Question: I’m going to a drive-in movie this weekend, but my Ford Explorer’s interior lights won’t turn off while the back hatch is open. Every other car I’ve driven has had a switch to turn off the dome lights, but I’ve looked everywhere. How do I turn off the interior lights in a Ford Explorer?
Answer: Don’t worry, you’re not overlooking anything if you can’t turn off the interior lights in your Ford Explorer—many Explorer drivers report the same problem. Luckily, you may still be able to enjoy the drive-in without your interior lights blocking your view and bothering other patrons.
Check for a dimmer switch
If your Explorer has a dimmer thumbwheel for the dash lights, try rolling it all the way down until you hear a click. If you have an instrument lighting dimmer toggle switch, press and hold the bottom of the switch—near the down arrow—to turn off the lights.
Wait ten minutes
Many Explorers are equipped with a battery-saving feature that automatically turns off interior lights ten minutes after you turn the ignition off. You may need to remove the keys completely for this to work, especially if you have Intelligent Access Keys—otherwise, it may take 45 minutes (or until the battery drains too much) for the lights to go off.
Unfortunately, that may mean you can’t use your radio to listen to the drive-in movie. However, you can use a portable radio with an FM tuner as a workaround.
Trip the hatch latch
You may be able to trick your interior lights into going off by flipping the latch on your back door. Turn the car and the lights off and shut all of the doors, but don’t lock them. Open the hatch, and then use a pencil or screwdriver to fully close the locking mechanism that holds the latch closed. The lights should go off after about 30 seconds.
When you’re ready to close the door again, press the button that opens the hatch to release the latch, then close the hatch door as you normally would.
Remove a fuse or light bulb
It’s definitely not ideal as a short-term fix, but if you really want your interior lights off and none of the other methods work, you can always disable them. To do that, you’ll need to pull the relevant fuse or unscrew the bulbs.
If you choose to remove the fuse, look up a wiring diagram for your specific model so you’ll know which one to pull. Be sure to check whether the fuse will affect anything else you might need, like your headlights or your radio.
Use blackout mode
Explorers have a special mode, designed for police vehicles, that prevents the interior lights from coming on when the doors are open. If you’d like this feature, bring your Explorer to a local Ford dealership, and ask them to install it. Be aware that there may be a fee associated with this service.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Alice Holbrook is an editor with more than a decade of experience covering personal finance, including car insurance. She\’s passionate about creating easy-to-understand content that demystifies intimidating topics for readers. Previously, she worked for NerdWallet, and her work has been featured by Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Associated Press, among others.
