Interior Lighting Question

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by JonathanGennick

No. There is more going on than that button. My button was not lit. I opened the doors. Nothing. Went to eat. Came back. Opened the doors. Got light. Why? Beats me. Some other factor is at play that I have not yet put my finger on.




Sent from my iPhone using FF Mobile. Typos and terseness are to be expected.

Was it darker or more overcast the second time? That would indicate that the ambient light sensor is doing its job.

[Doctor Drew]

Originally Posted by JonathanGennick

No. There is more going on than that button. My button was not lit. I opened the doors. Nothing. Went to eat. Came back. Opened the doors. Got light. Why? Beats me. Some other factor is at play that I have not yet put my finger on.

This happens every time I leave work. Ambient light doesn't seem to make a difference (ie: The dome light won't come on in my dark parking lot, but if I stop at a gas station on my way home it will probably come on even under the bright gas station lights).

[dutd33]

Originally Posted by Bogey

Turn your door dome light switch on your headliner on then off, same thing happen sometimes to me if my gf turns on the lights, and press' the wrong button.

Looks like this did the trick. Thank you all!

[dutd33]

Originally Posted by Doctor Drew

This happens every time I leave work. Ambient light doesn't seem to make a difference (ie: The dome light won't come on in my dark parking lot, but if I stop at a gas station on my way home it will probably come on even under the bright gas station lights).

Try this the next time you get into your car. Turn on the car, open the door, keep it open. Hold the Ambient Light button (not sure if that's the correct terminology) for five seconds, the lights should turn on. Do it again to turn it off. Close your door, drive off and you should be fine.

[dutd33]

Originally Posted by suss6052

Was it darker or more overcast the second time? That would indicate that the ambient light sensor is doing its job.

Ahhhh, this car is too smart for me LOL. This must be an energy saving feature (i.e. you don't want your interior lights to come on when there's light out), but like one of the other posters stated I think I think I prefer the old school way better hahaha.

[JonathanGennick]

Originally Posted by suss6052

Was it darker or more overcast the second time? That would indicate that the ambient light sensor is doing its job.

Was well after dark both times. I suppose parking-lot lighting could have been different though. First was out back in the Target parking lot. Dome light stayed off. Later was in the Culver's parking lot, where the dome light did light up. Was the Culver's parking lot not as well lit as Target's? Possibly. I would need to go back and look to be sure.

Is there really an ambient light sensor trying to second-guess the dome light? I don't recall reading about that in the manual. Kind of a silly thing, imho. I'd rather have the predictability.

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by JonathanGennick

Was well after dark both times. I suppose parking-lot lighting could have been different though. First was out back in the Target parking lot. Dome light stayed off. Later was in the Culver's parking lot, where the dome light did light up. Was the Culver's parking lot not as well lit as Target's? Possibly. I would need to go back and look to be sure.

Is there really an ambient light sensor trying to second-guess the dome light? I don't recall reading about that in the manual. Kind of a silly thing, imho. I'd rather have the predictability.

The ambient light sensor controls the auto lamps as well as other lighting within the vehicle.

Per page 126 of the fifth printing of the 2012 Ford Focus Owner's guide

Ambient lighting (if equipped)
Illuminates the interior with a choice of several colors. The
ambient lighting control switch is located in the overhead console.
• Rotate the control knob past the first detent to activate and adjust
to the desired brightness.
• Press the left color pallet switch to cycle through the color
choices.
• Press the right search mode switch to activate all dome lamps and all
ambient lighting. Press the search mode switch again to deactivate the
dome lamps and return the ambient lighting to the previously selected
color.
The ambient lights come on whenever the ignition is in the on position,
the headlamps are on and the outside ambient light level is low.
Note: The ambient lights will stay on until the ignition is placed in the
off position and the vehicle is locked or the accessory delay timer
expires.

Pg 168

Illuminated entry
The interior lamps and select exterior lamps illuminate when the remote
entry system is used to unlock the door(s).
The illuminated entry system will turn off the lights if:
• the ignition is on,
• the remote transmitter lock control is pressed, or
• after 25 seconds of illumination.
The lights will not turn off if:
• they have been turned on with the dimmer control, or
• any door is open.

Basically its more complicated than just on or off.

[JonathanGennick]

The lights will not turn off if:...or
• any door is open.

So why did my interior lighting remain off when my door was open? That's what gets me. My door was open. I was stowing items in the car that I had bought at Target. Where was my light?

BTW, I do not have the "ambient lighting" option. I've just got the simple dome lighting system in the roof.

The mere fact that we are having this discussion suggests that the system is overly complicated. Some engineer at Ford got carried away. When a door is open, I want my light. It really should be that simple.

[cobie56]

Originally Posted by JonathanGennick

So why did my interior lighting remain off when my door was open? That's what gets me. My door was open. I was stowing items in the car that I had bought at Target. Where was my light?

BTW, I do not have the "ambient lighting" option. I've just got the simple dome lighting system in the roof.

The mere fact that we are having this discussion suggests that the system is overly complicated. Some engineer at Ford got carried away. When a door is open, I want my light. It really should be that simple.

I agree.. there are several things such as this one, that are overly complicated in this car.. Engineers need to simplify things... it's often better and cheaper. and, while we're on the 'engineering' thing... why is the glove box designed so that it's pretty much inaccessable from the driver's seat? dumb..

[riparke]

"The illuminated entry system will turn off the lights if:
• the ignition is on,"

Why do my lights come on and stay on when the car is started till time out. Why do they come on after going off when I'm driving. All doors are closed and the display shows no door open. Checked and the display shows each door when open and closed.