im planning on re wiring all of my current accessories into a neater complete wiring harness and add in wiring for future upgrades at the same time to allow near plug and play installation!

I have tried to find some info but am not very good with google searching. I would like to know what wires would be convenient to tap into to trigger a relay for a door ajar switch (for amp research step, i found their wiring design and dont like it) i want a wire that gets power when any door is opened. their diagram taps into both the rear and front door ajar wires, which are apparently separate, and those two go to a "Y diode" and both are used to trigger the steps. left and right are separately controlled.

I also want a running light wire that can be used to turn on cab lights. i dont know which ones are together but when i lock my truck most of my lights flash. im pretty sure i can tap into a running light in the mirror, i think it would be easiest to find and tap into.

i also read that there is a reverse light wire inside the auto dim rear view mirror harness, or would kick panel have an easier access? i want to avoid using my kick panel area as both sides are rather full with my power wire to my subs/speaker amps on the driver side and rca wires on the passenger side

those are just the ones im stuck on, but if anyone has any thoughts or ideas for electrical mods im all ears

 

Just in case anyone reading this doesn't know, the AMP electric steps are activated by the door ajar wire, like Joe mentions. They run both of these into a diode set to create a "OR" gate. That is , if one OR the other door OR both of the side doors are opened, then the step on that side is operated. This way, only the side door can activate the steps, and the diodes keep the original door ajar circuit signals isolated from one another as they go to the computer (instrument panel)

This allows them to have the step units on one side to operate independently of the steps on the other side.

Joe, you seem to want to operate all steps whenever the dome light comes on. I wouldn't recommend it, but you could tap a line for a relay off of the wires on the back of the headlight light switch unit. There are no other circuits that have a combined door ajar signal.

Doing it the way you want would mean that the steps on both sides would be activated (very short period) whenever you open the rear hatch or whenever you operate the keyless keypad or remote. Hitting the panic button on the remote would be an interesting time, too.

 

Hmm I thought about the rear gate, but not the keypad. I would prefer if any normal door opens, both steps go down but that's just me being picky and having things my way like always. I don't understand why there are two separate circuits for the door ajar system. What's the purpose? It doesn't tell you front vs back so why have a front vs back??

 

Joe, I think it is probably one of those things that they put in the design of the harness/ system for security equipment.

The microprocessor that takes care of the door ajar circuits also is the keyless and wireless remote controller. All 4 side door wires separately go to this computer, known as the Vehicle Security Module (VSM). Front left, front right, side left, side right, and the two rear lift gate switches are wired together in parallel making a 5th connection.

The output of the VSM goes straight to the instrument cluster. So anytime any of those doors are opened, it will illuminate the dash light.

That wire, a Orange/Green wire going to the instrument cluster, would be the closest thing to what you are looking for. At least the steps would only work when the front, side or rear hatch is operated, and it would be totally separate from the dome lights (I hope, but not guaranteed). But remember that BOTH steps would be activated at once.

 

Just great. iIt looks like that Orange/Green wire is a digital data line.

They list it on the schematics as Module Communications Network. (Data link connector)

It is hooked to the driver seat memory module, VSM, EATC, and the instrument cluster.

crap. You're outta luck, Joe.

 

Oh well, thanks for the info. Where do you get all your wiring information?
It's unfortunate that the sensors are separate but don't tell you which door is open, would he kinda convenient instead of the typical walk around he whole vehicle closing every door

 

I'd want to isolate the power to the steps ONLY if the truck is in 'Park'. Otherwise, if you are offroad and need to open the door for a peak at an obstacle, you may tear off the steps...

 

the park idea is good, because then i can lock the E brake and still get out without them going down, the only downside is that they will stay down until the vehicle is moving again. this would be very convenient for things like washing the top side of my truck, removing my side steps has been a great hinderance for that! i just like the look of the truck without steps it makes it look taller by illusion.
i know im picky... i will probably tap off of the park sensor.
as for off-road damage i heard that the motors have a pressure switch where if they cannot be put down by some resistance they will stop trying to prevent damage

 

You could run the power through a couple of different relays for each situation including a bypass or manual override for whenever you want to put them down no matter what...

 

I have the wiring diagrams for all Fords 1996 to 2012. I buy the shop manuals on DVD and they are on there. I also have the Shop manuals, specifications book, Source books, brochures, towing guides, and electrical diagram manuals in print form for 2000-2005 Excursions. EBay is your friend.

Do you get a feeling that I am really into having an Excursion?

 

i wish i had those kind of resources available
how much did they cost you for the wiring diagrams for the excursions? that would be a very worthwhile investment for me. i have a few electrical mods right now and plan on a whole bunch in the future.
I completely know how you feel, i swear my addiction to modifying my truck is stronger than most hard drugs

 

If you just want the DVD with the workshop manual and the wiring diagrams, they are available on Ebay. That is where I got mine.
edit: forgot to say they are $30 to $40 depending on where you get them

The ones below are ORIGINAL disks from a ford dealership. Be careful of some sellers. They are selling copies of the original disks and saying they are oem. Some of them cripple the copied disks so they only do one vehicle. The OEM disks do all Ford vehicles for the years stated.

2005 2006 Ford Lincoln Mercury Service Manual F 150 Expedition Navigator Mustang | eBay

If you look around, vendors have the shop manuals and wiring diagram books on Ebay in print form, too.

 

By the way, There is a way for it to be loaded on your hard disk so you don't have to use the DVD's in the drive, and there's a program available that takes care of the date issue automatically for you. I have all the work arounds, and I make it work even with windows 7.