Disabling interior lights in 2016 Explorer XLT?

[JoeG89709]

Hello, I would like to disable the interior dome lights in my 2016 XLT. I have tried removing Fuse 1 "Demand Lamps, Battery Saver" but all interior lights still come on. There is no other fuse in the manual that refers to anything related to interior illumination. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

 

[ExPlat]

Give the following Thread a look, even though it has 2017 in the title it explains the 2016 model year:
Help? Setting Dark Mode in 2017 to keep interior lights off when doors are opened?

 

[JoeG89709]

Give the following Thread a look, even though it has 2017 in the title it explains the 2016 model year:
Help? Setting Dark Mode in 2017 to keep interior lights off when doors are opened?

Thanks, but not sure I understand the solution. There's an app call Forescan that opens a menu option called Dark Mode? Where do I get app? And where is the hidden fuse for the interior lights? I'd rather just wire a small switch inline with the fuse and turn on/off as needed.

Any help is greatly appreciated, this is driving me nuts.

 

[peterk9]

Hello, I would like to disable the interior dome lights in my 2016 XLT. I have tried removing Fuse 1 "Demand Lamps, Battery Saver" but all interior lights still come on. There is no other fuse in the manual that refers to anything related to interior illumination. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the Forum Joe.
It appears that the 2016+ really cut back on the number of fuses. In previous model years it listed a fuse for "Demand Lamps", turned on by their switch and also one for "Courtesy Lamps, the ones that come on when a door is opened. Not sure that you really want to disable the Battery Saver as that turns OFF most systems to keep the battery from being drained.

Peter

 

[613GT500]

Thanks, but not sure I understand the solution. There's an app call Forescan that opens a menu option called Dark Mode? Where do I get app? And where is the hidden fuse for the interior lights? I'd rather just wire a small switch inline with the fuse and turn on/off as needed.

Any help is greatly appreciated, this is driving me nuts.

You need to buy an OBD adapter (I recommend the OBDLink MX) and along with the free software forscan, where you make changes of the hex values to enable "dark mode".

 

[JoeG89709]

Welcome to the Forum Joe.
It appears that the 2016+ really cut back on the number of fuses. In previous model years it listed a fuse for "Demand Lamps", turned on by their switch and also one for "Courtesy Lamps, the ones that come on when a door is opened. Not sure that you really want to disable the Battery Saver as that turns OFF most systems to keep the battery from being drained.

Peter

Thanks Peter, actually that #1 fuse doesn't seem to do anything at all. I removed it and all the lights, USB plugs, everything works fine, drove to/from work and no difference. So no idea what it does, but I can confirm it does not affect demand lighting whatsoever, maybe someone else with a 2016 XLT can verify?

 

[JoeG89709]

You need to buy an OBD adapter (I recommend the OBDLink MX) and along with the free software forscan, where you make changes of the hex values to enable "dark mode".

Thanks, I can do that and buy the software, not a problem. However, after reading about it I found this video here that goes through the programming process on a 17 Fusion but it's unclear from video or comments if it will work on 2016 XLT, can anyone confirm before I purchase? Will jacking with the sw void my extended warranty? If this "Silent" mode works it would be perfect!

 

[peterk9]

I suggest that you take a look at the Warranty Guide that was supplied with the vehicle. It covers modifications etc. Usually, if a part fails and the reason for that failure was attributed to a modification that was made, then the warranty will not cover the failed part. It doesn't mean that the entire ESP warranty is void. The issue could come down to a dealer's opinion on the exact cause of the problem.

