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NOW POSSIBLE - Amber DRL/LED bars at nighttime!

Nightshade

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#1
First off--for those who know me, know that I'm a FORScan guru/pro between 2021+ F-150s and 2020+ Explorers! Those who don't know me, I'm the guy who created + maintains the official FORScan spreadsheets and have been spending more time on the Explorer side this time. I've noticed on the Explorer side of FORScan (between Facebook group and online forums), a lot of people haven't worked with FORScan on Explorers because the demand isn't that high, like it is for the F-150s. I'm here to help fix and boost that!

I understand after reading TONS of threads on forums and posts on Facebook groups for Explorers, many are asking one repeated question--"Can you use amber DRL/LED bars during the day, can be enabled during nighttime and in drive?". Up until now, no one has found anything but there has to be a way, right? To answer that, YES! After looking hard into this during my breaks at work, I have FINALLY found a way to allow you to use amber DRLS/LED bars at night, even with fog lights if you want to!


**Keep in mind, this will be the amber LED bars to be enabled during the night time with low beams off in drive, to copy exactly during the day but to be used at night. This won't enable amber led bars for night time mode together with low beams and won't work in when in park (exactly the same as daytime). This is due to a hardware/headlight limitation, not software.



Here are the steps to do and I cannot stress this enough, please backup your BdyCM module the first time below BEFORE writing them to the Explorer, just to be on the safe side.


1. Make sure your Amber DRL changes are done in FORScan as below:
  • BdyCM (as-built) -> 726-42-01 -> x4x4-xxxx-xx-- -> Sets the White DRL to fixed position (Turns off when the car is in normal drive mode during daytime)
  • BdyCM (as-built) -> 726-43-01 -> x1x1-xxxx-xx-- -> Sets Turn to Turn and DRL (Amber LED bars on as DRL instead of white LED bars)
NOTE: For those doing this the first time, make sure you make these changes during the day. Then verify it's working as intended--have another person stand in front of your Explorer while you put it in drive and the amber LED bars come on as DRL mode. During the day, Mode 3 - "auto" on headlight switch knob. If you don't have another person standing in front of your vehicle or have a reflection of any sort to look to see if it's on, then open the driver door, put your electronic handbrake up, put shifter in N (Neutral), walk to the front and take a look to see it's working as intended.

Side note: US Explorer owners do not have DRL enabled as default from factory. Change the below in BdyCM (asbuilt) first. Back up your BdyCM module before writing the changes. Write each change individually:
  • BdyCM 726-21-01 -> 0202-0202 02—
  • BdyCM 726-27-02 -> xx02-xxxx-xx--
Then disconnect out of FORScan, cover the headlight auto sensor on the dash (in the middle that's sticking out) with a cloth if you're attempting this during the day. Start the Explorer, make sure your parking brake is on with the door open, and shift to N. Walk out and verify your amber LED bars are on up front, then check the back to make sure your tail lights markers are on as well.


2. OPTIONAL: Once you've confirmed your amber LED bars work and rear brake markers are on, if you'd like to use the fog lights with your amber DRLs by operating off the fog light on/of switch, follow the next steps below:
  • BdyCM (easy way) -> search for "DRL include Park Lamps -> change to "Enable".
  • BdyCM (easy way) -> search for " Using DRL with fog lamp” -> change to “Enable”.
  • BdyCM (easy way) -> search for "Left Front Fog Lamp Usage" -> change to "Fog, DRL, and Cornering".
  • BdyCM (easy way) -> search for "Right Front Fog Lamp Usage" -> change to "Fog, DRL, and Cornering".
Write all the changes to the Explorer. Cycle off/on.


3. Once the above is done, verify again put a dark cloth or anything dark to cover the auto headlamps sensor in the middle of the dash, if attempting this during the day.

4. Keep your auto headlamps sensor still covered (if it's not dark/night time yet outside). Put your headlight switch knob in Mode 2 (parking mode) and verify your amber LED bars come on then check your tails and make sure the red markers are on. Once confirmed, push the button on your headlight switch to enable fog lights if you want them on at night too with your amber DRL bars!

