Hi guys, I have an electrical issue with my truck. I was outside after dark and was walking by my truck and noticed the gauge cluster was lit up. As I went for the door handle it shut off. What could cause this? TIA

 

Was the key in the ignition?

What was the last electrical related mod' that you've done?

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Goth 150
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Mine does the same thing. Been doing it since new. Idk why. I haven't noticed but the key in the ignition might be it. I will have to look for that. The gauge cluster will light up then go off shortly after. Its like a ghost thing. Weird but hasn't affected anything. I have no electronic mods and have never interfered with anything.

 

Yes, the key was in it. I haven't done any mods.

 

when you shut the door the parking lights stay on for about 30 seconds, this illuminates the gauge cluster as well.

key in or key out, makes no difference in mine.

it also does it when you remove the key from the ignition, it turns on the parking lights and dome lights.

only explination i can come up with is that this feature was created for those people who shut their door and say "dang! i lost my truck! if only the lights were on so i could find the darn thing!"

dumbest feature ever IMO.

 

The dash-wake-up-when-the-key-is-in-the-ignition BCM|LCM "feature" is probably associated with a like "feature" that wakes-up the PCM when ...

• the ignition is turned-off.
• -and- the key is removed from the ignition.
• -and- the door isn't opened and then closed.

There is 10-15minute PCM wake-up cycle though not a corresponding lighting one.

Have a scan gauge (AeroForce) and noticed that after turning-off the ignition, removing the key, and just sitting there waiting for someone, that the scan guage would go thru its initialization and then power-off every 10-15 minutes.

BTW ... If you leave-on the radio, turn-off the ignition, remove the key, and let the radio eventually time-out and turn-off ... as long as you haven't opened the door all you need do is press the ON/OFF/VOLUME control or one of the media selection controls and the radio will (re)turn-on until it again powers-off after 10-15minutes.

In addition to the obvious reason not to leave the key in the ignition (easier to borrow the vehicle), to preserve the battery charge and extend the life of it, I would recommend removing the key from the ignition when you park it.

Other personal tips BEFORE turning off the ignition ...

• manually turn-off the radio.
• turn-off the climate control system.
• turn-off the head/driving-lights switch.
• remove ALL accessories that are plugged-into ANY receptacles. *Including audio.
• turn-off any installed accessories.
  etc., etc., etc..

When exiting the vehicle be sure that all doors are shut and not ajar.

Whether you know it or not, the CMs (Control Modules - B(ody), L(ighting), P(ower)) are all in cahoots and talk to each other even AFTER the ignition switch is turned-off.
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Goth 150
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This (and more) can be disabled by enabling POLICE DARK MODE. *An IDS BCM parameter. What this gets you ...

• interior -AND- all exterior (front / rear parking and cargo) lights do not come-on when the door is opened and/or closed. *EXCEPTION: Door key pad will still illuminate.
  .
• when the fob is used to lock|unlock the doors, the parking lights come-on/turn-off for a VERY brief moment. *The time that the lights illuminate is MUCH, MUCH shorter than "normal". Would describe it as a flash..
  .
• when using the key fob to lock the doors, the horn will not sound.

As a BTW and FYI ...

Beginning in 2011 the instrument panel dimmer control changed to a rocker switch (from a roller thumbwheel) and with that change the ability to disable the illuminated entry feature was lost.

Prior to 2011 to disable the illuminated entry feature you only needed to rotate the instrument panel dimmer control thumbwheel to the left position, past the detent.

And Yes, I have the " Police dark car feature" -enabled-

EDIT: Fleet F-150s and Expeditions that are ordered / intended for law enforcement agency use are shipped with the " Police dark car feature" -enabled-
.

 

The truck had been setting for about 10 hours, when I noticed this. Just came on and off on its own.

 

Is/was the key in the ignition or not?
.

 

The key was in it.

 

Meaning ..... REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION.

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Goth 150
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