Keep interior lights off while door is open?

[Michael110052]

So, I'm trying to start on a new lighting project. I want to keep my interior lights off when I open my door at night since I got extremely bright leds all in my interior and it just lights up every single inch of my car lol. Does anyone have any ideas on where to start, or can point me to the right direction/forum? Google isn't helping me much this time.

[FordNut]

Maybe the CVPI has such an option? Seems like I heard something to that effect awhile back. Not sure how it is done, maybe something is different in the LCM or maybe a switch connected to it.

[Spectragod]

Program it for dark car, you need an IDS for that. Or, interrupt the line going into the LCM with a switch.

[fastblackmerc]

I believe there is an police option for "dark" mode. I'll check the electrical manual when I get home tonight.

You could also add a switch.

[fastblackmerc]

Try these:

https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-7865546952023728:2397984449&ie=UTF-8&q=dark+mode&sa=Search#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=dark%20mode&gsc.page=1

http://www.idmsvcs.com/2vmod/lcm/darkcar.html

http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2385986

These may or may not work as the wiring harness may be different on the MM vs CVPI.

Found using google.......

[fastblackmerc]

If you still can't make it happen, let me know.

[EMAS]

The same LCM is used in the 03-05 Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis and Marauder. There is a pin on the LCM to activate dark mode when it is grounded. The problem is that pin "programs" the LCM when it is powered up through one of the constant voltage feeds. This means that when you are entering or exiting dark mode you need to disconnect power to the LCM connect or disconnect the ground from that pin. So if you enter dark mode you can't really toggle back and forth. You can however still turn on the dome light with the instrument cluster dimmer switch.

The only question is will it turn on when it gets an unlock signal from the remote or keyless entry. That is not something that is present on a P71 so who knows how the LCM will react if it has been programmed for dark mode.

The problem is finding the correct pin. The diagram that I have shows that it connects to a terminal #7 but it doesn't not say which of the 3 connectors that particular terminal #7 is in. It does show that another terminal #7 is used for input from the autolamp sensor on civilian cars or the fuse box on P71s. So you have two connectors who's terminal #7 could activate dark mode. Providing ground on the wrong one may or may not damage the LCM.

You could also put a switch to interrupt the signal from the door ajar input which will not cause the lights to stay off if you use Keyless or remote entry.

[Michael110052]

Thanks for the reply's. I like the idea of interrupting the door sensors since it seems easier and it would be nice to still have the lights come on with the remote. Does anybody know exactly where the sensors all meet up, if they do meet up? And if not what would the actual sensor look like inside the door? I'm going to start taking it apart tomorrow, and would like to have a basic idea of what to look for.

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[Michael110052]

Ahh ok never mind, just found some on Google. Looks like the sensor would be right on the door latch so not much to take off... Hopefully... Lol.

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[robertmoreno14]

My 01 grand marquis was a detective car Before I purchased it. It has dark mode activated. Will not illuminate when you open driver door manually, will not chime if key is in ignition and door is open. I have keyless entry and the interior lights turn on when unlock button is pressed. Battery saver is still activated. Pretty neat feature if you ask me. A few years ago I read about the feature and how to activate it. It's in the dash area somewhere, will investigate.

[Michael110052]

You know, I would like to get rid of that chime too pretty good idea. Good thing I haven't started on the door sensors with school and work in my way. But i will look into the dark mode instead now.

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[EMAS]

My 01 grand marquis was a detective car Before I purchased it. It has dark mode activated. Will not illuminate when you open driver door manually, will not chime if key is in ignition and door is open. I have keyless entry and the interior lights turn on when unlock button is pressed. Battery saver is still activated. Pretty neat feature if you ask me. A few years ago I read about the feature and how to activate it. It's in the dash area somewhere, will investigate.

Good to know that dark mode will still allow the keyless and remote entry to still cause the lights to come on.


You know, I would like to get rid of that chime too pretty good idea. Good thing I haven't started on the door sensors with school and work in my way. But i will look into the dark mode instead now.

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Dark mode does not affect the key in ignition or head light on chime. I've had a few P71s and whether dark mode is active or not the chime is still active. The chime is just muted on police models. Not sure how they do it but if you are some place quiet and you listen carefully you can hear the faintest ding, ding, ding.

In my previous post I pointed you to the 2 possible pins on the LCM connector that activate/deactivate dark mode. You will need to put a terminal in the connector to do it. So maybe go to the wrecking yard and find an 03-05 P71 and figure out which connector has the extra wire and get it. You can then remove that terminal from that connector and place it in the connector in your car. Then it is just a matter of disconnecting your battery connecting that wire to ground and then reconnecting the battery.

[Spectragod]

Good to know that dark mode will still allow the keyless and remote entry to still cause the lights to come on.



