How to Turn Off Cargo Light F150: A Complete Guide

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Learning how to turn off cargo light F150 is very important as drivers of this car have complained about how tricky it is and how they have been struggling to get it done. The bed light is found on an SUV or the bed of a truck, and on the Ford F150, there is a switch on the dash to turn it off.

How to Turn Off Cargo Light F150

If your F-150 does not have light control, you need to locate the fuse box under the hood and disable it. When there is something wrong with your light, it would be hard to turn it off, and that is what our guide below covers so read on to learn how to fix this problem!

How to Turn Off Cargo Light F150? Causes and Solutions

You can turn off the cargo lights on your F-150 with the light controls located below the turn signal lever. This is on the left side of the steering wheel column. Once you find it, flip the switch, and the light will go off.

If you do not have this control, locate the fuse box under the hood. Then, find the fuse named ‘trunk’ or ‘cargo’ and pull it to disable the light. Put the fuse back on. For drivers with an older Ford F150 model between the years 1996 and 2003, the process to turn the cargo light off will be different.

There is also a panel dimmer switch available that will turn on the cargo light as well as the interior light. So, you can use that to turn the light on and off. There is also an automatic lighting system so when the car door or the cargo door opens, the sensor in the door latch will turn the cargo light on. When you close the door properly, you will automatically turn it back off.

There are different reasons why the light of your Ford F-150 stays on even when you try to turn it off or power the truck down. Keep in mind that the first reason is that the tailgate door is still open. Check the door and close it again properly before trying to take up your toolbox. Even your car door being open can cause this. Take a look at the possible causes and how you can fix them below.

  • Check for a Damaged Door Switch

The truck bed light will come on each time you open one of your truck doors. But, if the door switch is faulty and consequently not working right, it can cause the light to stay on all the time, even when all the doors are closed. If your door switch is faulty, you need to replace it with a new one.

 

The dimmer switch of your car that is located close to the steering wheel can also cause the cargo light to remain on. The switch will control both the cargo and the interior lighting. You can fix it by replacing the switch with a new one.

Checking for Car Damaged Door Switch

You can complete this in about an hour. Follow the steps below to replace a damaged door switch:

  1. Locate the door switch after opening the truck door. You will see the switch near the door handle.
  2. Use a screwdriver to remove all the screws holding the switch down. You can use a flathead screwdriver to get it out of its housing.
  3. Check if the wiring is damaged, and if it is, you need to strip the damaged wires away using a wire stripper.
  4. If you see that the wire is not damaged, disconnect it from the old switch.
  5. Connect the wiring to the new switch and insert it into your housing. Then screw it in place.
  6. You can then test it out by opening and closing your car door to see if the light will come on.

  • Check for a Blown Fuse

The fuse for the bed lights might also be blown. In this case, you need to replace it to easily turn the light off or on. You can do so in the fuse box.

  1. The fuse box is located on the side of the dashboard, close to where the door is located. There are also fuse boxes in the passenger compartment of the car that can affect the cargo light as well as the interior lights.
  2. Remove the screws holding the fuse box in place with a Phillips head screwdriver. Then, lift the cover to open it.
  3. In the fuse box, you will see a diagram. This labels each fuse, so look for the one with cargo or trunk on it. Remove the fuse.
  4. Replace it with the one you have bought.
  5. Close the fuse box and put everything back in its place.
  6. You can test it out by turning the ignition of the truck on and off.

  • Check for Wiring Problems

Another situation is if the wiring for your cargo lights are damaged. This can cause a short circuit that keeps the light on. You need to replace the damaged part of the wiring for it to work.

Checking for Wiring Problems of Cargo

 

  1. Find the light when you open the truck door. Then, disconnect the wiring from it.
  2. Using wire strippers, remove the damaged portion of the wiring.
  3. Place a piece of electrical tape on it to keep the new wiring secure.
  4. Reconnect the wiring to the light.
  5. You can test it by turning the truck’s ignition on and off. If the light turns on when the truck is on and off when the truck is off, then it is fixed.

How to Deactivate Automatic Lighting System in F150?

To deactivate the automatic automatic lighting system in F-150 you will have to follow a few steps such as getting the right tools and locating the fuse box of your truck. Once you have done that you can start fixing the problem.

Deactivate Automatic Lighting System in F150

If you want to deactivate the automatic lighting system, you need a wire cutter, long nose pliers, rubber electrical tape, Phillips head screwdriver, and flat screwdriver. Keep in mind that deactivating it will also stop the interior lights from going on or off when you open or close the door.

  • Follow these steps

  1. Locate the fuse box of your truck. Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the cover of the fuse.
  2. Locate the fuse with the DOME label on it. This is the fuse in charge of controlling the interior light, like the light. Remove this fuse with the Phillips head screwdriver.
  3. Use the rubber electrical tape to cover the exposed wires, and this will prevent any shorts.
  4. Remove the ground wire from the fuse box with a wire cutter. This will stop your light from coming on automatically.
  5. Reverse these steps if you want to reactivate the lighting, so do not throw the DOME fuse away.

Frequently Asked Questions

– Can You Drive if the Cargo Light F-150 is Faulty?

No, you cannot drive if the cargo light is faulty. The cargo bulb should not be on when you are driving, and it can cause problems if you leave it on for a long time. The cargo light is found on the roof of your truck or car.

If you leave your lights on while driving, it can drain the battery of your car quickly. Also, if your F-150 has an automatic headlight feature when the light is on, the headlights will go off. This would make it difficult for you to use your headlights. Also, lights should be used when the vehicle is parked.

– How Can You Activate Dark Mode on a Ford F-150?

Yes, you can activate dark mode on a Ford F150 by locating the switch that controls the interior light. This is found on the center console of the F150 near the shifter. Then, flip the switch to the off position.

Activating Dark Mode on Ford F150

Press and hold the button on the overhead console as this controls the light. You will hear the chime after a few seconds, and this shows that the dark mode is activated. Press and hold the button to exit the dark mode. When you activate dark mode, the interior of your car will be dark and comfortable at night.

– How Can You Further Troubleshoot Cargo Light Issues on F-150?

If your cargo light is not coming on at all, you should check the bulb first. The bulb might be blown, especially in older vehicles. You can purchase a new cargo light bulb and replace it. In the worst cases, there will be issues with the wiring.

If you are comfortable with touching the wiring, you should replace or repair it and your cargo light will work.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to turn off cargo light F150, you can easily switch it off or fix the problem if there is one.

Here is a summary of our guide on handling your light:

  • You can turn the cargo light on the F-150 off with the light controls located under the turn signal lever – near the steering column – or the fuse box.
  • If there is a problem with your light, you also need to check for a faulty door switch, wiring issues, or a blown fuse. It could of course be as simple as a blown bulb.
  • You can deactivate the automatic lighting system to stop the light from coming on when you open the door.
  • To troubleshoot your light issues, first check the fuses, then the bulbs, and finally the wiring.
  • If you are unsure of how to fix your light, you should take the car to a professional mechanic to fix it and rather not risk it yourself.

Remember that your bed lights should not be left on while you are driving, as this can cause damage to your battery, so it is important to check how to fix it. You can follow this guide to identify the causes of why your light is always on and repair the problem!

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