Daytime Running lights?

[Texasota]

It appears that DRLs are now a configurable option by the owner on the 2015 FFHs. See this update on 2015 changes:

 

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/8073-my2015-fusion-production-dates/?do=findComment&comment=80109

[hybridbear]

It appears that DRLs are now a configurable option by the owner on the 2015 FFHs. See this update on 2015 changes:

 

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/8073-my2015-fusion-production-dates/?do=findComment&comment=80109

I was coming to this thread to post that too!

 

I have a pdf for the 2015 hybrid Ordering Guide (thanks to HB). There are some interesting changes noted for the 2015s. Here they are by category:

 

Comfort/Convenience

• Configurable daytime running lamps standard on all models

The Forum Strikes Again!! as GrySql would say :)

 

DRLs are now STANDARD!!! Does this mean that Ford will now admit that the 2013 & 2014 FFHs have the capability built in? Will they now inform dealers about how to activate them on MY2013 & MY2014 cars? I have no doubt that the strong opinions expressed here and relayed by Ashley to Ford were a driving factor behind this change. Thanks Ashley!

[Waldo]

I was coming to this thread to post that too!

 

The Forum Strikes Again!! as GrySql would say :)

 

DRLs are now STANDARD!!! Does this mean that Ford will now admit that the 2013 & 2014 FFHs have the capability built in? Will they now inform dealers about how to activate them on MY2013 & MY2014 cars? I have no doubt that the strong opinions expressed here and relayed by Ashley to Ford were a driving factor behind this change. Thanks Ashley!

 

The 2015 has new software that makes the DRL configuration an option in the cluster menus. This has no effect on the 2013-2014 vehicles at all.

[hybridbear]

 

The 2015 has new software that makes the DRL configuration an option in the cluster menus. This has no effect on the 2013-2014 vehicles at all.

I never said that this changed the 2013-2014 cars. Obviously the 2015 would have new software to present this option to the owner. But the fact that Ford is reversing course on DRLs for MY2015 non-fleet customers gives us a glimmer of hope that they'll change their official stance on activating the DRLs on 2013-2014 cars for non-fleet customers.

[acdii]

Could be that Ford is listening to our reps here on this Forum. Having them here has been a great blessing for us.

[murphy]

 

The 2015 has new software that makes the DRL configuration an option in the cluster menus. This has no effect on the 2013-2014 vehicles at all.

The 2013 and 2014 have to have that same software because fleet cars and canadian cars have the option. It's described in the Owner's manual with the "if equipped" statement.

[acdii]

The 2013 and 2014 have to have that same software because fleet cars and canadian cars have the option. It's described in the Owner's manual with the "if equipped" statement.

The main BCM software does, but the dash module does not. It "might" be possible once the 2015 is out that earlier models could be updated with new dash software, provided of course the hardware is the same.

 

Don't hold your breath though, you may not look good in blue.

[Waldo]

I never said that this changed the 2013-2014 cars. Obviously the 2015 would have new software to present this option to the owner. But the fact that Ford is reversing course on DRLs for MY2015 non-fleet customers gives us a glimmer of hope that they'll change their official stance on activating the DRLs on 2013-2014 cars for non-fleet customers.

 

The instructions to activate the DRL in a 2013-2014 Fusion are published in the Ford Workshop manual. Are you suggesting Ford should publish a letter that says "Ok dealers, you can stop ignoring the instructions we published now.."??

[corncobs]

 

The instructions to activate the DRL in a 2013-2014 Fusion are published in the Ford Workshop manual. Are you suggesting Ford should publish a letter that says "Ok dealers, you can stop ignoring the instructions we published now.."??

It seems a lot of dealers out there either don't have the same manual, ignoring it or just wait for Ford for an official statement like you suggested. Otherwise there is no excuse for dealers refusing the request by customers to turn on DRL.

[murphy]

The problem is that when I asked my dealer to enable my DRLs he contacted the Ford hotline for instructions and they told him that Ford does not support turning them on. For anything warranty related they apparently have to contact the hotline to get approval or they won't be reimbursed. Some dealers are big enough that they can get away with not always following the Ford party line. My dealer isn't big enough so they told me they didn't have the "resources" to enable the DRLs.

[acdii]

So for some dealers is isn't worth $40 time for a few minutes work. Makes one wonder.

[tr7driver]

Can we set a sticky at the top of this forum with the instructions to take to the dealer when we get around to asking them for the 13 & 14 builds? My car has never needed service since I drove it off the lot and I'm still about 5K miles from the first oil change. I know I'll be hunting all over the place for those instructions when the time to take it in comes.

[Waldo]

The problem is that when I asked my dealer to enable my DRLs he contacted the Ford hotline for instructions and they told him that Ford does not support turning them on. For anything warranty related they apparently have to contact the hotline to get approval or they won't be reimbursed. Some dealers are big enough that they can get away with not always following the Ford party line. My dealer isn't big enough so they told me they didn't have the "resources" to enable the DRLs.

 

That doesn't make any sense.

 

#1, they shouldn't need to contact the hotline, the instructions are in the service manual

#2, they don't need to contact the hotline for warranty claims unless they are one of the "bad" dealers that have a history of making questionable claims

#3, turning on the DRLs would never be a valid warranty claim

 

Sounds like they were looking for warranty approval, got denied, and thus said Ford "doesn't support it". There is no "party line" that says dealers can't turn them on if they want to, after all, Ford has published instructions on how to do it! It's just up to the dealer if they want to charge you for it or do it "on the house".

