Daytime Running lights?

[Cooling Tower Guy]

Nick Nicholas Ford Inverness, FL

[Easy Rider]

My service advisor told me yesterday they couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't enable mine because they drain the battery quicker and therefore cause the engine to run more often reducing mpg. I just laughed and laughed and laughed...

YOu should have cried and cried and cried. ;(

 

And then started looking for a new service dealer......or asked to speak to the service manager or owner.

[milleron]

Hope this post isn't premature, but I was so fascinated by the results of my inquiry at my local Lincoln dealership that I can't restrain myself from sharing.

I live in Columbus OH. I tried my dealer without success. Although they were interested in helping me initially, they couldn't activate my DRLs, and I made several posts about that negative experience. I tried 2 other local Ford dealerships, but couldn't get anywhere with them, either.

One of my fellow forum members here suggested that I try a Lincoln dealer. Sorry, but I can't recall who it was in order to give credit. I guess I waited several months just because I'd virtually abandoned hope, but I finally decided to drop by this week.

 

Now this Lincoln dealer is literally 0.1 miles from my Ford dealer on the other side of the street. When I launched into my spiel, expecting to have to give a lot of details, I noticed that the service rep was shaking his head in agreement and saying "OK, good." He knew exactly what I was talking about. He leaned around to ask his SM if he couldn't do this for my Fusion, and the SM said, "Sure, it's in the Lighting Control Module. You can turn it on just like we did for all our '13 and '14 MKZs." I almost dropped my teeth. The solution to my problem was a tenth of a mile down the street for the last two years. My appointment's next Monday. I expect to pay something because I didn't buy my car there, but I fully anticipate an end to this mini-nightmare.

 

For anyone in central Ohio who needs DRLs activated but has been hitting a brick wall, I'm talking about Bob Boyd Lincoln of Columbus on Billingsly Road, immediately off the intersection of Sawmill and I-270.

[milleron]

Hope this post isn't premature, but I was so fascinated by the results of my inquiry at my local Lincoln dealership that I can't restrain myself from sharing.

I live in Columbus OH. I tried my dealer without success. Although they were interested in helping me initially, they couldn't activate my DRLs, and I made several posts about that negative experience. I tried 2 other local Ford dealerships, but couldn't get anywhere with them, either.

One of my fellow forum members here suggested that I try a Lincoln dealer. Sorry, but I can't recall who it was in order to give credit. I guess I waited several months just because I'd virtually abandoned hope, but I finally decided to drop by this week.

 

Now this Lincoln dealer is literally 0.1 miles from my Ford dealer on the other side of the street. When I launched into my spiel, expecting to have to give a lot of details, I noticed that the service rep was shaking his head in agreement and saying "OK, good." He knew exactly what I was talking about. He leaned around to ask his SM if he couldn't do this for my Fusion, and the SM said, "Sure, it's in the Lighting Control Module. You can turn it on just like we did for all our '13 and '14 MKZs." I almost dropped my teeth. The solution to my problem was a tenth of a mile down the street for the last two years. My appointment's next Monday. I expect to pay something because I didn't buy my car there, but I fully anticipate an end to this mini-nightmare.

 

For anyone in central Ohio who needs DRLs activated but has been hitting a brick wall, I'm talking about Bob Boyd Lincoln of Columbus on Billingsly Road, immediately off the intersection of Sawmill and I-270.

 

I had two appointments back to back. The second one was at the Lincoln dealer, and I did not get there initially. I went first to my Ford dealer because my health report mentioned recalls on the PCM reprogramming and one I'd never heard about for the airbag control module.

Well, the PCM was reprogrammed per a TSB in October 2013, one year ago. Even though there for the airbag module recall, the PCM was done first. What should have taken a few hours could not be completed. It turns out that the PCM reprogramming has to propagate, for some reason that passeth understanding, through the ABS module and into the BLIS module. They told me that the PCM reprogrammed [yet again] but that the process could not go further; the ABS module would not accept the programming, so the whole process hung, and the engine could not be started. Long story short: they had to keep my car 15 days to figure this out, and it required installing a new ABS module that's actually contained in the master cylinder. That required disconnecting all the brake lines. Then, they couldn't get the lines to bleed to complete the job. It turns out that on these cars, a pressurized device must be connected to the master cylinder/ABS control module, and then that pressure plus the pump in the ABS completes the bleeding process. Apparently, the shop had no manuals that explained this as they'd never replaced this $800 part before.

