Bypass the nanny features of the off road lights and keep that switch

[GreenGrena]

Nope, sorry. No work around found. yet

 

[LRNAD90]

I'm willing to bet it is a software setting. With any luck, in a few years someone will come up with an aftermarket tool to access and change settings. For example, in the BMW world, USA cars don't get to roll their windows up, from the key fob, close the auto hatch from the key fob or inside button, etc. etc.

All these parameters can be 'coded' to work to your preference, they are just set that way to to US regulations/lawyers/etc. The BMW world has multiple tools, and/or services that will allow you to do this, or do this for you.

One can hope the same will eventually be available for Grenadier owners.

Until then, Its probably going to require some type of creative work around. Have to get out the multimeter and start taking panels apart and probing. I'd say the first place I'd start is to see if the switch itself is dead until the other parameters are met. If you are lucky, and it just doesn't get power until these parameters are met, you may be able to feed it an optional power source that is live when the ignition is on, or when the parking lamps are on, or whenever you want them to work..

Worst case scenario, as @parb mentioned, pull the connector from the switch, run your own circuit and use the switch to activate it (don't forget the relays!)

 

[TCMColorado]

Worst case scenario, as @parb mentioned, pull the connector from the switch, run your own circuit and use the switch to activate it (don't forget the relays!)

This is best option at the moment. I plan to install the Triple-R 7" Sentinel lights in the grill and will wire them on a new circuit with a relay triggered by the off road light switch in the overhead panel. Would be a shame to use one of the auxilary switches rendering the off road light switch inactive.

 

[mechdriver]

I like the idea of re-purposing the switch for a light that you would actually exclusively use in off-road mode. Such as a ditch light or spotlight.

 

[derek_zoolander]

So i think i may have figured out how to do this in lieu of a software solution based on the electrical schematic posted elsewhere on the forum. Hopefully this helps someone smarter than me or with more direct 12v electric experience. Apologies if this has been discussed elsewhere or already known. You can find these connections and how they all trace by searching for the last few coded digits, like C074_AD20. Since the PDF text formatting sucks, its a bit painstaking to track back where all the connections go across pages.

Based on these diagrams it appears the switch itself completes the ground in order to tell the BCM that the offroad lights should be turned on. This connection to the BCM also triggers the orange status light to illuminate. The BCM then applies positive voltage to the working lights in order to power them and turn them on.

If this is true, shouldn't we be able to intercept the completion of ground in a completely new circuit order to ground and thereby trigger a relay to actually power the lights? In order to do this, we'd need to custom run a positive 12v line to a location for the relay, attach the positive side of the aux lights to it, then simply splice into connection C074AD20 and wire that to the relay's ground. Then pressing the offroad button should trigger the newly installed circuit and power the lights.

Anyway, hope thats clear and/or helpful. I see the real challenge being identifying the C074_AD20 and light power C074_AC03, C074_AC16 wire in the loom at the BCM, but maybe someone else may have a trick to find it.

 

[mechdriver]

My plan right now is to replace the driving lights with the 7" Triple R light kit from Owl, wired to an EXT switch. Then I'll use the original wiring for the driving lamps to a Whelen Arges 2 spotlight I'm going to mount on the hood where the plastic cowls are, which I'm replacing with aluminum ones I'll modify for mounting.

 

[moomic]

US and Canada regulations require a relay for forward facing auxiliary lighting (driving or fog lights) to the vehicles headlights. The regulations go back to the 1970's. The reasoning was that auxiliary lights were not very powerful and regulated wanted to make sure that drivers could not just run with low powered fog lights. I'm talking sealed beam lights. Lighting has improved leaps and bounds since then, but regulators have not kept up. The rules are especially stupid when it comes to fog lights. The whole purpose is to see better through fog using a wide beam spread. Running headlights at the same time, greatly reduces the effectiveness of fog lights because of the bounce back from the narrow beam reflecting off fog or snow.

 

[mechdriver]

I’m making progress on the 3d print for the mount…

 

[LeftCoastOverland]

We also need to connect EXT2 to the main/high beam like Australian trucks.

Wait, Is this a thing?

 

[ScotsmanSD]

I’m making progress on the 3d print for the mount…

Any progress with this ?

 

[Tom D]

In some markets they can be used without off road mode. Can you get your dealer to install the UK or AUS software? that would fix it..

Otherwise it's going to be complicated. you could in theory pick up the signal from the overhead switch and route it to a relay of some kind. ( its likely a low voltage Can Bus signal) then from the relay to another relay with the high beam feed as a signal route that to the lights and it should work as you wish..

Bribing the dealer would be easier.

 

[The_Ick]

If you have a switch pro,Spod or garmin switch you could run the wire from the switch to one of the triggerwires and have that power the lights.

 

[mechdriver]

Any progress with this ?

Why, yes, I have… I’ll reveal it soon

 

[Tom109]

My plan right now is to replace the driving lights with the 7" Triple R light kit from Owl, wired to an EXT switch. Then I'll use the original wiring for the driving lamps to a Whelen Arges 2 spotlight I'm going to mount on the hood where the plastic cowls are, which I'm replacing with aluminum ones I'll modify for mounting.
View attachment 7912217View attachment 7912218

That work is very cool, but doesn’t the position interfere with opening the bonnet to the windscreen, plus excess bonnet glare?

 

[mechdriver]

That work is very cool, but doesn’t the position interfere with opening the bonnet to the windscreen, plus excess bonnet glare?

Nope

 

[Tom109]

Is that with the prop rod in the service position?