave contacted the factory via email, and they don't seem to know what I am asking.
Update:
I got replies back from Ford that said unlocking the door with the key will not turn on the perimeter lights on a 2010. That is total hogwash! The perimeter lights come on any time a door is opened. I wrote back to the customer rep asking her to pass it to the Ford engineers. Obviously she does not have a clue as to what I am asking. She equates unlocking the door with actually opening it, and I cannot make her understand. Wish I was closer to their HQ and I WOULD get to the bottom of this. I have requested a software patch to be issued to enable the turning off of the perimeter lighting feature. It is obviously a DEFECT in the 2010, as the perimeters could be disabled on the 2009.

Another update (from the tech guys at the factory...I was VERY persistent):

I was advised that it is possible to disable perimeter lighting, however, it is not something that can be done with a key sequence. Your dealer has an IDS Diagnostic Tool that when used in Police Mode, can disable your perimeter lighting. Since this is not a warranted item, the dealer may charge you for this service.

They won't charge me...it's something that I have been very displeased about, and my dealer knows it.

ocps9823

My suggestion would be to change as many of the bulbs to LED as you can.

I changed out the bed lights, the interior map and dome lights with LED bulbs. They draw much less power, are brighter and look cool.

This way I am not worried about the perimeter lighting draining the battery.

Another fix would be simply turn off your interior lights altogether. Just rotate the dimmer for the dash lights all the way down until you feel a click. Now the interior lights won't turn on at all.

Not the fix you are looking for, but it might be of some help.

Sent from my iPod touch using F150 Forum

JohnFF150

It's done. Took it to the dealer along with the emailed instructions from Ford. They put it in police mode and disabled the perimeter lighting. Now when I open the door at night it will stay completely dark and inconspicuous.

Rhyder

Why disable it?
"The perimeter lighting feature will, to be blunt, greatly reduce the life of your HIDs. The constant flickering on and off from the perimeter lighting causes unnecessary wear on the bulbs since they don't have time to properly warm up or cool down before their next use."

Anything on the loss of life? I mean if the bulb lasts say three years and leaving this enabled over the three years reduces the life by a month, Ide rather keep it on. If it reduced it by 2 years from a 3 year life I might think differently though.

I do appriciate the info, just trying to get an accurate measurement as I like the security feature.

Hogan

is this talking about when you unlock the truck you get the quick surge of light then the HIDs go dim and warm up?

because if this is what your talking about , i tested just unlocking my truck at the door with the key so the headlights didnt come on... then manually put the lights on, you still get the same surge of light then they dim and warm up to full bright ness.

by surge i mean a very quick brightness, as bright as they would be warmed up.

if this makes any sense check out this example. this could come across as retarded but here goes, a scale of 1 - 10 of bright ness this is how it goes
10-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10.

nickpatton_189

iTrader: (2)

What about when you lock the truck and the parking lights and the fogs come on, I wanna turn the fogs off to save the bulbs. Is there a way?

86capman

Wait for the chirp. Then Unlock 2X