HeadLight Mod - All On
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Dayton Ohio
HeadLight Mod - All On
On my old duramax, I rigged up the headlight relays so that when I had my high beams on, my fog lights also stayed on, whereas now on the Ford, they go off.
Also, since the low beams and high beams were in separate housings, I also modified it so that the lows were also on.
So when I had my high beams on, I had - Highs, Lows, Fogs and DRLs.
I'd like to do something similar on the Ford, but cant seem to find any electrical schematics online.
For the Duramax, it consisted of using diodes between the relays to accompish this.
Anyone have access to the schematic on our trucks so I can do the mod and a right up?
I really miss having all the extra light when driving at night on rural roads.
Also, since the low beams and high beams were in separate housings, I also modified it so that the lows were also on.
So when I had my high beams on, I had - Highs, Lows, Fogs and DRLs.
I'd like to do something similar on the Ford, but cant seem to find any electrical schematics online.
For the Duramax, it consisted of using diodes between the relays to accompish this.
Anyone have access to the schematic on our trucks so I can do the mod and a right up?
I really miss having all the extra light when driving at night on rural roads.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 482
Likes: 28
From: Southern Ontario
I would suggest the Bright Box. Do a search, there are threads on it. Gives you the ability to have Low, High, and Fogs all on at the same time. Not cheap but also gets a better electrical connection to the headlights. If I understand correctly there are bus signals that can get things mucked up if not there and the Bright Box takes care of that.
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From: Dayton Ohio
I am aware of that product, but feel it is overpriced.
Similar products existed for GM products for the same price point.
The solution I have in mind, will cost less than $5, so long as I can access the wiring schematics of the relays that control the lights. This would all be after the can BUS and shouldnt cause any interference.
I am willing to be the first guiny pig and post a how to here.
Similar products existed for GM products for the same price point.
The solution I have in mind, will cost less than $5, so long as I can access the wiring schematics of the relays that control the lights. This would all be after the can BUS and shouldnt cause any interference.
I am willing to be the first guiny pig and post a how to here.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 482
Likes: 28
From: Southern Ontario
The fact you know about a "can BUS" and what a diode does puts you further ahead than I. I went for the Bright Box; received about 2 weeks ago but not installed yet. If you make this work for under $10 I will be depressed. Good Luck .... subscribing.
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Senior User
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From: Dayton Ohio
Don't be depressed, the bright box is a good product and they have found a niche market. it is a simple device, more or less plug and play.
If our trucks have a dedicated relay controlling fogs/lows/highs, like my GM did, then this will be a piece of cake. It will require the use of a soldering iron to make up the diode jumpers.
If our trucks have a dedicated relay controlling fogs/lows/highs, like my GM did, then this will be a piece of cake. It will require the use of a soldering iron to make up the diode jumpers.
Tuned
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 287
Likes: 2
From: Arvada, CO
Don't be depressed, the bright box is a good product and they have found a niche market. it is a simple device, more or less plug and play.
If our trucks have a dedicated relay controlling fogs/lows/highs, like my GM did, then this will be a piece of cake. It will require the use of a soldering iron to make up the diode jumpers.
If our trucks have a dedicated relay controlling fogs/lows/highs, like my GM did, then this will be a piece of cake. It will require the use of a soldering iron to make up the diode jumpers.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 118
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From: Spokane, WA
Try looking through this:
https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...1/maintoc.html
My internet connection is too slow or I'd look through it myself.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...1/maintoc.html
My internet connection is too slow or I'd look through it myself.
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I may be mistaken, and if I am, please don't give me h&ll about it, but I'm thinking that there is a federal and or state law in most if not all states that prohibit having the high beams AND the fog lights on at the same time. Might be worth checking into before you change wiring around.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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Its annoying. Personally I hardly ever use the fog lights actually for fog. I like them for more as driving lights. When you use your high beams you definitely loose some of the illumination directly in front of you so it would be nice if the "fogs" would stay on. Sure I could add some aftermarket driving lights, but with as many lights that are already on these trucks I shouldn't have too.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Dayton Ohio
I may be mistaken, and if I am, please don't give me h&ll about it, but I'm thinking that there is a federal and or state law in most if not all states that prohibit having the high beams AND the fog lights on at the same time. Might be worth checking into before you change wiring around.
I found one reference somewhere about high-beams, but the thought was if you turned your highs off like you should when driving in traffic, it wouldnt be a problem and no one would notice.
I also read that since you dont use high beams in fog, that the fog lights were always wired to not come on then.
I dont use mine as fog lights, I use them as driving lights to see the outer edge of the road...on my other truck, the factory fogs lit a lot of more of the side ditches than these do. They definitely helped see animals lurking on the side of the road like deer, coons, etc.
