Dome Light Disconnect
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Cypress, CA
Dome Light Disconnect
I work with a local charity and one of the vehicles is a 15-passenger 2006 E-350. Has manual crank windows and is "bare bones". Have had challenges with the interior lights being left on and draining the battery. This is a pull-out headlight switch with a twist past a detent to turn on the interior lights. The interior lights do go on and off when the doors are opened and closed.
Is there a way to adapt this beast so that the interior lights go off after a few minutes - like our other vehicles - or not have the interior lights controlled by the headlight switch - i.e. open the door to turn on the light.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. This vehicle needs to be ready to go when there is a need for our assistance.
Riuss
Is there a way to adapt this beast so that the interior lights go off after a few minutes - like our other vehicles - or not have the interior lights controlled by the headlight switch - i.e. open the door to turn on the light.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. This vehicle needs to be ready to go when there is a need for our assistance.
Riuss
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Outside of Memphis, TN
The wire is (i think) the orange/light green striped wire coming off the rotary switch. I found on my 05 van that the instrument cluster controls the lights, and the rotary switch just sends a signal. You do have to tear apart the dashboard to get that switch out though...
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Since I work out of my van the doors are also frequently opened/closed or simply left open for long periods of time. A Truk-Lite #80354 with integral switch solved this problem for me; rear area is lighted by a separate system, the rear small dome light removed completely.
This allows the light to stay off until its actually needed regardless if the doors are open or if the headlight switch is set to keep the dome light on. Since the switch is located in the light housing its a bit easier than fishing for the signal wire behind the dash----not a fun thing as 95CW says.
On another note I'd have the current battery load tested. Most batteries in good condition should withstand the dome lights on for at least a few hours before running down.
This allows the light to stay off until its actually needed regardless if the doors are open or if the headlight switch is set to keep the dome light on. Since the switch is located in the light housing its a bit easier than fishing for the signal wire behind the dash----not a fun thing as 95CW says.
On another note I'd have the current battery load tested. Most batteries in good condition should withstand the dome lights on for at least a few hours before running down.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Cypress, CA
Thanks and I will look into the truklite. I did load check the battery and it is good. The van had been sitting for three days between users apparently with the dome lights on.
Russ
Russ
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Cypress, CA
I went to the website and looked at the light. Nice unit. What I am looking for is some way to have the lights go off automatically after a given amount of time. The truk-lite would be turned on and off manually as I understand it. I would have the same challenge if the lights were left on.
On our other Econoline - which seems to be a more "deluxe" model, the lights cycle off by themselves after a minute or two.
Russ
On our other Econoline - which seems to be a more "deluxe" model, the lights cycle off by themselves after a minute or two.
Russ
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Not sure how adding an interior light & another switch in rear will help operator remember to turn off interior lights? Especially w/o disconnecting main switch for OEM interior lights behind dash.
Presume the products suggested are from Truck-Lite?
Truck-Lite - Catalog : Interior & Utility Lamps
Not sure how many lights are in '06 "bare bones" 15 passenger, but full headliner versions have row of very nice 'airline' lights down center. High end versions add courtesy lights in door ways that double as marker lights to warn oncoming traffic of open doors. In total they add up to considerable current draw.
When I want to leave my '92 Club Wagon doors open for extended period, w/o interior lights on, I unscrew rear door jam switch & unplug it. Tried pulling fuse but it kills stereo/clock I want on.
Yes, the FORD Econoline light switch is a dinosaur. My folk's Subaru has nifty interior light rheostat time delay that keeps lights on brite while you buckled up, then fades gradually to off.
The Econoline switch is also a PITA to access b/c of dash design. However the slick way to resolve RangerRuss's problem might be to add a 12 volt delay timer. Adjustable delays are available on eBay for under $10 & once you gut the dash, identify the interior light wire, should be EZ to splice in.
Presume the products suggested are from Truck-Lite?
Truck-Lite - Catalog : Interior & Utility Lamps
Not sure how many lights are in '06 "bare bones" 15 passenger, but full headliner versions have row of very nice 'airline' lights down center. High end versions add courtesy lights in door ways that double as marker lights to warn oncoming traffic of open doors. In total they add up to considerable current draw.
When I want to leave my '92 Club Wagon doors open for extended period, w/o interior lights on, I unscrew rear door jam switch & unplug it. Tried pulling fuse but it kills stereo/clock I want on.
Yes, the FORD Econoline light switch is a dinosaur. My folk's Subaru has nifty interior light rheostat time delay that keeps lights on brite while you buckled up, then fades gradually to off.
The Econoline switch is also a PITA to access b/c of dash design. However the slick way to resolve RangerRuss's problem might be to add a 12 volt delay timer. Adjustable delays are available on eBay for under $10 & once you gut the dash, identify the interior light wire, should be EZ to splice in.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
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What year is it?
Had not noticed this feature on any '92-'07 Econoline.
Had not noticed this feature on any '92-'07 Econoline.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Cypress, CA
The E-350 15-pass is a 2006. No headliner. Has two dome lights on front ceiling near the inside rear view mirror and one in the very back directly over the rear doors.
The second E-350 is a 2008 where the interior has been customized with captains chairs, table and filing cabinets. Conversion was done after-market by the Ford Dealer who is now out of business.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Russ
The second E-350 is a 2008 where the interior has been customized with captains chairs, table and filing cabinets. Conversion was done after-market by the Ford Dealer who is now out of business.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Russ
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