2017 FFE Signature Lighting with Dedicated DRLs

[SteveP]

I have just received a used 2017 FFE. Love it so far. The manual tells how to turn on the DRLs but nothing turns on. The dealer thinks that Ford actually dropped the DRL feature although the Ford website says the 2017 FEE has "LED Signature Lighting with Dedicated Daytime Running Lamps". Does anyone know anything about the DRLs? There is a section of the headlight assembly that looks like it was reserved for another lighting section but it has dummy "bulbs" in it with no wiring. The assembly even has "DRL" on it. The signature LED lighting does work when the lights are turned on but it is too dim to be a DRL. This is a USA car. Thanks!

BTW - the headlights themselves are HIDs.

 

[davideos]

On my 2012 Focus, there is no real DRL. If you move the switch all the way to the right, lighting is automatic and in the daylight, no lights are on. One click to the left, it will turn the headlights on. One more click to the left and just the "eyebrow" over the headlight will be on. Some people liked the eyebrow light on, but technically, it isn't DRL, it is really the parking light. I think the operation for the 2017 is the same.

 

[SteveP]

My switch operation is the same.

I removed one of my headlight assemblies. They are labeled DRL assemblies. I found a light section that never lights. I opened the access panel to that section and found that it is equipped with an H1 bulb socket. Instead of a bulb, it has a dummy chrome piece. The socket is electrically connected to a lead on the light assembly socket. So it appears to me that Ford was set up to add capabilities for this light section - maybe this was to be the DRL. I am looking into H1 LED bulbs that would work in this light section. More to come as I work on this!

 

[SteveP]

 

[Guest]

I've completed two projects. First, I added some real DRLs. They are bright and mounted in the lower grill - look stock. And then, the bigger project - I put LED bulbs in the section of the headlights that had sockets but just a dummy bulb. Turned out great. A few shots:

Headlight section now lights:

https://ibb.co/fwB5Tk

https://ibb.co/kKiwZQ

Real DRLs:

https://ibb.co/hAWGZQ

Looks good. What bulbs did you put in the dummy sockets?

 

[triangles]

I wonder if it's as simple as putting a bulb in there and using Focccus to enable DRL in the config? I would assume ford left out a relay somewhere and include it on the Canadian cars? SteveP thanks for sharing the end result. Do you mind sharing how you arrived at that so that others who are interested may duplicate what you've done?

 

[SteveP]

I took pictures to post covering the process but I can't get them to show on my posts - not sure what I am doing wrong. The headlights have a socket for H1 bulbs but I had to add a ground wire. I ran a separate power and ground wire to each headlight assembly, installed an 8 LED "bulb" in each, and finished it with a power switch on the dash. I will try and post pictures later this week when I get some time. They looks great at night but aren't super visible in sunlight. I am pleased with the result - I wonder why Ford only partially completed this portion of the headlight assembly?

 

[triangles]

you can go to http://postimage.org create an account or just upload without an account. Once the image uploads it gives you different code options that you can copy and paste into your posts. I usually use "Thumbnail for forums" as that gives a small image that is clickable and if someone wants to see the full high res image they can click on it. The advantage of creating an account is that you can go back and generate the forum code again if you want to use that picture again in another post as I have done for an example with the image below:


the code for that picture looks like [ url=https://postimg.org/image/o6ewsd0ft/][img ]https://s20.postimg.org/o6ewsd0ft/IMG_1334.jpg[/img][/url ] I added spaces to the code so it appears as code and not the clickable image above. PM me if you need any help with this.

 

[SteveP]

Thank you very much! I will try that later this week.

 

[SteveP]

Okay - here goes....

I started on the passenger headlight assembly. I had already used my 2017 Focus Electric Wiring Diagram Manual to figure some things out and learn that Ford did not follow their manual with these headlight assemblies. These headlights have HIDs.



Remove the two bolts and connector from the headlight assembly:







Now take the assembly to your bench and remove the shown rubber cover. Right underneath it is the H1 socket. Remove it. It has a hot wire but no grounding.

