2010 LV MKII TDCi Centre Console Query

**Ratmick** · 22-10-2014, 12:51 AM

Hi all,

As per the title I have a 2010 LV MkII TDCi.

At the bottom of the centre console, below the radio and heater/air-con and fan controls, there is a small bank of four possible switch positions. Three of the positions are covered with blanking covers, one is populated and is used for the rear window demister.

My question is; what are the other three positions for? I'd like to install spotlights on the car and would like to use a proper switch in one of the spare slots, rather than an ugly toggle switch.

Thanks, Mick

Franco Cozzo · 22-10-2014, 12:59 AM

They are just blanks, I have a on/off switch there with a light in it which lights up orange when my spotlights are on. You can get some nice looking switches.

I went for the ugly bright orange rocker switch, like this but orange:

Something like this might be more suitable:

**Ratmick** · 22-10-2014, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

They are just blanks, I have a on/off switch there with a light in it which lights up orange when my spotlights are on.

Yeah that will be the placement of last resort

.

You would think though that if they're putting blanks into the the console that there would be switches that would just plug straight in there...somewhere in the world anyway. They may not be for spotlights but if it's a generic Ford latching push-button then it'd be fine.

I had a car years back (I think it was my first Magna) which had the same thing and the guys at Mitsubishi ordered me a OEM switch that fit into one of the blank spaces. It looked like it had always been there (apart from the fact it was shiny and new while the rest of the car wasn't).

Mick

Franco Cozzo · 22-10-2014, 01:52 AM

The only problem I'm guessing you might have with that on modern cars using CANBUS like ours is for example the rear demister switch is a momentary switch which when pushed in is just shorting a pin on the BCM which then turns on the demister rather than physically switching current through it like a regular switch to trigger a relay, the BCM would be doing the switching and triggering of relays rather than the switch itself like on older cars.

Maybe someone makes aftermarket switches to fit in that blank spot, you'd best check the UK I reckon as it would be more common to modify these things for other use such as police vehicles rather than here locally.

bugmesome · 22-10-2014, 08:35 AM

In previous models of the Focus one of the blanks was for the ESP on/off switch. They moved it to the driver menu but (from memory) the LV XR5 kept it there 'cos that's how they roll.

The other blanks. No idea. I think overseas models used them for the front passenger/driver heated seat controls.

commodorenutt · 22-10-2014, 09:05 AM

You can get "flip-flop" relays that latch and unlatch with momentary pulses.

**Ratmick** · 22-10-2014, 09:22 AM

Thanks all!

Ok so I'm hearing the toggle/rocker switch in the switch blank looks to be the way to go, the alternative being too hard

.

Do they lever out or are they screwed in from the inside?

Mick

Franco Cozzo · 22-10-2014, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratmick

Thanks all!

Ok so I'm hearing the toggle/rocker switch in the switch blank looks to be the way to go, the alternative being too hard

.

Do they lever out or are they screwed in from the inside?

Mick

I'm pretty sure we levered mine out, drilled a hole in it and hot glued it back into its hole with the switch in it, make sure its on the opposite side of the demister switch not next to it so there is no hot glue seepage which screws up the demister switch like we did on mine lol.

**Ratmick** · 22-10-2014, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I'm pretty sure we levered mine out, drilled a hole in it and hot glued it back into its hole with the switch in it, make sure its on the opposite side of the demister switch not next to it so there is no hot glue seepage which screws up the demister switch like we did on mine lol.

Ha, thanks mate I'll make sure I keep that in mind.

I have a Haymes manual for the Turbo Diesel, it really is a useless POS, hence the stupid questions on here

.

Looking at the Haymes wiring diagram seems to indicate the CANBUS uses a switched earth to trigger but the high beam relay is switching the positive (as you'd expect). Did you run a wire back to the spotlight relay from the high beam wire on one side?

Mick

Franco Cozzo · 22-10-2014, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratmick

Ha, thanks mate I'll make sure I keep that in mind.

