Can't activate running lights on '17 Expedition Limited

[Stotadude]

I just traded my 2014 F150 FX4 for a '17 Expedition Limited and so far I really like it. I loved the truck but I no longer use the box so the SUV made more sense. I am learning more and more about the vehicle and the options are a little different between the pickup and suv.

For example, the F150 had LED headlights but the Expedition has halogen which are definitely not as bright for night driving. I wonder why as the Expedition is 3 yrs newer and I would have thought Ford would be putting LED's in more and more vehicles. I would like LED's on the Expedition but do not want to spend a lot of money having to do an expensive conversion.

Secondly, I have been thru the settings over and over again and I cannot find a setting for running lights. I thought it was a law on newer vehicles that they had to have running lights. I've looked online and tried a few suggestions but cannot find how to turn them on.

I really like the "rain-sensing" windshield and am simply amazed at how well it works.

I bought this from a dealer who got it from a corporate account or lease. The rear windshield has a circular scratch from something sharp that kept going back and forth for a long time. I guess there is really no fix for this other than windshield replacement. I've seen other Expeditions with the same issue. I bought this vehicle with 60K miles so I have no warranty protection.

So overall my wife and I really like the vehicle but would like to make a few minor adjustments. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[coolzzy]

Do you mean daytime running lights? Fleet/leas vehicles came standard with them, but it is not a law that they be required. You can turn on just your running lights using the selector nob to the left of the steering wheel but I just leave mine in the auto position and pulled out for fog lights. You can use forscan if you want to enable daytime running lights but I have them on mine and hate them. I'll be getting around to disabling them through forscan shortly.

 

[Stotadude]

The last 4 or 5 vehicles I've had all had DRL so I would like them. I have my headlights on auto and fog lamps activated but nothing lights up until darkness. What is forscan?

 

[barrydu4]

When I was stationed in England you had to have headlights on. I became use to them. Before I got my 2017 Limited I would cover the sensor on the dash. With the Limited I can have the DSL's all the time. I truly believe that DSL's really help to be seen.

 

[Black]

I just traded my 2014 F150 FX4 for a '17 Expedition Limited and so far I really like it. I loved the truck but I no longer use the box so the SUV made more sense. I am learning more and more about the vehicle and the options are a little different between the pickup and suv.

For example, the F150 had LED headlights but the Expedition has halogen which are definitely not as bright for night driving. I wonder why as the Expedition is 3 yrs newer and I would have thought Ford would be putting LED's in more and more vehicles. I would like LED's on the Expedition but do not want to spend a lot of money having to do an expensive conversion.

Secondly, I have been thru the settings over and over again and I cannot find a setting for running lights. I thought it was a law on newer vehicles that they had to have running lights. I've looked online and tried a few suggestions but cannot find how to turn them on.

I really like the "rain-sensing" windshield and am simply amazed at how well it works.

I bought this from a dealer who got it from a corporate account or lease. The rear windshield has a circular scratch from something sharp that kept going back and forth for a long time. I guess there is really no fix for this other than windshield replacement. I've seen other Expeditions with the same issue. I bought this vehicle with 60K miles so I have no warranty protection.

So overall my wife and I really like the vehicle but would like to make a few minor adjustments. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

The reason for the scratch on the rear windshield is that these trucks use a stupid proprietary wiper blade that is poorly designed and cost twice as much as a normal blade and rental/fleet vehicles people just don't care. So once the rubber goes the metal of the blade gouges the glass. Mine had the same issue but the dealer I bought from replaced the glass.

ForScan is a program that will allow you to make tweaks to your control modules. One of many things you can do is activate your DRLs. I set mine to be foglights and parking lights.

It is a bit daunting at first. You will want to read this thread and it will fully explain. Well worth the read and pretty easy once you get over the fear of giving it a try.
If I can do it anyone can.
https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/forscan-tweaks-2015.32082/

 

[LokiWolf]

Also, Just for clarity, your 2014 had HID’s, not LED. There are several aftermarket HID kits that work well. LED retrofits that work as well are still in their infancy.

FORSCAN is your friend for several of the tweaks you are wanting. DRL’s should be doable.

I would have definitely made the dealer replace the rear glass if it was scratched bad.

 

[Plati]

....
I would have definitely made the dealer replace the rear glass if it was scratched bad.

You mean you would have written that up as part of the purchase deal before you signed and paid for the vehicle? So the dealer would have just added that cost to the price offered and you would have paid for it. They dont do anything out of the goodness of their heart.

or .....
buy it with scratch and pay to have it fixed yourself, same end result

ON THE ORIGINAL POST
My 2014 EL doesnt seem to have DRL.
When I set it to auto, no DRL.
The Owners Manual says they will come on "if so equipped"
I have no idea how to find out if it was equipped with that.
Bought used and dont have STICKER and cant find any way to get it.

I looked up the options for my 2014 EL and it appears I have 201a & 202a ... and no mention of DRL in any of the options. Just seems like they used to offer this in an Expy but stopped doing that. No way to set it in Settings or MyKey. I would like to have that, may ask my Dealer if they can set it using a Service Tool.

 

[Flexpedition]

Most, if not all, mobile stone polishers can polish the windshield wiper scratches off of your back window. Just look for some reviews of a local guy that does granite or marble polishing. Kitchen, bathroom, and cemetery type.

My 2008 has DRLs. Was a $40'ish option when ordered new. It sounds as if you are unfamiliar with FORSCAN. I'd probably recommend asking a Ford dealer to activate this feature for you during your next oil change. Will probably want to charge you something for doing it of course. If you are a negotiator you can haggle paying for an oil change/tire rotation package, and in lieu of rotating the tires, activating daytime running lights.

