I would like some assistance from someone who has been down this road before. I did a search that didn't yeald a thread that was really on target to my question.

I want to install some running board light on my existing running board. Truck is a 2000 F-250 7.3 SD (with back seat).

I have the Haynes manual and it shows that the electrical feed comes off of the interior lamp relay (blk/lt blu wire).
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I did an examination of my truck and found a 2 conductor connector fastened to the back side of the wheel well cover near the inside edge (closest to the engine) on both the driver and passenger sides. My assumption was that these were for the running board lights. So out comes my trusty DMM to check. Results: no voltage with dome light, etc on. Also, there is no voltage with parking lights on and no voltage with headlights on.
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I check between the 2 conductors and from each conductor to chassis. No voltage. By pushing the plastic protector up, I determined that the wire colors were yel/red and yel/blk 16 gauge wire.
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I started to trace the wires…on the passenger side I ended up below the heater motor assembly where I couldn’t see much. On the driver’s side I ended up below the battery fuse box. Also, couldn’t see much.
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My question is: are those connectors really for running board light or something else? If they are, then is the some other component needed to complete the circuit? i.e. fuse or another relay.<O</O
Bob Miers<O</O

 

If it were me doing this, I would just tap into the brown wire for your trailer lights and run the step lights off that circuit. It's already under the truck so it makes things easier.

 

Those connectors on the back of the wheel well covers are normally for the anti-lock brake system. If you don't have ABS they will just be hanging there open.

 

The wires you were testing were for ABS. If you tap into the wire for the trailer connector, make sure to seal it up well so it won't corrode.

 

You can also find a plug inside the passenger kickpanel that powers the cab lights and stuff for the overhead console. With a test light, you can find the correct running light pin that powers the parking lamps (and clearance lights). That's what I tapped into. I then ran a wire under the sill plate to the outside of the truck and wired up the lights from there.

 

Thanks to all! Information was helpful.

 

Depending on how many lights you are planing on running. I would use the wire you are going to tap into to power a relay than use the relay to power the lights.