I have a Haymes manual for the Turbo Diesel, it really is a useless POS, hence the stupid questions on here

.

Looking at the Haymes wiring diagram seems to indicate the CANBUS uses a switched earth to trigger but the high beam relay is switching the positive (as you'd expect). Did you run a wire back to the spotlight relay from the high beam wire on one side?

Mick

We tapped into the high beam wire at the headlight on one side with a 3mm wire, ran it to the supply pin on the switch, then ran another 3mm wire from the load pin on the switch to pin 86 on the relay.

So what its doing when the high beams are on, there is power at the switch, you turn the switch on and it triggers the relay.

I have the same useless Haynes manual too lol, if you become any level of donating member to the forum (entry level $20/year) you get access to the genuine Ford LV Focus workshop manual and others

**Ratmick** · 22-10-2014, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I have the same useless Haynes manual too lol, if you become any level of donating member to the forum (entry level $20/year) you get access to the genuine Ford LV Focus workshop manual and others

Thanks mate, and done on the Donating Member thing too.

Mick

dazFX · 22-10-2014, 11:33 PM

*If you take the stereo surround off (lever out with a plastic card), you will have access to 2 torx screws and should be able to remove that whole section. Those buttons and blanks should just clip off and on.

*Going by memory from something i did a year ago and could be completely wrong

**Ratmick** · 24-10-2014, 12:17 AM

The switch blanks were surprisingly easy to remove, just used a 30cm ruler and some gentle persuasion.

Alas didn't find anything I wanted to see.

What I was after was a flat plate to mount a switch against.

What I got was some Ford-specific monstrosity that won't be that useful without some cutting and gouging (and possibly hot glue as per Damo's post).

...looking for alternate locations, what about the light switch? There seems to be plenty of real-estate next to the switch (although if I could remove the damn thing I am guessing it'd be more of the same as the blank)

I don't particularly want to cut a hole in the console...

...although I could fit one of these here:

They're pretty tiny, the cutout is 18.5x12mm.

Narva Switch

Mick

Citwit · 24-10-2014, 11:01 PM

I put mine next to the light switch. It needs to go in the corner to avoid some of the internals

**Ratmick** · 24-10-2014, 11:09 PM

That might do it, thanks mate.

Will use one of these, they're tiny:

Any tips on how to remove that damn switch? I had a poke at it last night, didn't achieve anything useful...

Mick

**Ratmick** · 26-10-2014, 09:34 PM

Pulled my light switch out.

The answer for anyone wanting to do this is to remove the panel underneath and reach under and over the switch push the four clips (two above, two below) while pulling gently on the knob.

Anyway pulled the switch apart there is a lot of empty space in there. There's about 25-30mm between the fascia and the circuit board, plenty of room for the small rocker switch I have on order.

Slipped slightly when cutting the hole, hence the scratch top left-hand corner of the hole.

Had to slightly prune some spare plastic from the switch internals, it looked like it was meant for something we never had installed here...

Mick

**Ratmick** · 31-10-2014, 11:19 PM

So Big Damo and Rob from Macedon Ranges Auto Electrics installed a light bar a driving light relay and some invisible cabling, well done guys

.

I've managed to install a small switch in the light switch. It's a bit fiddly and at the moment it looks cr@p as it's covered in dust, fingerprints and smudges, but it looks like this:

The light bar doesn't take Hella Rallye 4000 Compacts very well, they mount very low and the lens bottom fouls on the front round piece. I'm looking at sourcing a couple of 50mm x 25mm x 13mm pieces of flat aluminium bar and using them as stand-offs.

Will post pics once I'm done.

Mick

Franco Cozzo · 02-11-2014, 01:28 PM

Yeah, with my light bar I drilled holes closer to the tube part at the front, and then spaced up the lights, talking about that I'll go look for that black nylon.

I'm going to chuck my Rallye 4000s back on my Focus soon as well, as now I need the distance they do since I've got the genuine Ford HID setup on my car now.

