Hi all:

I've been planning to add a set of driving lights to my Expy. I got the idea of using a 4WD selector switch out of a 4x4 truck to control them, and have a factory-looking install in the dash. I envisioned the three switch positions as OFF, ON, and AUTO, where AUTO has them come on when the high-beams are on.

So, I got a switch (and the panel it goes in) at the U-pull-it. But after measuring it, it uses different resistance values to signal the PCM through one pair of wires, not on-off contacts, as I had assumed.

Just out of curiosity, was there ever a version that used on-off contacts? It would have to have at least five wires (two for illumination circuit). Perhaps earlier 10th-gen trucks did (mine's an '02 and so is the part I pulled). But I don't have the wiring diagrams to check. Can someone check the '97ish years to see?

 

Well I haven't found a diagram with the switch online. But the part number is the same for '97-'02. So there's my answer.

On to plan B.

 

I would think you could pretty easily reengineer the switch to suit your needs

 

Not really. With only four connections, two of which are dedicated to the lamp, the best I could hope for is one on-off function.

However, there is another possibility (plan B). I can make my own little black box that reads the resistances from the switch, and takes an input from the high-beam circuit to create the functionality I'm after. A cheap little Arduino controller would do this easily.

 

Maybe look into using the fan speed switch.

 

Do you have a pic of what you're talking about? On my Expy, with climate control, the fan "switch" is more of a thumbwheel, lol.

 

Here is a link to one on ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/EXPEDITION-F150-F250-NAVIGATOR-CLIMATE-CONTROL-TEMPERATURE-UNIT-A-C-HEATER-OEM-/271437544699?fits=Model%3AF-250

 

That's a F-150 panel, I guess. It looks almost exactly like a rear air control panel from an Expy/Navi. I can't believe I didn't think of that, seeing as how I have one of those staring me in the face every day, lol. I'll take a look at the innards of one on my next pull-a-part trip. It would be great if it will mount in the 4x4 switch position. The only issue I see is that it's a four-position switch. Maybe I can mod it, though. Thanks.