Dark mode does not affect the key in ignition or head light on chime. I've had a few P71s and whether dark mode is active or not the chime is still active. The chime is just muted on police models. Not sure how they do it but if you are some place quiet and you listen carefully you can hear the faintest ding, ding, ding.

In my previous post I pointed you to the 2 possible pins on the LCM connector that activate/deactivate dark mode. You will need to put a terminal in the connector to do it. So maybe go to the wrecking yard and find an 03-05 P71 and figure out which connector has the extra wire and get it. You can then remove that terminal from that connector and place it in the connector in your car. Then it is just a matter of disconnecting your battery connecting that wire to ground and then reconnecting the battery.

Key in the ignition chime ...... Most up fitters modded the switch assembly on 92-04 Vic's, super simple to do.

You guys are re inventing the wheel with your interior light cutoff. Each door switch runs to the LCM, interrupt the ones you want with a switch.

[EMAS]

Key in the ignition chime ...... Most up fitters modded the switch assembly on 92-04 Vic's, super simple to do.

You guys are re inventing the wheel with your interior light cutoff. Each door switch runs to the LCM, interrupt the ones you want with a switch.

Yes it is easy to disable the key chime I was trying to point out that Dark Mode does not affect chimes. I buy my P71 daily drivers from one agency and all of them have their key and headlight chimes seriously muted but not turned off.

What is the best way to go depends on the desired outcome. If you want to semi-permanently disable turning on the dome light when the doors are open the adding a wire and grounding it to activate Dark Mode is the easiest way to go.

Interrupting the door switches is not a good idea in my opinion. Their signals are not only used for the dome light. Their status is relayed to the air suspension computer by the DDM. That is used to tell the RAS when to vent, and when to go to sleep.

To avoid digging a door into the dirt or sidewalk when the car is unloaded and to prevent needless cycling it won't vent until it detects the door closing after detecting a door being opened. It then goes to sleep a few minutes after it has detected key off door opened and closed.

[Spectragod]

Yes it is easy to disable the key chime I was trying to point out that Dark Mode does not affect chimes. I buy my P71 daily drivers from one agency and all of them have their key and headlight chimes seriously muted but not turned off.

What is the best way to go depends on the desired outcome. If you want to semi-permanently disable turning on the dome light when the doors are open the adding a wire and grounding it to activate Dark Mode is the easiest way to go.

Interrupting the door switches is not a good idea in my opinion. Their signals are not only used for the dome light. Their status is relayed to the air suspension computer by the DDM. That is used to tell the RAS when to vent, and when to go to sleep.

To avoid digging a door into the dirt or sidewalk when the car is unloaded and to prevent needless cycling it won't vent until it detects the door closing after detecting a door being opened. It then goes to sleep a few minutes after it has detected key off door opened and closed.

P71's don't have RAS. As far as disabling in a MM, you could utilize relays so that when the car is off, you can open the doors with no lighting, when running, lights and RAS works as it should.

[VA-Mach1]

Easiest way would be to roll the dimmer switch down till it clicks to the off position.

[jwibbity]

Easiest way would be to roll the dimmer switch down till it clicks to the off position.

Go open your car door and let me know how rolling the dimmer works for you...... :flamer:

[VA-Mach1]

Go open your car door and let me know how rolling the dimmer works for you...... :flamer:
I don't have a Marauder so I could be wrong. Not afraid to admit it. However, rolling the dimmer switch to off position has worked to not turn on the inside lights (when the doors are opened) on the other 7 Fords I have owned.

[fastblackmerc]

I don't have a Marauder so I could be wrong. Not afraid to admit it. However, rolling the dimmer switch to off position has worked to not turn on the inside lights (when the doors are opened) on the other 7 Fords I have owned.

Funny... didn't work on my MM. The dimmer switch is just that... dims the gauge / instrument panel illumination. Rotating it all the way turns on the interior lights.

[EMAS]

P71's don't have RAS. As far as disabling in a MM, you could utilize relays so that when the car is off, you can open the doors with no lighting, when running, lights and RAS works as it should.


Yeah I'm aware P71's do not have RAS but this is for a Marauder. However the LCM is the same on P71s as the other non Lincoln 03-05 Panthers so you can exploit the fact that Dark Mode is in all of the LCMs and can be activated by grounding a pin when there is no power to the LCM.

Using relays that way would still mess with the RAS because it is looking for the open and close when the ignition is off too.

[VA-Mach1]

Funny... didn't work on my MM. The dimmer switch is just that... dims the gauge / instrument panel illumination. Rotating it all the way turns on the interior lights.


Rotate in the opposite direction. Just a idea, like I said I don't have a marauder but from my experience the Ford dimmer switches they are pretty universal.