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2023 Ford Escape overhead lights won't go on when door opened

4.9K views 13 replies 7 participants last post by  KansasMatthew  
#1 ·
Does anyone know how to set the overhead lights to go on when door is opened?
 
#4 ·
How you’re doing it is not the way it’s supposed to work. Switch clicked to the left is lights manually on, an override if you will for all interior lights. If it is clicked to the right, the lights will not illuminate when doors are opened. If the switch is flat that is the default position and allows automatic lighting of the cabin when you open a door. You might want to ask your dealer to look into that. I do not recommend leaving the lights constantly on until the BMS times them out.

Summary: the switch is a three position rocker and the middle position is the automatic function.
 
#5 ·
yes you are correct it's not working the way I am trying to get it to work. I will have to talk to the dealer since our switch is not a three position, just two. I have it in the middle position (neither in nor off) and the lights won't go on when the door is opened. My husband thinks it's a software problem. we can't find anything in settings for turning the interior lights on when doors are open. will post what dealer tells us.

Thanks
 
#7 ·
You were right TnHelm! I took my escape into Ford and the 12v battery was bad (it's only 1 1/2 yrs old!). They replaced it (it was covered under warranty) and told me they had to reset the sensor because the sensor can't tell that the battery was changed. That got me thinking..... that means I can never change the battery myself because the sensor always has to be reset. ugh. Anyway my overhead lights now turn on!
 
#10 · (Edited)
Sorry, not quite correct.
The technology automatically recognises the new battery overnight but it does not automatically reset the BMS which has a different function.

The resetting of the BMS resets the days in service of the battery back to zero thus indicating to the 'system' the recharging requirements of the new battery.

The BMS is reset by Forscan or a dealers scan tool.

There are also video methods mentioned on many Ford forums (and Google) which may or may not work.