[acdii]

That is exactly what it is. If the dealer wants to do it, they will, how they go about with paying it is up to them. My dealer did mine no charge because I am a good customer, but they normally charge $40 for others. If they feed you a line of bull its because to them it isnt worth their time.

[jeffo65]

I was initially told by my SA that it could not be done. A few days later I was called by the service tech who worked on the car and asked to bring the car back because he had something for me. I brought the car in and the service tech came to the service desk and asked for my keys and took the car into the shop. 15 minutes later I had a car with the DRLs enabled at no cost. He told me that after he initially tried unsucessfully to enable the lights that he called a couple other dealers and was told how they can be enabled.

 

In between the day I first took the car in and when I was called back, I contacted a local Lincoln dealer and asked them about enabling the DRLs and they said to bring the car in and they should be able to enable them but it would cost $50.

[hybridbear]

 

That doesn't make any sense.

 

#1, they shouldn't need to contact the hotline, the instructions are in the service manual

#2, they don't need to contact the hotline for warranty claims unless they are one of the "bad" dealers that have a history of making questionable claims

#3, turning on the DRLs would never be a valid warranty claim

 

Sounds like they were looking for warranty approval, got denied, and thus said Ford "doesn't support it". There is no "party line" that says dealers can't turn them on if they want to, after all, Ford has published instructions on how to do it! It's just up to the dealer if they want to charge you for it or do it "on the house".

Apparently you need to re-read the Ford policy on this that Ashley posted. It was back on page 7 of this thread. Here is a link for you: http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/5650-daytime-running-lights/?p=72936

[Waldo]

Apparently you need to re-read the Ford policy on this that Ashley posted. It was back on page 7 of this thread. Here is a link for you: http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/5650-daytime-running-lights/?p=72936

 

The ability to do something technically and the ability for Ford formalize a revenue stream for it are different things. If you want Ford to make this an "official policy", then it will come with a mandatory fee.

[tr7driver]

 

The ability to do something technically and the ability for Ford formalize a revenue stream for it are different things. If you want Ford to make this an "official policy", then it will come with a mandatory fee.

If I want it done, I will pay the fee. I don't want to spend time in debate club. I outgrew that after high school.

[Sleddog]

Well... No luck for me. They said I have the wrong type of headlights. I know it's BS but that's ok. They said the options for are greyed. out in the software. That means they don't have the up to date version running on the laptop. When I get a chance I will check an other dealer.

Edited May 28, 2014 by Sleddog

[acdii]

:facepalm:

[sphilo]

I'd like to share my exerience. I have been driving my 2013 Fusion Hybrid SE for 15 months, and have accumulated just under 40,000 mostly highway miles. I average 42 mpg routinely, and am extremely satisfied with this vehicle.

 

I'd been driving it for almost a year before I finally tumbled to the fact that it did not have DRLs activated. I had noticed that some of the Fusions I saw on my daily commute did have DRLs, while others did not. I assumed it was tied to the model year, and that newer vehicles would have them - but I was wrong. A search for aftermarket LED DRLs led me to this discussion forum.

 

Armed with the information from this forum, I asked my service advisor (John - a great guy) about activating the DRLs when I called to schedule routine maintenance; he said he would check into it. I dropped my vehicle off yesterday morning, and the "electrical tech" met me on the apron. The discussion started out something like this... "We'd love to help you out, but Ford Motor won't let us activate them for you." The SA sided with me, arguing that as the customer, I should be the one to decide if I wanted them on or off for my vehicle. The SA stated that he would take it to the GM for a final decision. I left without any idea whether or not they would activate them for me, but I left the instructions shared in this forum just in case.

 

My story has a happy ending! When the driver picked me up for the return trip to the dealership, he mentioned that he had seen my car on the apron - and it had DRLs on! I checked in with John and he said that the GM was all in favor of giving the customer what I want, since they had the ability to do so easily. There was no charge for enabling the DRLs, and I am extremely satisfied with my experience. My DRLs activate automatically when the gear selector is moved out of park; they both remain on when a turn indicated is activated.

 

I would not have been able to accomplish this without the knowledge gained from this forum. Thank you to all that have posted information and encouragement. Knowledge is power in cases such as this.

[GrySql]

The FFH Forum strikes again! :)

Edited July 8, 2014 by GrySql

[md13ffhguy]

Just stumbled upon this thread, as I only recently started reviewing the new content on this forum. So, I hadn't ever opened this thread, until today's new posts...

 

Wow, I now feel like a total IDIOT! Since last October, I always just ASSUMED I had DRLs! I mean, I thought ALL cars these days had this absurdly simple safety feature...

[corncobs]

Just stumbled upon this thread, as I only recently started reviewing the new content on this forum. So, I hadn't ever opened this thread, until today's new posts...

 

Wow, I now feel like a total IDIOT! Since last October, I always just ASSUMED I had DRLs! I mean, I thought ALL cars these days had this absurdly simple safety feature...

Now you know and hopefully you are armed with enough details that you will have a successful DRL activation.

Maybe now with the MY2015 around the corner it might become easier since the new Fusion will have a owner DRL enable option.

[Easy Rider]

OK so where does the '14 model fall in this discussion ?

 

I'm pretty sure that mine has DRLs and they work......but now you have me wondering ?

 

Maybe I should go look ?? :)