Mod: Disabling Automatic Headlights

Wow, who could have ever seen this coming!? With absurdly bright DRLs and drivers "education" courses and requirements that don't cover even the most basic principals. I personally am shocked! (he said jokingly)

My grumpiness aside, its awesome how simple this is. Love it when something as simple as unplugging the sensor works. Like the drivers side seatbelt chime in 2nd gens

 

I'm guessing that it was just a quick and dirty way to comply with the new regulations, without having to redesign everything right at the end of the production cycle. Hopefully they do a better job on the 4th gen. I feel like they dropped the ball on a number of things on the software side, so we'll see.

Ha! I really wasn't sure if I would get an error code. I'm guessing that because the automatic headlights aren't standard in the US, it just reverted to it's default programming once it didn't detect the sensor.

The 2nd gen also had a code to disable the seatbelt chimes. It was kind of convoluted, but you only had to do it once. It still dinged 3 times, and gave you the light on the dash, but it prevented it from going into nagging mode.

Do you know if unplugging the seatbelt sensor works in the 3rd gen? I hear that the dealership can shut it off, but I don't know if they will.

 

I am not sure about 3rd gens. Should be easy enough to see if its just a switch like 2nd gens, or if its a more complex system like that passenger side

 

I can't tell if I missed something or not, but I disconnected my sensor near the passenger tweeter and my lights are still on when the stalk is set to auto. Can I not just turn my lights off?

 

Holy Smokes, you read my mind, I have a 2021 that was brought down here from Canada, with those highly desirable heated cloth seats. I also dabble in some starry night photography and have been trying to figure this out as well. My lights always turn on when I park in my shop, and I'm constantly having to turn them off when I pull in and it drives me crazy.

 

Hmmm.... it looks like you have a 2020. Mine is a 2022. I wonder if they changed the programming between model years?

 

I'd be curious to know how it works out for you. The guy above you has a 2020, and it sounds like unplugging the sensor causes his lights to always be on in auto mode...

 

Well not always on. When it's bright out it's just the DRL, but I want it to be like that when it's dark out. Tailights off.

 

I'm not sure what he means by lights coming on, my 2021 Canadian Model, just went and unplugged the sensor. When I have the switch in auto (Off) the headlights and all running lights are off, until I put it in Reverse or Drive and then the DRL LED's come on. If I turn on the parking lamps, then the DRL's come on, and then turn the headlights on, and everything is on. Once I turn that switch to the Auto position, the headlights go off, but the DRL's stay on, unless I turn off the truck and turn it back on again leaving the switch in Auto (Off)

 

I have the manual transmission so I'm thinking that's why. I left it in neutral but still getting lights.

 

I have the manual transmission, too. That shouldn't affect things.

This doesn't disable the daytime running lights. It only disables the automatic headlights that come on after sunset, or when you drive into an underground parkade.

The daytime running lights will still come on as soon as you release the park brake, but they don't turn on the taillights.

They're bright enough to drive by, at least in the city, so perhaps that's what you're seeing? You should see a noticeable difference in brightness, and the dashboard will light up once you turn it to the "ON" position.

Yep, that's exactly how it works for me.

 

Thank you and the good lord baby JEEEEEBUS, I've been going crazy with constantly flipping the headlight switch all the time trying to get the lights to go off when I pull into a shady spot under a tree, or into my shop. Sometimes just driving along the roads going from sun to shade, the screen inside would go dim and back bright. It was just so incredibly distracting, but now the whole problem is solved.

 

Ok problem solved. I can't drive with them off, but they are completely off until I put it in gear. I rolled back after releasing e brake and lights were all still off. Put it in reverse and lights came on. Put it in neutral and lights were on.

 

Yes, that's exactly what mine does. It'll help when I'm out with the star tracker and camera using the truck as warmth from the cold winter winds.

 

I suppose this is best case scenario. The outlaw in me wanted to be able to go ghost mode

 

Glad to be of help!

The screen dimming under bridges and in parkades was driving me crazy, too! But it's something I could have lived with, if I had to.

Not being able to shut off the headlights at all, even with the park brake on was just unacceptable.

I'm sure there's a way, but it's not that important to me. As long as they're off when the park brake is engaged...

 

Thanks so much for this just yanked it today!!! So much better!!!!

 

Isn't there button " AUTO " that disables / enables it?

 

Auto uses the sensor (and your lights never turn off) and on is on and daytime markers ... there is no off on 23s forward.

It's a major pain because if you switch accessory on you can not turn off your headlights so for me trying to use the rear plug while camping means your headlights are shining into another camp site with no way to turn it off.

Unplugging the sensor means 'auto' is now 'off' lol

 

I am either stupid or confused. There are 2 AUTO buttons on my 23 SR5 V6 and I have it off. One is for bed one is for overall headlights. I can drive lights off whenever I want, lights won't come on unless I turn them on.