Franco Cozzo · 02-11-2014, 05:10 PM

I found that black nylon that I have, its about 10mm thick and probably half a meter long, I could get it to yours on Friday most likely if you want? You can have it free cause its not like I'm going to use it for anything, its just been sitting in my garage.

It has a beveled edge on the other side though but it should be alright.

The white stuff is just sillicon on it which was used to hold it down in my ambo.

**Ratmick** · 02-11-2014, 05:28 PM

That would be good mate, thanks. I can pick it up from you if that would be easier, I'm only about 20-25 mins from Lancefield/Romsey and I have the next two days off...

Mick

Franco Cozzo · 02-11-2014, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratmick

That would be good mate, thanks. I can pick it up from you if that would be easier, I'm only about 20-25 mins from Lancefield/Romsey and I have the next two days off...

Mick

I'm going to be out tomorrow/tuesday with cup week and other random stuff but I've got no problems taking it to you on Friday man which is when I have free.

**Ratmick** · 02-11-2014, 05:45 PM

No worries, I'll PM you my address.

Thanks again.

**Ratmick** · 21-11-2014, 12:47 AM

So I wasn't happy with the switch I mounted at the left of the headlight switch so I ordered one from a Wrecker. He sent one that didn't have the fog light position (my bad, I didn't check). I sent it back, he sent me one that did have a fog light switch but also has a dimmer for the dash lights that mine didn't have...in the position I would installed my preferred switch.

Question is...my car doesn't have a dash light dimmer anywhere, would this work if I plugged it in?

Franco Cozzo · 21-11-2014, 08:08 AM

I'm not sure, give it a crack maybe all the wiring is there for it, but no switch?

leakey · 21-11-2014, 08:16 PM

Hi there, a while back I bought one of these for my LT, and it came with a switch that perfectly fits in those square blanked out plates you mentioned.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SPOT-FOG-...item53fe9cc21a

Maybe have a look at these and see if you can pick up their loom and switch if you already have the lamps.

Cheers, Leakey

**Ratmick** · 22-11-2014, 12:28 PM

If anyone's is wondering if a LV MKII that came stock with a light switch with fog lights and no dimmer will work with a light switch with fog lights and a dimmer, well yes it does...dims the dash lights too.

This leads me to ask why bother not having a dimmer for the dash lights? With my model LV there is no way of doing this manually or through the car MFD. Seems a bit...odd.

Franco Cozzo · 22-11-2014, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratmick

If anyone's is wondering if a LV MKII that came stock with a light switch with fog lights and no dimmer will work with a light switch with fog lights and a dimmer, well yes it does...dims the dash lights too.

This leads me to ask why bother not having a dimmer for the dash lights? With my model LV there is no way of doing this manually or through the car MFD. Seems a bit...odd.

Seems odd indeed, our old Festiva has a dash light dimmer, I don't think my WS Fiesta has one either.

Maybe its one of those things that did the magic disappearing act some time ago?

4 wheel steering, speed sensitive power steering, 12V auxilliary sockets in all doors, key locks in all doors, all gone the way of the dodo a long time ago.

**Ratmick** · 22-11-2014, 03:40 PM

Ok, I've performed some blanking plate surgery, successfully I might add:

The marks are blue marker, metho should get rid of those...

Mick

**Ratmick** · 22-11-2014, 08:29 PM

Pretty damn neat...

**Ratmick** · 27-11-2014, 12:32 AM

After narrowly missing two kangaroos this morning (in daylight too) decided to dedicate some time to getting the driving lights on the car, instead of renovating.

The issue we have around here is that the roads are narrow, the kangaroos pretty small and the undergrowth up to the road.

The lights are not fully set-up with the aiming spot-on, but from what I've seen on a quick blat up the road they're excellent. Bit of an odd diffraction pattern from the HIDs but plenty of very white light!

Damo> Ended up at this stage using two pieces of 25mm x 50mm x 12mm thick 6000-series aluminium bar for the standoffs. They're spot on, if you want a piece of bar to play with I reckon there's about 200mm left, you're welcome to have it.

Cr@ppy photo, sorry I finished late.