Peter

 

[Fmore]

Hello, I would like to disable the interior dome lights in my 2016 XLT. I have tried removing Fuse 1 "Demand Lamps, Battery Saver" but all interior lights still come on. There is no other fuse in the manual that refers to anything related to interior illumination. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Hello JoeG89709, I have a 2019 Explorer XLT with the same interesting issue. I have checked almost everywhere to find no data on wiring Specs, forums or the college of GOOGLE. Even YOU TUBE Academy failed to help resolve my issue. However, I did find (make) a solution. I don't suggest anyone to do this, I am just posting MY solution. On every overhead interior light, the socket contains three wires. Negative, Courtesy and Demand. The center wire which I cut, disables the lights to come on when the doors are opened or when the car is shut off to exit the vehicle. I then cut and tapped into each dome light (center wire) and ran them to the front overhead light console which I added a SPST switch to allow ME to choose WHEN I want the courtesy lights to operate. This did not interfere with the Demand lighting (When you press the light switch). It was a bit tricky but I am a DIYer, so I was up to the challenge. I have heard that there was a wire in the dashboard that if cut, could allow the same results but my signal tracer failed to find the EXACT wire to disable. And yes, I too tried to find the fuse governing the interior lights, that also I failed to find.

 

[peterk9]

^^Welcome to the Forum.
BTW, the member you responded to was last seen here January 17, 2019.

Peter

 

[Fmore]

^^Welcome to the Forum.
BTW, the member you responded to was last seen here January 17, 2019.

Peter

Thanks Peter, I was posting in the event that other Explorers may need that information.

 

[Hodidly]

Welcome to the Forum Joe.
It appears that the 2016+ really cut back on the number of fuses. In previous model years it listed a fuse for "Demand Lamps", turned on by their switch and also one for "Courtesy Lamps, the ones that come on when a door is opened. Not sure that you really want to disable the Battery Saver as that turns OFF most systems to keep the battery from being drained.

Peter

I have a 2018 ford explorer platinum and have located the interior fuse box [under the steering wheel / above the brake pedal] and upon inspection to remove the #1 fuse for demand lamps/ battery saver, but to my surprise the fuse has already been removed and permanently hard wired instead of a fuse.

I wanted to do the same thing as this thread stated, those #1 fuse and install inline switch to control on/off of not the interior lights per say, but to turn off the battery saving lights that surround my head lamps, and the battery saver is actually constantly draining my battery, not saving it from draining battery. I've owned this explorer almost a year and have changed out the battery TWICE already...

Battery saver, my butt...

 

[peterk9]

I have a 2018 ford explorer platinum and have located the interior fuse box [under the steering wheel / above the brake pedal] and upon inspection to remove the #1 fuse for demand lamps/ battery saver, but to my surprise the fuse has already been removed and permanently hard wired instead of a fuse.

I wanted to do the same thing as this thread stated, those #1 fuse and install inline switch to control on/off of not the interior lights per say, but to turn off the battery saving lights that surround my head lamps, and the battery saver is actually constantly draining my battery, not saving it from draining battery. I've owned this explorer almost a year and have changed out the battery TWICE already...

Battery saver, my butt...

Welcome to the Forum.
It seems the previous owner has already disabled the Battery Saver program by removing fuse #1.
The Battery Saver is a software program, not physical lights. The LED strip surrounding the headlamps is called 'Signature Lighting.
Are the Signature Lights on your Explorer also the Parking Lamps? If so, Parking Lamps are the only thing the Battery Saver Program will not turn OFF. I'm guessing that is due to a possible safety issue.
The likely reason they are staying ON is because the #1 fuse was removed, thereby disabling the Battery Saver program.

Peter

 

[JoeG89709]

As the OP, I had set an alert for this thread and 5 years later, I wanted to report that there is still no good solution to this problem, they all involve modifying the car's software (a no for me), or hijacking electrical signals (beyond my DIY skills). So I took a brute force approach and removed the light bulbs above the rearview mirror. I kept the rear ones. Not a great solution, but common ground that at least gives me a little more privacy when I arrive somewhere at night.

 

[Flashflood]

Doesn't your guys explorer have a dome light switch on the overhead console? I'm pretty sure all my fords have had it flip that to the off position. Or hit the dome light with the slash through it. Just suggesting commen things. The next thing if it really bothers you and you don't want to use the eas of forscan is unplug them.

 

[peterk9]

Doesn't your guys explorer have a dome light switch on the overhead console? I'm pretty sure all my fords have had it flip that to the off position. Or hit the dome light with the slash through it. Just suggesting commen things. The next thing if it really bothers you and you don't want to use the eas of forscan is unplug them.

That switch was only introduced, thankfully, with the 5th gen Explorer.

Peter