Aftermarket Headlights - Wiring & Issues (Group Help)

[airline tech]

OK, so your "wake up" sequence starts when you unlock the truck? Do you get one when the truck is not locked and you just open the door?

One other thing that is the Morimotos and the OLMs use the headlights for the startup sequence. Most other aftermarket lights, that I've seen, only use the DRL/turn for the sequence.

For some ADDED info: for this and normal operation

Door Open (only) if you have passive entry - grab the handle from the (Top & Bottom) to by-pass the door unlock - trigger - Result = Parking Lights (On) + Puddle - Bed Lights

Door Unlock - Turn Signal (Flash) and Parking Lights (On) + Puddle - Bed Lights

Door Lock - Turn Signal (Flash)

So, the main specific question is - if you unlock the truck - (pause) the open the door.
Will the (Sequence) Repeat after the parking lights time out from the (Unlock) trigger.

I know we had previously discussed moving the (tap) to the park light circuit and this being an issue. But I think that would (stop) the DRL's from being always on, if I am correct (the headlights) are actually using the (Trucks) Park Light Power (To Dim or Turn Off) the DRL Circuit, when the park lights are commanded (On) by the BCM, yes, they are internally bussed together, but if we look at this the same way the (Headlights - BCM) are dominate over the Start-Up sequence, the same applies to the (DRL & Park) lights - if the Park Lights are commanded (On) the DRL Power is dropped and that light (LED Bar) dims as now it's being powered by the BCM.

For the Factory LED assembly - This is the same for the (DRL & Park) Light Bar, when Park light is powered (Pin 5) and power is dropped on (Pin 6) and when DRL is Powered (Pin 6) and power is dropped on (Pin 5)

Just some (Added) info only for the circuit in question.

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[ControlNode]

OK, so your "wake up" sequence starts when you unlock the truck? Do you get one when the truck is not locked and you just open the door?

One other thing that is the Morimotos and the OLMs use the headlights for the startup sequence. Most other aftermarket lights, that I've seen, only use the DRL/turn for the sequence.

Yes, it's triggered when I unlock the truck. While I've never thought to look for this (opening the door after approach lights timeout if the wake-up sequence goes off again), I don't think it does. That is something that I figure I would have noticed at night. When I open the door I think it's the parking lights that come on without a signal flash, so missing part of the trigger logic for the wake-up sequence.

Start up Sequence: And if the optical upgrade isn't enough for you, then surely the special start-up sequence on the projectors will reel you in. When the Daytime Running light kicks on, the projectors illuminate in a two-stage sequence before turning back off. While it does absolutely nothing for performance, you can't deny the cool-factor!

Source

Reading the Morimoto site, they state it's the DRL signal that triggers their sequence, not parking lights. I don't see any valid reason, other than lazy development or rushed trying to be first on market, that you would use a switched power source for DRLs when the truck already signals that (non-LED uses low-voltage [maybe high beam] headlight without parking lights on as DRL signal) in a way that a very basic logic board could monitor for and react appropriately.

As apprehensive as I was about how the Anzo lights worked, they turned out to be perfect (Aside from unfilled holes in the connectors) to me, worth every penny during that 2024 Black Friday $420 deal.

 

[jdjeff]

I haven't connected to make any Forscan changes as described earlier. But since I always have my light switch in auto with foglights on, I tried putting the key in with light switch to off. Yes...the startup sequence works every time. However, there seems to be yet another timing issue as the DRLs now 'can' come on one at a time. It's a real short delay, doesn't happen every time, but it does happen. Will the Forscan settings that @airline tech provided clear up that also?

 

[Big Blue]

Yes, it's triggered when I unlock the truck. While I've never thought to look for this (opening the door after approach lights timeout if the wake-up sequence goes off again), I don't think it does. That is something that I figure I would have noticed at night. When I open the door I think it's the parking lights that come on without a signal flash, so missing part of the trigger logic for the wake-up sequence.

Source

Reading the Morimoto site, they state it's the DRL signal that triggers their sequence, not parking lights. I don't see any valid reason, other than lazy development or rushed trying to be first on market, that you would use a switched power source for DRLs when the truck already signals that (non-LED uses low-voltage [maybe high beam] headlight without parking lights on as DRL signal) in a way that a very basic logic board could monitor for and react appropriately.

As apprehensive as I was about how the Anzo lights worked, they turned out to be perfect (Aside from unfilled holes in the connectors) to me, worth every penny during that 2024 Black Friday $420 deal.