5. You're done! --If you want to use your low beams again at night for lets say highways or etc, just switch it back to Mode 3 (auto) of your headlight switch and it'll go back to normal as if it was from factory. Whenever you'd like to use your amber LED bars at night, just switch to Mode 2 (marker) of your headlight switch!


This was a long time coming and finally able to help with the Explorer community with enable amber LED bars at night If you have any questions, comment on this thread or send me a DM! Cheers!

Big time appreciation to this forum members, @Perq and @22Atlas22, to lend me a hand quickly with this today!


Disclaimer: Do at your own risk.




IMG_7502.png
IMG_7503.JPG IMG_7504.JPG
 

Last edited:
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#2
Always happy to help! I'll make sure to double check I'm writing to the correct line first next go around...
 

Last edited:
OP
Nightshade

Nightshade

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Thread Starter #3
Always happy to help! I'll make sure to double check I'm writing to the correct line the first next go around...
Hahaha I'll be sure not to get mini heartattacks lol. For a second there, was figuring out what went wrong then finally got it figured out! :LOL:
 

powerboatr

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#4
AWESOME
thank you sir
 

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#6
Thank you for working on this! We really appreciate it!

Can you use amber DRL/LED bars during the day, can be enabled during nighttime and in drive?
Just something I noticed, I thought this was already working with the first changes at night when I switched to Mode 2 (shown below). I usually use it around dusk, so I wasn’t sure if I might be missing something.
1749048323401.png
Also, thanks again for getting the amber lights to work with the fog lights, that’s exactly what I was hoping for!
 

Last edited:
OP
Nightshade

Nightshade

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Thread Starter #7
Thank you for working on this! We really appreciate it!



Just something I noticed, I thought this was already working with the first changes at night when I switched to Mode 2 (shown below). I usually use it around dusk, so I wasn’t sure if I might be missing something.
View attachment 29457
Also, thanks again for getting the amber lights to work with the fog lights, that’s exactly what I was hoping for!
If you take a look at the back while in Mode 2, you’ll notice that your red tails don’t come on. It’s because US based Explorers have certain parameters disabled from factory compared to Canada based Explorers, especially with DRL parameters. Having the above changes done, allows you to have it all back up and working.

And no worries at all, you’re welcome!
 

OP
Nightshade

Nightshade

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Thread Starter #8
Does this address the turn signal at night issue?
If you made the changes correctly as above, you shouldn’t have any turn signal issues at all. Mine currently works normally!
 

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#9
If you made the changes correctly as above, you shouldn’t have any turn signal issues at all. Mine currently works normally!
but your Explorer is a 2025. On the 2020-24 the turn signal doesn't work at night
 

RFord78

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#10
I just completed, noticed that I still have ambers in gear when switch is in off position as well. In park all goes dark. Is this what everyone is seeing? Thanks for all of the work on this!!
 

powerboatr

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#11
Iirc Amber's are now your drls
So switch is off or auto and it's light out
The Amber's should turn off once your in park and brake is on
And if lights are on..the Amber's will be on
I am still sorting out my explorer
Before I confirm 100 it works on 2023
But so far it does
I didn't have a 2nd person
So I used garage door as indicator
I need to go for a drive
 

OP
Nightshade

Nightshade

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Thread Starter #12
but your Explorer is a 2025. On the 2020-24 the turn signal doesn't work at night
It should work as the parameters are the same for 2020-2024, same as the amber DRL changes. I have @powerboatr confirming the changes over this weekend.
 

OP
Nightshade

Nightshade

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Thread Starter #13
Iirc Amber's are now your drls
So switch is off or auto and it's light out
The Amber's should turn off once your in park and brake is on
And if lights are on..the Amber's will be on
I am still sorting out my explorer
Before I confirm 100 it works on 2023
But so far it does
I didn't have a 2nd person
So I used garage door as indicator
I need to go for a drive
Appreciate the help for the older years!
 

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#14
It should work as the parameters are the same for 2020-2024, same as the amber DRL changes. I have @powerboatr confirming the changes over this weekend.
I'm going to check that I have something different from what you shared. Regards
 



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