I occasionally need to be able to be in my parked 2017 C-Max Energi in the evenings with the climate control running but no headlights on (even the dimmer daytime running lights).  Basically, I'd like to disable the daytime running lamps so they won't come on when the headlights are turned off but the car is running.

I'm wondering if I can disconnect the DRL resistor to make this happen?  I'm afraid to touch anything as I'm not technical.  Anyone happen to know if this is feasible?

I know with some other Ford models, you can turn Daytime Running Lights on/off via the car settings available right on the instrument panel.  Too bad this isn't the case for the C-Max.

Many thanks for any insight you can give.

You can't as DRL are a legal requirement if fitted from factory and must work.

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3 minutes ago, Stoney871 said:

You can't as DRL are a legal requirement if fitted from factory and must work.

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Thanks for your quick reply!

I'm in the United States - I don't believe they are required?  Especially as Ford tech support said I can take my car to a dealer and have them to turn them off via their computer system.

I'd like to be able to do this myself if possible, because I may want to only disable them temporarily when I occasionally need this once or twice a year, then re-enable.  (DRLs are a good safety feature to have when I'm actually driving the car.)   So if I can do it manually myself, rather than having to make an appointment with the dealer and pay $65 to turn them off then another appointment and $65 to have them turned back on again a week later....

Welp, brought it into the Ford dealer.....paid $65....to be told these lights that are constantly on are the low beams (fog lights?), supposedly NOT the daytime running lamps.   This light that is always on is the 1/2 inch narrow strip of light that runs across the bottom of the entire headlamp assembly.

(I haven't been able to confirm that these are really the low beams...because there is NO DOCUMENTATION ANYWHERE that I can find on which part of the headlamp assembly is the daytime running light vs the low beams.  Anyway, regardless of what these lights are, the dealer didn't know how to turn them off.)

There is also no existing documentation on how to turn off the low beams on the 2017 Ford C-Max. My manual shows a button that doesn't exist on my car, unless it's hiding somewhere and I just haven't found it yet. How is this possible? The fact that dealers "don't know" how the fog lights turn off, and can't find out??? How crazy is that?

This is why Tesla was able to quickly overpower the old-school car companies.  They are, frankly, lazy.  I don't blame them - they had the market cornered. They weren't trying to change the world, just make money.  But if they CARED and were trying to be the best damn car company they can be....they could have easily make fog lights and DLR manageable through the existing software years ago, with an app for car owners  or through the dashboard.   

This headlamp thing is becoming more and more of an issue now with the pandemic, as folks are trying to go to outdoor films (which require the FM radio on), or car camping where they want to utilize the climate control or charge ipads, etc., without lighting up the whole forest.

Those light are the DRL's the low beams are in the headlight unit and if you have them the fog lights are low on the front valance.

5 hours ago, pragmatix said:

Those light are the DRL's the low beams are in the headlight unit and if you have them the fog lights are low on the front valance.

Thank you! that's what I was suspecting!  I called Ford tech support again to ask the simple question of what these lights were....was on hold for 10 minutes....then they said they were pushing the question up to a technical team -- and proceeded to connect my phone call to the (confused) dealer I had visited who already said they had no idea!  Lol.  I do love the C-Max though.  May have to schedule another visit to the dealership and explain to them that, yes, they have the ability to turn off the DRL's via their computer, and, no, those aren't the low beams. And pay another $65.  I really wish I could have these things running most of the time and just turn them off when needed....

What about taking the wire off the bulb, extending it back into the cab, fit a switch, then back to the bulb. When the switch is off they wont light. The car will probably show a bulb failure - which will be a good reminder to turn them back on again.

Any auto electrician will do that for you if you prefer.

41 minutes ago, fiestaecoboostman said:

What about taking the wire off the bulb, extending it back into the cab, fit a switch, then back to the bulb. When the switch is off they wont light. The car will probably show a bulb failure - which will be a good reminder to turn them back on again.

Yes, I've heard of other people connecting these to a switch -- I think I'll get a quote on that. Thanks so much for that idea!

I am also seeing other threads where it seems people are certain that the dealer CAN reprogram the BCM to turn off the DRLs (which is actually not as good a solution as the switch solution above, really, as I lose that safety feature if I go that route).  But if I did want to do that, and the dealer says "It can't be done" while Ford tech support says either "Yes, your dealer can reprogram this," or  "Sorry, you have to ask your dealer, we can only tell you what you see in your car manual"....well, where can I turn?  I have no proof to go back to the dealer and tell them,"Yes, you CAN turn them off. Please just try harder."

Hey there i am dealing with the exact same issue right now. just converted my c max in to a camping car...(removed the seats and built a bed platform) only to find that there is no way to turn off the DRL's. were you able to find a solution?

Which country?
In the UK if fitted from factory they must work.

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On 8/3/2020 at 12:49 PM, Stoney871 said:

Which country?
In the UK if fitted from factory they must work.

I'm in the United States.  

LATEST UPDATE:

• These are NOT the daytime running lights / fog lights / low lamps - they are "LED Ford Signature Lights".  They are for fun.  For *style*. Jesus Christmas.
  • The DEALER did not figure this simple fact out (what the light strip was)
  • FORD TECH SUPPORT (on 6 different occasions) did not figure this simple fact out.
  • A nice person on reddit's r/cmaxhybrid forum figured this out  --  in about 5 minutes.
• These lights currently cannot be turned off via FORScan to the best of my knowledge (I purchased the adapter and software to double-check).  Some Fords do have a "Dark Mode" meant for police cars that can be activated via the Body Control Module. It appears it is not the case with this C-Max.
• I'll be hiring a mechanic next week to install a switch to turn off the entire headlamp assembly from my front dash when I need it, as @fiestaecoboostman suggested. I'll let you guys know how it goes.  

I'm surprised this problem doesn't come up more often with everyone amusing themselves during Covid times with drive-in movies (need to have the radio on, if not the a/c as well), car camping, astrophotography, etc.. 

Lighting wiring diagrams attached.  (I purchased a $7 1-month subscription to JustAnswer to get info on the wiring solution and those diagrams, and again, it took like 5 minutes for an answer from their Ford experts. Very helpful option for anyone on these forums in need of fast expert advice.)

 

C-Max Energi DRL wiring diagram 2.pdf C-Max Energi DRL wiring diagram.pdf