I also imagine it is one of those laws on the books that aren't enforced unless you are being stupid about it. Like window tinting.
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Senior User
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From: Dayton Ohio
I spent some more time on this last-night, and it appears that the relay for the fogs is an internal relay inside the interior fuse box.
The fuses for the fog lights are pre-relay, so using a diode from the high beam to this fuse, wont work, because the relay is not energized.
So next up, I'll design my own harness and relay that allows me to control the fogs from an up-fitter, bypassing the headlight switch.
I will then probably leave them on all the time as DRLs, since our trucks dont have DRLs and I like the safety they can bring.
I already have my lights on whenever I drive...I set the switch to auto, and then unhooked the dash light sensor, so it thinks it is always dark out.
With my planned setup, if the upfitter is off, then the fogs will come on/off like they do stock, the upfitter will simply override that option and turn them on whenever the ignition is on.
I just cant justify the cost of the bright box, personally.
The fuses for the fog lights are pre-relay, so using a diode from the high beam to this fuse, wont work, because the relay is not energized.
So next up, I'll design my own harness and relay that allows me to control the fogs from an up-fitter, bypassing the headlight switch.
I will then probably leave them on all the time as DRLs, since our trucks dont have DRLs and I like the safety they can bring.
I already have my lights on whenever I drive...I set the switch to auto, and then unhooked the dash light sensor, so it thinks it is always dark out.
With my planned setup, if the upfitter is off, then the fogs will come on/off like they do stock, the upfitter will simply override that option and turn them on whenever the ignition is on.
I just cant justify the cost of the bright box, personally.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 375
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From: CO Mnts
Not addressing your plan to have all lights on at the same time, just responding to the DRL part.
I read multiple times that the F250/350 trucks in Canada are required to have DRL. It is turned off in the US. The simplest solution was to take your truck into a dealership and have them turn on DRL on your truck.
I plan on doing this when I get to the dealership. Using the fogs as DRL's is not a bad plan either though.
I read multiple times that the F250/350 trucks in Canada are required to have DRL. It is turned off in the US. The simplest solution was to take your truck into a dealership and have them turn on DRL on your truck.
I plan on doing this when I get to the dealership. Using the fogs as DRL's is not a bad plan either though.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 436
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From: Salt Lake City, UT
Not addressing your plan to have all lights on at the same time, just responding to the DRL part.
I read multiple times that the F250/350 trucks in Canada are required to have DRL. It is turned off in the US. The simplest solution was to take your truck into a dealership and have them turn on DRL on your truck.
I plan on doing this when I get to the dealership. Using the fogs as DRL's is not a bad plan either though.
I read multiple times that the F250/350 trucks in Canada are required to have DRL. It is turned off in the US. The simplest solution was to take your truck into a dealership and have them turn on DRL on your truck.
I plan on doing this when I get to the dealership. Using the fogs as DRL's is not a bad plan either though.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 408
Likes: 2
From: Canada
A couple of things - all of the lighting is controlled by the BCM output through mosfets rather than relays. The CANbus monitors which position the lighting switch selector is in to allow the BCM to determine which lights should be turned on.
Your truck does have daytime running lights as a programmable option - normally they run at anywhere from 60 to 80 percent of full power - however, if you install a variable voltage ballast HID system like the DDM Tuning sets for around $100, the HIDs will be full power even though the system runs in DRL mode. The DDM HID's at 4500k are significantly better than the stock system, especially when it is raining.
I'm in Canada where the DRL are already programmed since it is federal law here. But, you can get get it programmed at your dealer or by anyone with a VCM.
Your truck does have daytime running lights as a programmable option - normally they run at anywhere from 60 to 80 percent of full power - however, if you install a variable voltage ballast HID system like the DDM Tuning sets for around $100, the HIDs will be full power even though the system runs in DRL mode. The DDM HID's at 4500k are significantly better than the stock system, especially when it is raining.
I'm in Canada where the DRL are already programmed since it is federal law here. But, you can get get it programmed at your dealer or by anyone with a VCM.
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Senior User
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From: Dayton Ohio
Good to know the dealers will do this.
I also want to ask mine to make it so when I open the doors at night, all the exterior lights do NOT come on.
I understand why they did this, but I dont want it.
I do not like being in the not so good part of town, at 1am, opening my doors and my truck light up like a christmas tree.
In my case, it draws attention to a high dollar truck, at the wrong time.
They could have at LEAST made this an option in the dash control software.
I also want to ask mine to make it so when I open the doors at night, all the exterior lights do NOT come on.
I understand why they did this, but I dont want it.
I do not like being in the not so good part of town, at 1am, opening my doors and my truck light up like a christmas tree.
In my case, it draws attention to a high dollar truck, at the wrong time.
They could have at LEAST made this an option in the dash control software.