 

[SteveP]

Remove the dummy chrome piece that is stuck in the H1 bulb position:



The next step is a long one. Cut the wire to the H1 socket. It also goes to a control mod and you do not want that connected. Add a ground wire (I soldered on around the H1 bulb base plate). Drill a hole through one of the unused connector holes - you can see the one I used. The plastic is VERY thin so go easy as you're through very quick. Feed two wires through and I added a waterproof connector. Seal the hole against moisture. This the hard step so it'll take a while. Here's all that done:



Don't forget to install the H1 LED bulb. Mine has 8 LEDs but I have a better COB bulb ordered. The slot for the H1 bulb is very thin so most bulb will not fit - it has to be thin.



You are now ready to put the headlight module back on the car.

 

[SteveP]

Reinstall the assembly:



Do all the same for the driver side:



I tapped off the power lead under the hood that others have talked about (#39, I believe) as that only powers on when the car is on. I installed a switch on the dash for this and my high powered DRLs (I add that story and pics later). Here's the finished look:





They look real good from dusk until dawn but aren't bright enough during the day. The new bulbs may help with that. They make every section of the headlight work now. Here's a shot of the switches. They each have an LED that shows when they are one (one switch for these and one for the high powered DRLs).

 

[SteveP]

I obviously ran wires to each headlight and into the headlight assembly via the waterproof connectors. Controlled via the dash switch.

There is an appearance of the H1 power lead on the existing headlight connector but no way to easily use it (and it has the unknown control mod lead - danger, Will Robinson!). I like it and it was not too much work. The first headlight assembly took me about 90 minutes as I figured things out. The second one took 15 minutes.



I'll post the other high-powered DRL pics if of interest - and when I get more time.

Love this forum!

 

[spirilis]

I obviously ran wires to each headlight and into the headlight assembly via the waterproof connectors. Controlled via the dash switch.

There is an appearance of the H1 power lead on the existing headlight connector but no way to easily use it (and it has the unknown control mod lead - danger, Will Robinson!). I like it and it was not too much work. The first headlight assembly took me about 90 minutes as I figured things out. The second one took 15 minutes.



I'll post the other high-powered DRL pics if of interest - and when I get more time.

Love this forum!

Sounds like a fun project!

 

[ThatFocusGuy]

I’m looking for these images!!

Next time, post them on Imgur so they won’t be deleted.

 

[triangles]

Not sure if Steve is still on here so I'll fix it for him. Not sure why since I hate DRLs. Anyway here is a repost of Steve's work with pictures:

Okay - here goes....

I started on the passenger headlight assembly. I had already used my 2017 Focus Electric Wiring Diagram Manual to figure some things out and learn that Ford did not follow their manual with these headlight assemblies. These headlights have HIDs.

Remove the two bolts and connector from the headlight assembly:

Now take the assembly to your bench and remove the shown rubber cover. Right underneath it is the H1 socket. Remove it. It has a hot wire but no grounding.

Remove the dummy chrome piece that is stuck in the H1 bulb position:

The next step is a long one. Cut the wire to the H1 socket. It also goes to a control mod and you do not want that connected. Add a ground wire (I soldered on around the H1 bulb base plate). Drill a hole through one of the unused connector holes - you can see the one I used. The plastic is VERY thin so go easy as you're through very quick. Feed two wires through and I added a waterproof connector. Seal the hole against moisture. This the hard step so it'll take a while. Here's all that done:

Don't forget to install the H1 LED bulb. Mine has 8 LEDs but I have a better COB bulb ordered. The slot for the H1 bulb is very thin so most bulb will not fit - it has to be thin.

You are now ready to put the headlight module back on the car.
Reinstall the assembly:

Do all the same for the driver side:

I tapped off the power lead under the hood that others have talked about (#39, I believe) as that only powers on when the car is on. I installed a switch on the dash for this and my high powered DRLs (I add that story and pics later). Here's the finished look:

They look real good from dusk until dawn but aren't bright enough during the day. The new bulbs may help with that. They make every section of the headlight work now. Here's a shot of the switches. They each have an LED that shows when they are one (one switch for these and one for the high powered DRLs).

I obviously ran wires to each headlight and into the headlight assembly via the waterproof connectors. Controlled via the dash switch.

There is an appearance of the H1 power lead on the existing headlight connector but no way to easily use it (and it has the unknown control mod lead - danger, Will Robinson!). I like it and it was not too much work. The first headlight assembly took me about 90 minutes as I figured things out. The second one took 15 minutes.

I'll post the other high-powered DRL pics if of interest - and when I get more time.

Love this forum!