Because they felt so bad about the long, long delay in getting my car back to me, they promised that they'd try very hard yet again to enable the DRLs. They did try. They could not accomplish it.

 

I thanked them very kindly for their efforts, went 0.1 mile down the street to the Lincoln dealer, and asked to reschedule the appointment there for the DRLs. They said they had time on the spot, and ten minutes later, my DRLs were running for the first time in the YEAR that I've been fighting this problem. They charged me $61, which I thought was fair since I didn't buy the car there. Some DRLs turn off when a turn signal is activated so as to make the blinker a little more visible. The Fusion's do not have that functionality, but that seems a very small price to pay; otherwise they're perfect.

 

My conclusion is that Ford may be supplying to their dealers periodic laptop upgrades that do not permit enabling DRLs, whereas the Lincoln dealers' periodic upgrades still retain this ability (which they've had all along). I'm wondering if anyone on this forum has had any success getting DRLs turned on by a Ford dealer recently. I know that many folks have had it done at Ford in the past, but I'm just trying to see if it's possible that Ford might actually have removed the capacity with laptop software upgrades.

 

For anyone interested, the airbag-module replacement is being done ONLY on cars that have airbag warning lights coming on. Once they are able to replete their inventories, replacement of this module will be done on ALL vehicles on which the Vehicle Health Report shows the recall notice.

Edited November 11, 2014 by milleron

[corncobs]

Glad you finally got your wish fulfilled!

 

I guess if they failed so miserably on the other things there is no way they could ever figured out the DRLs.

 

Newer software should make it easier not harder since the MY2015 now comes with driver UI to turn on the DRLs.

 

$61 well invested if you ask me ( even if it shouldn't cost anything to enable a safety feature )

[acdii]

Glad you finally got your wish fulfilled!

 

I guess if they failed so miserably on the other things there is no way they could ever figured out the DRLs.

 

Newer software should make it easier not harder since the MY2015 now comes with driver UI to turn on the DRLs.

 

$61 well invested if you ask me ( even if it shouldn't cost anything to enable a safety feature )

You have been to my dealer and had the DRL done, so you know they are good. When they tried to update the Ambient lighting on my MKT they took 2 hours the first time and neither laptop would talk to the car. Brought it back another day and finally got it to talk, yet took 1 1/2 hours to complete. When they updated the Fusion the next day, it took them the better part of the day and there were a lot of modules they had to update.

 

 

And I though doing a windows update took forever.

[milleron]

Man, I'm glad, too!!!

 

I don't think that my service technician failed miserably on the other things. I believe there actually was a malfunctioning module because replacing it allowed the PCM reprogramming to complete quite easily. Troubleshooting that was difficult, and their hands were tied because they have to go through Ford red tape to get permission to order parts, especially expensive parts, under warranty. Ford isn't fast in granting that permission.

 

In a rational world, you'd think that newer software would make it easier, not harder, to turn on the DRLs. But what I'm getting at is the possibility that FoMoCo made a conscious decision to take away from its dealers the ability to continue enabling DLRs. The customer-hostile attitude of Corporate regarding this matter has been obvious from the very beginning. Their company line, whenever service departments would contact them, has always been that it's "impossible to turn on DRLs on 2013 and 2014 Fusions." The only owners who succeeded in getting it done worked with dealers who were willing to ignore FoMoCo. The reason I'm asking is to find out if they might have actually removed the capability from the laptops they sell to the dealers via their software updates. It's important because if that's the case, I'd want members of this forum to know not to bother asking their own dealers for assistance.

 

Maybe there's just something tricky about doing it, but my dealer's tech and Service Managers put some real effort into it and couldn't find a way, whereas the Lincoln mechanic treated it as no more difficult than checking the air pressure in the tires. The difference is what makes me wonder if the Ford Division is being nefarious here. I'm hoping that anyone who got their DRLs turned on in the last couple of months might chime in.

[GrySql]

Your story has been quite unbelievable since the very first, this chapter is another level of Ford Dealer amazement. Does the Lincoln Dealer fix Fords? Maybe you ought to be going there instead.