 

[LokiWolf]

You mean you would have written that up as part of the purchase deal before you signed and paid for the vehicle? So the dealer would have just added that cost to the price offered and you would have paid for it. They dont do anything out of the goodness of their heart.

or .....
buy it with scratch and pay to have it fixed yourself, same end result

ON THE ORIGINAL POST
My 2014 EL doesnt seem to have DRL.
When I set it to auto, no DRL.
The Owners Manual says they will come on "if so equipped"
I have no idea how to find out if it was equipped with that.
Bought used and dont have STICKER and cant find any way to get it.

I looked up the options for my 2014 EL and it appears I have 201a & 202a ... and no mention of DRL in any of the options. Just seems like they used to offer this in an Expy but stopped doing that. No way to set it in Settings or MyKey. I would like to have that, may ask my Dealer if they can set it using a Service Tool.

His Expedition is a 2017...Not a 2014. His previous Truck was 2014. Reading comprehension...

I guess I have a higher standard than you. Our 2015 Expedition came from Canada, and back glass had fine scratches from wiping salt across the window with the wiper. Dealer offered to have glass replaced when I brought it up. I asked for $500 off the price of the vehicle instead, and they had no issue with that. This was AFTER we had already negotiated the final price. Also had them replace wheel caps that were tarnished, replace a damaged trim strip, and polish out several scratches in one of the wheels. It is all about how badly they want the sale and being willing to walk away.

After that I went to cleaning up the scratches.

Here is my recommendation on what you need. Full disclosure, I used to replace auto glass for a living 15 plus years ago, so I am comfortable working with glass.

Griots is who I use. I use their glass polishing pads with their Glass Polish then Fine glass polish, the my hand with the Fine Glass polish. Take your time and you should be able to get most of it out.

Good Luck.

 

[chuck s]

The LED fog lights on the '17 Expedition just beg to be turned on as DRLs. Typical Ford dealer will tell you it can't be done. Those who know how to do it will want a lot of money for 5 minutes work. Forscan software and a $30 OBD2 interface for your laptop will allow DRLs and and several other handy things to be set such as turning the blinding headlight and fog light indicators off on the dash, number of blinks for the momentary turn signals, Bambi mode fog lights which remain on with high beams -- very nice if you ever get up to North Country, enable the Ford brake controller, etc.

When the fog lights are set to DRL they're on all the time until darkness after which they're controlled by the headlight light switch. Unless you pull it out the DRLs will turn off when it gets dark and the headlights turn on.

-- Chuck

 

[Plati]

HavasuMike enabled DRL's using Forscan
https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/first-try-problem-changing-drl.35518/#post-302138

and yes that's not a 2017, its a 2016 ... but good info regardless
all information is good, part of the puzzle

DRL's required in Canada ... sort of
so one would think all Expys are born with that inherent capability
https://www.thestar.com/autos/2016/...-daytime-running-lights-legal-in-ontario.html
So I better be aware of where I'm driving in Canada and turn on lights as required, or just have dealer enable them for me ... or get Forscan and do myself

Coolzzy said on one post that only (USA) Fleet vehicles come with it enabled

 

[LokiWolf]

HavasuMike enabled DRL's using Forscan
https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/first-try-problem-changing-drl.35518/#post-302138

and yes its not a 2017, its a 2016 ... but good info regardless
all information is good, part of the puzzle

Yes, All Settings Needed for ClassicDRL, or Fogs as DRL can be found here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iO4Uz1shNRwZv5gi2TKARDo2Y7lfSOMFj6Gott8g7yg/htmlview

I personally do the Fogs as DRL.

 

[Stotadude]

I didn't even notice the rear windshield scratch until a few days after purchase. I have a 60 day warranty but doubt the small dealer will cover the scratch. I will contact them tomorrow to find out. Thanks for the update on HID lights on my '14 F150 - they sure were bright. I see OBD's for $30 and $90. I'm guessing the $90 one is better. Been experiencing a lot of fog lately in early morning driving. Fog lights and low beams let me see much better than high beams.

 

[fidget247]

The LED fog lights on the '17 Expedition just beg to be turned on as DRLs. Typical Ford dealer will tell you it can't be done. Those who know how to do it will want a lot of money for 5 minutes work. Forscan software and a $30 OBD2 interface for your laptop will allow DRLs and and several other handy things to be set such as turning the blinding headlight and fog light indicators off on the dash, number of blinks for the momentary turn signals, Bambi mode fog lights which remain on with high beams -- very nice if you ever get up to North Country, enable the Ford brake controller, etc.

When the fog lights are set to DRL they're on all the time until darkness after which they're controlled by the headlight light switch. Unless you pull it out the DRLs will turn off when it gets dark and the headlights turn on.

-- Chuck

chuck S, I'm new to Forscan. can I download the IOS app from the app store and then get a ELM327 WiFi device and be ready to rock and roll on changing the DRL to the LED lights, removing the light indicators off the dash and things like that? Or do I need to have Forscan on my computer to do these things?

 

[LokiWolf]

chuck S, I'm new to Forscan. can I download the IOS app from the app store and then get a ELM327 WiFi device and be ready to rock and roll on changing the DRL to the LED lights, removing the light indicators off the dash and things like that? Or do I need to have Forscan on my computer to do these things?

The mobile app is only for monitoring, no changes. You need the PC version to make changes.

 

[chuck s]

As Loki notes you need to run Forscan from a computer, not your phone. Typically a laptop. I prefer a hard wire OBD2 interface to Bluetooth but either method has been reported to work.



$30 on Amazon.
(That's a link.)

-- Chuck

 

[Motorcity muscle]

Can the DRL be turned on with this tool above on an '07?