I have a 2000 Excursion that I would like the option of bypassing the interior lights when I open the door. It wakes my kids up on long trips when I stop for fuel. My wife's Grand Caravan has it built right into the dimmer switch. Does anyone know of an effective way of doing this?

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-Nov-01 AT 03:37 PM (EST)]Get the Kids some Eye Patches or those Airline Eye masks !
*grin*
Do you want these permantly disconnected or just for trips with the kids ?


Dennis


78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
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i tries those eye patches, they won't keep 'em on...
I want to be able to hit a switch that will turn off the interior lights when the doors are open. Sounds simple enough, I just have no idea where to start.

 

First if it was me :
I'd be checking with Ford to see if another headlight switch with that special function can be had from another Model like a Navigator.
If that didn't pan out I would ask their wiring specialist if he had any ideas.
It's the NEW vehicle thing that stops me in my tracks to do something on my own,once warranty clears : There would be no stopping me!


Dennis
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles

 

I have the same problem with our Expedition (after 350 miles trying to get the little ones to sleep, I ended up duct taping all the interior lights before stopping. The only alternative was to do a Dukes of Hazzard exit through the window!) THEN, I get in a brand X Suburban, and there is a nice convenient on/off switch for interior lights next to the headlight switch and guage rheostat. Really made me mad that GM offered it and not Ford! If you wire in a switch, let us know how you did it.

 

Hey, yea, why don't you take off the kick panel and investigate the door switch. If it's some modern oddball thing with a lots of wires going to it, forget it. But, if it's like the good old days, there will be one single wire going to the switch. All the switch does is ground this wire to the door jamb frame and make the light come on. You could cut this wire, and install a switch where it would make the connection you cut for normal operation, or break the connection for no lights. Of course this would work for one door only.