I brought my 04 F350 into a ford dealer to get the DRL's installed.... they installed a module ($150) after having it for 2 days.....but that's a LONG and ANNOYING story

They now work, although there's a 10-15 sec delay from when the ignition is turned on....service manager said that's how they operate.

My question is should all the dash/radio etc lights be on?

I don't think they should be, just the actual running lights. The dash lights should only come on when the headlights/parking lights are on IMO... did they screw up the wiring along the way?

 

Could be. I know it's a pain, but go back to that dealer, get the service manager, and explain what's going on.

I don't think the dash lights should be on ...

 

According to the service guy that's how they get wired..............BUT I could hear him talking to the tech who did the work and he said his dash lights don't come on. Then he goes on to say there's not a problem with it wired that way, to which I said yes there is. With all the dash lights running whenever the truck is running (even in the day) it will wear out the dash lights sooner.

So I have to bring it in again and leave it there all day again no doubt...

I brought it in Monday morning to get the lights wired and a block heater installed......they didn't have a heater in stock so they would do it Tuesday morning. I called mid afternoon (since they never called me) and to my surprise they hadn't even touched it. Apparently they were getting all their lifts serviced (at the same time) So I asked why no one called me.....they couldn't answer that. So I got off the phone and was getting steamed at the way they treated me, so I called back told them (in a nice tone) where to put the uninstalled heater, and that I was coming down to pick it up with just the DRL's done and asked for a total. $370 they told me.... then a few minutes later he called back saying there was a "mixup" and that they hadn't installed the DRL module, it was ordered on Monday and hadn't been worked on yet Tues @ 3pm they tell me this...........

So now i have to bring it back on Friday and their going to try to figure out how to wire it so they come on when the trucks on.....can't they just tap into the ignition wiring? ie when the ignition is on the lights are on........not the dash light though.

Cambrian Ford is now back on my list! My 94 F150 was from them and same thing.....truck sits there the whole day for minor problems and warranty work......

 

Yes, I would find a new service department. There is no good reason to treat a customer this way. A DRL kit installation should have been a 1 hour job at the most.

No, the dash light should not come on, just the headlights. The headlights don't come on full, they are operated at a reduced rate. 40% or something like that.

 

I've always thought that the DRL module was easy to install - basically a different GEM. No "wiring" involved.

DRL's usually use the high beams of the headlights, but hooked up in series - so they are much dimmer than normal.

Are your headlights on "full" when the key is on?

I'm starting to wonder if some bright guy never ordered the module, and just figured they'd hook a relay up to the headlights with the ignition key being the relay trigger. And screwed it up.

 

I can't believe you would go through all this when all you really need to do is reach over with your left hand and turn the darn light switch on. You can't be serious about the dash lights wearing out...

 

With all the crap they put me through for a "basic install" they better fix it.....

Why would I want to turn my switch light on? There on now, and I want them off.......

 

Man...find another dealership. I had DRL's installed on an 01 f150 and it was a simple module install and an hour of labour charge. And they worked exactly like you expect them to...

 

Aren't DRL's required in Canada now? And no, turning them on by hand doesn't make them Daytime-Running Lights

 

??????????????,,very mysterious, i have always worried about when my dash light bulgs would burn out,does anybody know the average life of the dash lights.? just one more thing to worry about. my left hand gets tired turning those lights on nd off.

 

DRL's should not turn on your dash lights or tail lights. That's why more and more cars with DRL's are coming with automatic headlamps. Driver's drive with DRL's on and when the sun goes down, they forget that they don't have tail lights until they get rear-ended. Love my automatic headlamps. Pulled the fuse on my DRL's. Good luck with the headache.

 

I don't really know but the 4x4 **** bulb is burnt out in mine at ~60k miles.