How to turn-off all lights with tailgate open? | Page 2 | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

  • Register Today It's free!

How to turn-off all lights with tailgate open?

I went to a drive-in with the explorer a couple weeks ago and it was a miserable experience. We were covering all the lights with coats and blankets. The exterior mirror lights are also on. Our explorer was the ONLY vehicle lit up like a Christmas tree. An attendant came to our vehicle and told us to turn the lights off. I caved and closed the tailgate which meant we were all viewing the screen through the defroster lines in the tiny window. Then, after 30 minutes the accessory power warning came on to prevent you from draining the battery. I had to start the truck and let it run... Thankfully it is very quiet.

I came away from the experience thinking next time we'll take the mini and some lawn chairs. Even if the above trick works, the big display puts out a lot of light and you'll get the battery warning. There's no reason why Ford couldn't program in a drive-in mode button or voice command.
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year.
Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.











I have a way to turn off the lights with the lift gate open. What I don't know is how long the radio will stay on. I have done this many times and soccer games.

0: Park car turn turn off car
1: Put ignition in accessory
2: turn radio
3: Open lift gate any way you like. .
4: Get a pencil, pen of anything thin
5: Push the latch that locks the lift gate closed, how located above your head on the lift gate
6: Wait about 30 seconds for the interior light to dim then go out
7: Listen to radio, Unknown time, 30 min to 1 hour before the computer steps in a shuts everything off
8: IMPORTANT unlock lift gate manually, push button an handle, Not Button on bottom of lift gate.
9: MANUALLY close lift gate.

Ford and many auto makers have put the switch inside the locking mechanism of the door that control the interior lightss.
Unfortunately, this did not work either.
 






Unfortunately, this did not work either.

Maybe go post a comment on the Ford facebook account for Ford's "futurist"? (Unfortunately I'm not a facebook fan/user)

I had kind of anticipated using this for the drive-in, but apparently both Explorer and Edge have this problem, and Edge has had it for 4+ years!
 






I tried one more thing. With the car off push the button of the radio power only. With mine and with the key in the car I pushed the radio button without pushing the start button. The MFT turns on and the radio plays. I don't know how long it plays but no other light turned on. I had a Escort SVT awhile back the also did the same for the radio.
 






I tried one more thing. With the car off push the button of the radio power only. With mine and with the key in the car I pushed the radio button without pushing the start button. The MFT turns on and the radio plays. I don't know how long it plays but no other light turned on. I had a Escort SVT awhile back the also did the same for the radio.
It worked !!!
 






I tried one more thing. With the car off push the button of the radio power only. With mine and with the key in the car I pushed the radio button without pushing the start button. The MFT turns on and the radio plays. I don't know how long it plays but no other light turned on. I had a Escort SVT awhile back the also did the same for the radio.

But do lights stay off with the hatch open?
 






"t4rest"'s second set of instructions have to be combined with his first set of instructions for it to work.

Here is how to get it to work.

(1) Turn-off car completely,
(2) I set my headlights to OFF,
(3) leave key in front cupholder (or somewhere near the dashboard)
(4) push-in the circular radio button with rubber edges to turn ON the radio (do not press the ignition button),
(5) close all doors (but leave them all unlocked)
(6) open tailgate,
(7) manually push the locking mechanism on the tailgate door (use your fingers/pen/screwdriver). You have to push the locking mechanism to the second "click" (otherwise the lights won't go off),
(8) wait 30 seconds for lights to dim, and then go OFF.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(9) When you are ready to close liftgate (DO NOT just close the tailgate).... you need to push the "open" button on the outside of the tailgate door (this means you will likely have to lower the tailgate door halfway to be able to press the rubber button on the outside of the tailgate door).
 






We still need FORD to come-up with a better remedy than manually closing the latch ourselves. They need some sort of voice command, macro button, or some Master switch to turn-off all interior lights (even if all doors are open).
 






is there not an auto over-ride setting on the light wheel?
 
























All in fun, do you stand on one foot, while jugling a ball in one hand, and spinning a hoop in the other, so the lights will go off. I'm too old to remember to do alll this for just turning off the interior lights! LOL
 






No, I stand on my head. It's easier. LOL.:D
 






Hey, artnalex! :)

Great job with combining the two sets of t4rest’s instructions. I agree that this is a perfect idea for www.TheFordStory.com and it looks like calb already posted the link for voting. :)

Cory

Cory - you should get extra votes - bump it upstairs for us ;)
 












calb, I forwarded the idea in addition to the www.TheFordStory.com submission. Consider it “bumped”. :)

Cory

See .... this is something I'd never get from Ford Canada :) You're the best! For what it is worth, this issue also is bugging the Edge owners from looking at their forum.
 






See .... this is something I'd never get from Ford Canada :) You're the best! For what it is worth, this issue also is bugging the Edge owners from looking at their forum.
I do everything I can with all the tools I’m given. ;) Thanks again for being such a fan, calb! :D

Cory
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year.
Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.





Hello All! I find this to be the most funniest thread ever! I had to register and write a reply. First of all thanks for the great information. We are heading to the drive in this evening and I apply the solutions provided.

Second, the funny part... For those complaining about Ford and the design problems when trying to watch movies at the drive-in. Here you go. Ford Canada is located in Oakville Ontario on Ford Drive. They manufacture the Edge and MKX and other models at this location. Here comes the funny part, Ford Drive extends into 9th line where there is a 5 Drive-in Theatre! It is less than 4 km's from the Ford plant! You would have thought that at least one of the designers would have... too much to ask I guess!
 






Back
Top