As for others that have had their DRL's turned on lately, here is a recent case, without problems.

Edited November 12, 2014 by GrySql

[corncobs]

You have been to my dealer and had the DRL done, so you know they are good. When they tried to update the Ambient lighting on my MKT they took 2 hours the first time and neither laptop would talk to the car. Brought it back another day and finally got it to talk, yet took 1 1/2 hours to complete. When they updated the Fusion the next day, it took them the better part of the day and there were a lot of modules they had to update.

 

 

And I though doing a windows update took forever.

Yes I have and they are good! I wasn't referring to the software part (I should have mentioned that). Software can be a bit** I have my fair share of this at work.

 

What seemed almost unbelievable to me was the brake stuff milleron talked about. I mean Waldo has pulled out the page of the shop manual so many times on specific detail and all sorts of things it's hard to believe that something so essential like doing the brakes isn't covered.

 

@ milleron I believe to remember there was another fellow member that finally had his DRL's turned on just recently.

 

@GrySql I missed your post thanks for the link. That's what I was thinking of.

Edited November 12, 2014 by corncobs

[milleron]

Your story has been quite unbelievable since the very first, this chapter is another level of Ford Dealer amazement. Does the Lincoln Dealer fix Fords? Maybe you ought to be going there instead.

As for others that have had their DRL's turned on lately, here is a recent case, without problems.

In fact, when I was shopping there in late 2012 to compare the FFH to the MKZ hybrid, they told me they do work on Fords. They have a sister shop about 40 miles away that's a Ford dealership. What I don't know is if a Lincoln dealer can perform Ford warranty work.

[milleron]

So there are a couple of instances of Ford dealers activating DRLs in the last couple of weeks. That would seem to rule out the possibility of FoMoCo silently removing the setting from the laptops. Thanks for the reports. I guess the problem may lie with my dealer, after all.

[acdii]

Most lincoln dealers are Ford dealers too. They are all essentially the same under the skin, Ford can work on Lincolns for warranty and Lincoln can work on Fords. I have both and take them to the same dealer. However that being said, if you try to use the Ford owner site to arrange maintenance, you cant choose a Ford dealer for your lincoln, or Lincoln for your Ford.

[Easy Rider]

 

I'm wondering if anyone on this forum has had any success getting DRLs turned on by a Ford dealer recently.

 

Yes. Just last week in Florida.

They did have to LOOK to find out how to do it and told me on the first visit for something else that they could not figure out how.

They also were going to charge me 1/2 hour's labor but when I expressed mild displeasure with that, the service manager wrote it off.

 

I don't think your theory holds water because we've been told that Canada still requires DRLs on new vehicles and that it is Ford's policy to have them turned on for fleet vehicles.

 

I think that some dealership service departments are just more competent than others...........and some owners know the value of a satisfied customer better than others.

[milleron]

Like I said in my prior post, the facts show that the theory doesn't hold water. That's why I made a request for some facts-- to prove or disprove the theory. It was just the vast, vast difference in the results at two dealerships a couple of blocks apart that made me wonder if there might be something making it literally impossible for Ford shops to get this done. I still don't understand how a computer manipulation that's simply trivial to one tech can remain totally inscrutable to another.

In spite of how nice they are to me at my Ford dealer, I'll be taking my FFH to the Lincoln service department from now on.

[hybridbear]

In fact, when I was shopping there in late 2012 to compare the FFH to the MKZ hybrid, they told me they do work on Fords. They have a sister shop about 40 miles away that's a Ford dealership. What I don't know is if a Lincoln dealer can perform Ford warranty work.

Based on your experience I would stick with the Lincoln dealer from now on. We have a Lincoln dealer a couple miles from home. Now that we have an Energi I'm not sure how much they could do since they aren't EV certified since Lincoln has no EVs... but I'm inclined to check it out.

[tr7driver]

I had my 2014 Fusion's DLR's turned on by my dealer in June. I recently purchased a 2013 C-max Energi (from a dealer 200 miles away who didn't turn the DRL's on for that car) and have been investigating having the DRL's turned on in the C-max Energi forum. Several people in that forum have stated that Ford has taken away the ability for dealers to change the DRL settings on the C-max by removing the option from the menu on the dealer computers. I have no evidence to confirm or verify that information, but I think that this is the issue Milleron is trying to verify with the Fusion.

