How do you disable dark car mode on an 08 crown Victoria police interceptor?

Answer 1

he current production Ford products have what is called a "Lighting Control Module". This "LCM", as it's called has TOTAL control over virtually every light installed on the vehicle. It takes inputs from various sources and provides lighting control in accordance with it's programming. For the owner, there are not too many "features" that we can re-program at the user level. One is the DRL function (if equipped with daytime running lights), and the other is "Dark Car". The Dark Car (DC) mode is common on Police and other Law Enforcement vehicles. It allows the opening of any door without the chimes or dome lamps being activated. This mode is entered by grounding a specific terminal on the LCM. The CV/GM/TC have this grounding connector supplied by the factory, and left in the open circuit application (normal lighting). The connector is located near the top of the carpeting just to the right side of the center console, and is a single pole blue connector (one wire in, one wire out).

To ACTIVATE Dark Car: -disconnect the battery, or if you prefer, pull fuses #4,8,&12 in the central junction box (you won't lose your presets etc.) -locate the blue single pole connector to the right of the central console, near the carpet edge, and plug the two ends of the connector together -reconnect the battery (replace fuses) -cycle doors to verify changes Note: the dome light will remain operational from the Headlamp switch position

To DE-Activate Dark Car (enable "normal" dome lighting): -disconnect battery (or pull fuses) -locate and disconnect the single pole blue connector to the right of the central console -reconnect battery (replace fuses) -cycle the doors to verify changes.

The LCM needs to have it's "keep alive" power interrupted to cause it to re-examine it's programming, so you do need to disconnect the power sources before any changes will take effect. I suppose, you could just unplug the harnesses to the LCM to disrupt it's power, but I'd much rather pull fuses than "stand" on my head pulling connectors.

Congratulations, you now know more about your car than the average person.

If this does NOT return your vehicle to "normal" lighting, most likely either the wires were cut near the LCM to disable the door signals, or the door switch connectors have been unplugged at the switch located on the latch assemblies inside the door(s).