My OLM/Morimotos work perfectly with one minor exception. The startup sequence work as expected all the time, except when it is dark out and the switch is in auto. Then I only get the sequence on the driver side light and not on the passenger side light. It appears to be a timing issue between the way Ford powers the lights on 2 separate circuits, one for each side of the truck. Once the sequence starts it runs to completion. If the headlight is on the sequence is blocked. The wow factor of the sequence means little to this 73 YO, I'm much more interested in the better cutoff and better lighting. So, the missing sequence is other people's problem.

As far as using the factory DRL signal to trigger the startup sequence. There are two issues with that. First, between the LED and Halogen headlights there are two different DRL signals. The LED headlights use a wire in the factory plug. The Halogen headlights use a reduced voltage to the LOW beam bulbs. This would require use of Forscan to correct this. So much for plug and play. Second with the factory DRLs they only work with the switch on Auto. So for those that do not use Auto, they would never get the startup sequence or DRLs. So given the convoluted way Ford controlled it's DRLs and the differences between the US and Canada re the regulations, it was better to take control of the DRLs and use a switched power lead.

 

[airline tech]

I haven't connected to make any Forscan changes as described earlier. But since I always have my light switch in auto with foglights on, I tried putting the key in with light switch to off. Yes...the startup sequence works every time. However, there seems to be yet another timing issue as the DRLs now 'can' come on one at a time. It's a real short delay, doesn't happen every time, but it does happen. Will the Forscan settings that @airline tech provided clear up that also?

At one time before I fully understood the system and more so now that we have figured out the (Start-Up) sequence issue. I was under the impression that (ALL) LED headlamp assemblies required Forscan changes for them to function correctly, this (Impression) was I believe not entirely correct.

I based my findings on - Factory Halogen vs Factory LED (and the As-Built data) they are different due to power requirements and the (DRL = Pin #6) issue.
So, from I can tell as of now stating that (YES) if swapping in factory LED's - Forscan is required for proper operation.

Aftermarkets, where I was hung up in thinking they required the same was all the power issues that are reported - mostly the (Start-Up) sequence, which I was correct in my theory of it being a dual power issue, only instead of it being the BCM triggering the issue its the (After Market Headlight) itself that is triggering the issue, not by a fault but from a safety aspect.
With the Headlights given priority over an animated sequence

As Big Blue pointed out - the trucks lighting although powered via the BCM still has 2 separate fuses powering the Left and Right-hand lights then you have the tapped power source for the DRL's attempting to power-up and start the (Start-Up Animation) - bottom line is multiple avenues for some kind of a delay in power reaching the lights and then the lights reaction to abort or allow the start-up sequence

 

[ControlNode]

As far as using the factory DRL signal to trigger the startup sequence. There are two issues with that. First, between the LED and Halogen headlights there are two different DRL signals. The LED headlights use a wire in the factory plug. The Halogen headlights use a reduced voltage to the LOW beam bulbs. This would require use of Forscan to correct this. So much for plug and play. Second with the factory DRLs they only work with the switch on Auto. So for those that do not use Auto, they would never get the startup sequence or DRLs. So given the convoluted way Ford controlled it's DRLs and the differences between the US and Canada re the regulations, it was better to take control of the DRLs and use a switched power lead.

The differences for LED / non-LED are pretty well known at this point. I do think you can configure the DRLs to be on while the lights are in OFF mode through the IPM settings, as I recall I set this to off on my Ranger since I didn't need to have them on while driving since they are not a requirement here like in Canada and less use of the DRL leds.

 

[Big Blue]

The differences for LED / non-LED are pretty well known at this point.

Agreed

I do think you can configure the DRLs to be on while the lights are in OFF mode through the IPM settings, as I recall I set this to off on my Ranger since I didn't need to have them on while driving since they are not a requirement here like in Canada and less use of the DRL leds.

The only thing you can do in the IPC menus is turn off the DRLs so they do not come on when in Auto and out of park. The switch in Auto and not in park requirement is hard coded into the firmware, cannot be changed with a menu setting. To set the DRLs to work like Canada requires changing settings using Forscan. The use of the switched power lead basically solves the LED vs Halogen and the US vs Canadian compliance issue issues, without the need to make any setting changes, hence Plug aNd Play.

Some aftermarket headlights are specifically advertised as for replacement of OEM Halogen units ONLY. This is to avoid dealing with the OEM LED vs Halogen issue. How they deal with the US vs Canadian issue I don't know.

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