Useless Feature?

[DHMag]

I was today years old when I learned that with the engine off and key out, pulling the left stalk (typically for high beam flash) turns on the all exterior illumination except fog lamps. I do not know if the same happens during daylight hours, but it does beep when you engage and disengage.

Is there any function to this feature ?

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[treimche]

Sounds like the function of that feature is to turn on all the exterior lights so you can have some light if you want it ??‍

 

[DHMag]

Sounds like the function of that feature is to turn on all the exterior lights so you can have some light if you want it ??‍

Then why not rotate the light switch to on ?

 

[Deleted member 1634]

Then why not rotate the light switch to on ?

I think because then you have to remember to turn the switch to off, and would also require you to go back into the truck to do so. This feature, I'd imagine, times out after awhile. So if you get home in the dark and need to see your way to the front door, you pop that stalk, get out and walk up and in to the house, then the truck lights shutoff once you're all done. I would agree it's a niche feature that most don't know about and even less use it. But you could say that about plenty of other features too.

 

[treimche]

I was curious about this feature, but the owner's manual doesn't mention anything about it that I could find.

 

[DHMag]

I think because then you have to remember to turn the switch to off, and would also require you to go back into the truck to do so. This feature, I'd imagine, times out after awhile. So if you get home in the dark and need to see your way to the front door, you pop that stalk, get out and walk up and in to the house, then the truck lights shutoff once you're all done. I would agree it's a niche feature that most don't know about and even less use it. But you could say that about plenty of other features too.

Thats a good point. The lights do stay on after shutting off the truck at night but the lights aren't long very long. Perhaps there's a setting in FORscan ?

 

[Deleted member 1634]

i thought we had a timer for lights after dark already, accessible in the menu?

i'll have to try this high beam stalk idea and see what it does differently.

Yeah, I think we do too. But maybe this feature makes them stay on longer? I'm not sure. Someone will have to try it and see how long they stay on for. Not it!

 

[myothercarizahearse]

about 2 minutes

 

[myothercarizahearse]

and i might find it useful

 

[treimche]

I tried this a few times the other night, and timed it. Mine stay on for 30 seconds and then turn off. I like it.

 

[DHMag]

I tried this a few times the other night, and timed it. Mine stay on for 30 seconds and then turn off. I like it.

Good to know. I looked in the dash menu and there is no adjustment. Like I said prior, it might be adjustable in FORscan.

 

[Deleted member 1634]

Good to know. I looked in the dash menu and there is no adjustment. Like I said prior, it might be adjustable in FORscan.

I thought there was an adjustment for how long the lights stay on once you shut the engine off though. Not necessarily for this feature we've been discussing. Maybe not. I've been known to be wrong before. haha

 

[Motorpsychology]

The stalk feature might be to extend the runtime of the headlight delay if needed.
It could also be a wonky glitch in the BCM software that Ford doesn't know is there, as the "feature" is not described in the Owners Manual.

 

[Hardy12000]

Quickly illuminate all bulbs so you can tell if one is out or not working properly

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Hi Folks,

Okay...I went out to my Ranger in our dark garage. Opened the door and climbed in....Took out my phone with a stop watch function. Lights were on for 39 seconds....they all went dark. So pulled the stalk. The outside lights went on and after 29.6 seconds they went out. No interior lights were on. Tried again and again 29.7 seconds. Now opened the door as I was sitting in the driver's seat Interior lights illuminated as well as the out side lights. Exited the vehicle and all the lights went out after 30.1 seconds with the interior doing a slow dim to out. This does not agree with the thread...no where close to 2 minutes nor the statement that all the bulbs illuminate. Maybe this is just Lariat behavior?

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

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