Headlight switch position!

[Hack_Actual]

Or short and have to move the seat far forward

AVERAGE height, dammit!

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[Roly]

Last week I had to call Ford roadside assistance for a jump start due to the headlight switch location. It seems that I turned the switch, with my knee, from off to parking lights as I departed the truck. This drained the battery completely, even though a Fordpass note said the truck had gone into sleep mode to stop a battery discharge.

 

[FULLSCALE]

Last week I had to call Ford roadside assistance for a jump start due to the headlight switch location. It seems that I turned the switch, with my knee, from off to parking lights as I departed the truck. This drained the battery completely, even though a Fordpass note said the truck had gone into sleep mode to stop a battery discharge.

That’s very surprising. I hope they have a good fix for that one or it’s going to strand a lot of people! I know in darker days that are still too bright to turn on the auto headlights I turn mine on manually... and usually forget to turn them off!

 

[Deleted member 1634]

I bumped mine once with my knee when I got it, but that's because I was way off balance trying to avoid a big mud puddle underneath the drivers door and I kind of just fell into the seat. haha Other than that one time, I haven't had any problems.

The issue I do have with the switch location is that I can't see it from my driving position. And the fog light and dimmer control buttons aren't easily found by hunting around with your fingers, especially in the dark. So anytime I want to turn on/off the fog lights or change the brightness of the dash I have to peer around the steering wheel and really hunt for it, which keeps my eyes off the road for a relatively long time. Too long sometimes, especially in the dark on deer infested roads where every millisecond counts. But I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually.

My other thought was doesn't the truck yell at you when you get out and the lights are still on? Mine does at least. I've done that a few times and once I open the door, it dings at me and I realize the lights are on. That sort of thing is in place specifically to keep you from killing your battery by leaving the lights on.

 

[AzScorpion]

I bumped mine once with my knee when I got it, but that's because I was way off balance trying to avoid a big mud puddle underneath the drivers door and I kind of just fell into the seat. haha Other than that one time, I haven't had any problems.

The issue I do have with the switch location is that I can't see it from my driving position. And the fog light and dimmer control buttons aren't easily found by hunting around with your fingers, especially in the dark. So anytime I want to turn on/off the fog lights or change the brightness of the dash I have to peer around the steering wheel and really hunt for it, which keeps my eyes off the road for a relatively long time. Too long sometimes, especially in the dark on deer infested roads where every millisecond counts. But I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually.

My other thought was doesn't the truck yell at you when you get out and the lights are still on? Mine does at least. I've done that a few times and once I open the door, it dings at me and I realize the lights are on. That sort of thing is in place specifically to keep you from killing your battery by leaving the lights on.

It does have a ding but it almost sound like the one when you first put your key into the ignition before you engage it. They should put something more annoying like the one for the seat belt .

You're right about the position of it as I have to do the same thing to see mine. I don't drive a lot at night but now that it's dark here in the mornings I'm using it more often.

 

[THLONE]

This truck is more like a cockpit in an airplane. You gotta check the dash and all controls before blasting off. Do you go through the menu checking tires, gas, and settings before launch.

 

[Floyd]

Is anyone else SUPER FRUSTRATED by the location of the headlight switch. Nearly every time I get in and out of my truck my Knee hits it and I turn on my headlights!!

I hope they move it somewhere else!

I just leave it on automatic, since it then remembers to run the driving lights on its own.
The only downside is, that setting activates the DRLs.

 

[blackc2004]

Wow, glad i"m not the only one with this problem... I keep mine in auto but when I get out I bump it into the ON position and then drains the battery down.

 

[Deleted member 1634]

It does have a ding but it almost sound like the one when you first put your key into the ignition before you engage it. They should put something more annoying like the one for the seat belt .

You're right about the position of it as I have to do the same thing to see mine. I don't drive a lot at night but now that it's dark here in the mornings I'm using it more often.

I guess it does sound similar to any other ding the truck makes for any other reason. But there should be no dings or noise at all when you get out to leave it. If it's making any sort of ding when you get out, then should probably do another sweep to see what you missed.

 

[Deleted member 1634]

I just leave it on automatic, since it then remembers to run the driving lights on its own.
The only downside is, that setting activates the DRLs.

You can turn off your DRLs in the settings menu. That's what I've done. Then putting it in auto only turns the lights on when it gets dark enough (or the wipers are activated).

 

[VAMike]

why would you not want DRLs?

 

[rang19ca]

I don't think I've hit the switch and I'm 6'1" but it does chime if i get out when the lights are left on.

 

[Floyd]

why would you not want DRLs?

DRLs were developed for Canada where they spend most of their time in darkness, however...
When DRLs are needed for a vehicle to be seen from the front, then taillights are needed for the vehicle to be seen from the rear.
With the advent of LED dashboards and DRLs, many people drove well into darkness with no taillights.

The Ranger has pretty much solved the problem by tying the auto headlights to the DRLs. thereby, at the same time, obviating DRLs.
The stigma remains, but I tolerate them because the autoheadlights also remember the setting for the driving lights.

Also with a lit dash and DRLs, fewer people tend to turn on their headlights in the rain ...again encouraging rearend collisions.

 

[VAMike]

I've been driving with drls for a long time, haven't had trouble remembering the real lights. Even easier in the ranger. I'd rather be rear ended again than have a head on (at a much higher combined speed).

 

[FULLSCALE]

DRLs were developed for Canada where they spend most of their time in darkness, however...
When DRLs are needed for a vehicle to be seen from the front, then taillights are needed for the vehicle to be seen from the rear.
With the advent of LED dashboards and DRLs, many people drove well into darkness with no taillights.

The Ranger has pretty much solved the problem by tying the auto headlights to the DRLs. thereby, at the same time, obviating DRLs.
The stigma remains, but I tolerate them because the autoheadlights also remember the setting for the driving lights.

Also with a lit dash and DRLs, fewer people tend to turn on their headlights in the rain ...again encouraging rearend collisions.

If we spent most of our time in darkness we would just use our headlights! Lol. Most of us have the same amount of daylight as everyone else.
DRL’s are there to make vehicles even more visible, making vehicles safer and reducing accidents.

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