How do I get just the parking lights to work on the unit?

Question

2011 Chrysler Town and Country (manufacture date: 6/11 - similar to 2012-15 models)

I installed the Fortin Evo using the T-harness (CHRT-4) and it remote-starts on lock 3x perfectly! However, when I connected the parking lights according to documentation and videos (soldered a 1K-ohm resistor onto the brown/white wire on the Fortin, tapped into the white/green wire on the headlight/parking light switch), instead of just the parking lights flashing/remaining on, it also activates both the headlights and foglights each time I either start or just lock or unlock the vehicle from the FOB. Supposedly I tapped into the correct white/green wire, but it doesn't appear so. Which wire from the headlight switch works just the parking lights?  Thanks!

Answer 1

Use a 1.5K if all the lights are turning on wiht the 1K

Comments

I tried resistors in series all the way up to 3K-ohm - headlights are now off, but foglights still flash/stay on.  This car must be a special case!  As soon as I can acquire higher-value resistors, I'll keep trying until I get just the parking lights.  Thanks for the help!

---

2 options here.

 

1. There should be a (+) signal wire in the driver kick panel in the wire harness that goes towards the back. Wire is typically White/Purple. No resistor needed but a relay to change the polarity from negative to positive from the EVO will be required. Might be easier this way.

 

2. If you want to stick with the (-) trigger at the switch, you will most likely have to interput the signal; not only tapping onto it. A Relay would be required for this along with the resistor. Opening the ciruit instead of just tapping onto it would prevent any feedback from happening in the physical switch (which may be why the fog lights are coming on).

 

If you want to test the above it's super easy.

• Cut the vehicles parking light wire at the switch. You will be left with 2 ends (connector side and vehicle side)
• Take your resitor (1k or 1.5k) and ground one end (this replicates the EVO sending ground)
• Take the other end of the resistor and connect it the vehicle side of the cut wire.
• Parking lights should be on if the proper resistor is used. Fog lights should not be on.

 

You would need to replicate opening the circuit and sending that resistor value towards the vehicle using a relay.

 

The values for resistors on these cars have always been 1-1.5K for parking lights (actual value is 1130 Ohm) . 660Ohm turns on headlights. Fog lights is direct, this is why i am assuming theres some feedback going on in the switch.

 

---

Here's a question - when you turn your headlights on with the headlight switch, are the fog lights on?

Reason why I ask...when I did this with my 2006 Ram about a year ago, it seemed that I could not find a resistance value to turn on just the parking lights.  It dawned on me that the last time I drove my truck, I had the fog lights on.  Sure enough, I turned on the headlights w/ the headlight switch, and the foglights came on.  I turned off the fog lights, then turned off the head lights.  Bam - that's what I needed!  The fog lights no longer turned on when I remote started my truck!

On my truck, a 2K resistor is what I needed to reliably switch on the parking lights.  I just have to be sure to turn off the fog lights before I park the truck.

Hope this helps!

-Darren Asuncion