[kash80]

I had my Fusion's DRL turned on at the dealer. I was dropping it for my free oil change and asked the service advisor. They said it would be looked into and luckily they were able to. Charged me $15 for it, but I am not complaining.

[milleron]

I had my Fusion's DRL turned on at the dealer. I was dropping it for my free oil change and asked the service advisor. They said it would be looked into and luckily they were able to. Charged me $15 for it, but I am not complaining.

 

Congratulations; $15 is a fair price, I think.

 

Unfortunately, success is not the norm when asking to have DRLs enabled. Most dealerships either can't figure out how to do it or choose to adhere to the official, customer-hostile, FoMoCo line that "it's impossible."

 

Therefore, in the hope that it might help others to avoid the wild goose chases that some of us have been subjected to, I'd request that those of us who have gotten our DRLs turned on, post the name and general location of the dealership who assisted them. (I realize that some of those dealerships have been named elsewhere in this 20-page thread, but not all have.)

 

My dealer in central Ohio is Bob Boyd Lincoln of Columbus.

[tr7driver]

 

Congratulations; $15 is a fair price, I think.

 

Unfortunately, success is not the norm when asking to have DRLs enabled. Most dealerships either can't figure out how to do it or choose to adhere to the official, customer-hostile, FoMoCo line that "it's impossible."

 

Therefore, in the hope that it might help others to avoid the wild goose chases that some of us have been subjected to, I'd request that those of us who have gotten our DRLs turned on, post the name and general location of the dealership who assisted them. (I realize that some of those dealerships have been named elsewhere in this 20-page thread, but not all have.)

 

My dealer in central Ohio is Bob Boyd Lincoln of Columbus.

Heller Ford, El Paso, IL, turned mine on. (I had to give them the instructions, then no problem, no charge)

[kbailey990]

Autonation Ford in Saint Petersburg FL turned mine on for no charge after I showed them posts from this site.

[Waldo]

FYI, this is a great way to create an easy list for Ford to identify dealers that may not be following corporate instructions. Much easier for Ford to send out reprimands when we create the list for them...

[talmy]

Mine was turned on by Landmark Ford Lincoln near Portland, Oregon. No charge and no hassle. Nearly a year ago. Don't know if they will do it for anyone for free -- we'd been a customer for 27 years.

[kash80]

 

Congratulations; $15 is a fair price, I think.

 

Unfortunately, success is not the norm when asking to have DRLs enabled. Most dealerships either can't figure out how to do it or choose to adhere to the official, customer-hostile, FoMoCo line that "it's impossible."

 

Therefore, in the hope that it might help others to avoid the wild goose chases that some of us have been subjected to, I'd request that those of us who have gotten our DRLs turned on, post the name and general location of the dealership who assisted them. (I realize that some of those dealerships have been named elsewhere in this 20-page thread, but not all have.)

 

My dealer in central Ohio is Bob Boyd Lincoln of Columbus.

Thanks, mine was done at Jerrys Ford Lincoln Mercury in Leesburg, VA.

[milleron]

FYI, this is a great way to create an easy list for Ford to identify dealers that may not be following corporate instructions. Much easier for Ford to send out reprimands when we create the list for them...

 

Well, if you'll read through this thread, you'll find that folks have been publicly listing their cooperative Ford dealers in it for about a year, already. What these dealers are doing is clearly not against any FoMoCo rules; they're simply choosing to treat their customers like customers as opposed to following FoMoCo's suggestion to treat them like ignorant children. If Corporate had opted to "discipline" what are obviously their best dealerships for treating customers correctly, I think that there would have been a large outcry in this forum by now. I don't believe there's much to worry about.

[hybridbear]

Well, if you'll read through this thread, you'll find that folks have been publicly listing their cooperative Ford dealers in it for about a year, already. What these dealers are doing is clearly not against any FoMoCo rules; they're simply choosing to treat their customers like customers as opposed to following FoMoCo's suggestion to treat them like ignorant children. If Corporate had opted to "discipline" what are obviously their best dealerships for treating customers correctly, I think that there would have been a large outcry in this forum by now. I don't believe there's much to worry about.

Perhaps Waldo is planning to furnish the list to the appropriate person at Ford to send out reprimands and that's why he provided the warning.