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Adding lights to dome light wiring

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Old Dec 30, 2013 | 07:50 PM
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Adding lights to dome light wiring

I would like to add an LED light to each running board and tie it in with the dome light wiring so that when the door(s) are opened it will come on with the dome light and light up the factory running board.

Anyone have any info on where a good place to splice into the wiring, and will the wiring be able to handle a couple extra lights?

The truck is a 2012 F-350 SD XL


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Old Dec 31, 2013 | 09:50 AM
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Originally Posted by SD Dually
I would like to add an LED light to each running board and tie it in with the dome light wiring so that when the door(s) are opened it will come on with the dome light and light up the factory running board.

Anyone have any info on where a good place to splice into the wiring, and will the wiring be able to handle a couple extra lights?

The truck is a 2012 F-350 SD XL

Thanks

SD Dually
There are a few threads in here about doing this if you search for the courtesy time out circuit. I did this to my 2002 and the easiest way I found to do it was to pull the dome light and then follow the wires down the harness. Mine were in the drivers side rocker run.

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Old Dec 31, 2013 | 02:44 PM
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Look on your passenger side frame rail, under the rear of your cab, for this connector, it is the factory running board light connector and you can tap directly into it:

 
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Old Dec 31, 2013 | 02:45 PM
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From: ALPHA ,NJ
Originally Posted by GregsSD
Look on your passenger side frame rail, under the rear of your cab, for this connector, it is the factory running board light connector and you can tap directly into it:
I don't know if this applies to an xl...

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Old Dec 31, 2013 | 03:01 PM
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Originally Posted by 02TB250
I don't know if this applies to an xl...
It may or may not be there, but it is worth it to look for it before running wires from elsewhere!

And I believe this is only on the newer Superdutys because my 2005 Lariat does not have this plug.
 
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Old Dec 31, 2013 | 04:29 PM
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Checked under my truck on both sides, no plugs hanging there. Darn !



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Old Jan 14, 2014 | 07:44 PM
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Ok, apparently I have run into some bad news, correct me if I am wrong but these Super Duty trucks have a BCM (Body Control Module) and will sense if an extra electrical load is present and shut that particular channel down.
I have read on here where a fellow added lighted running boards to his truck and tied them into the dome light wiring, and shortly after the dome light(s) and running board lights quit working.
Is there any way to resolve this issue? I really would like to have these lights on my running boards and to come on when the door(s) are opened.

I also wanted to change out my standard exterior mirrors for the ones that have the running lamp and turn signal in them, but I have the feeling I won't be able to do that either! This is absurd!


Am I missing something or is this true?




SD Dually
 
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Old Jan 14, 2014 | 08:53 PM
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Is changing all the lights on a circuit to LED's an option. If the dome lamp is an incandescent simply replacing it with an LED should let you add a fistful of other led lights to the same circuit for the same load as the previous bulb.
 
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Old Jan 15, 2014 | 07:03 PM
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Krochus, good thought, only thing is there is only one light (one bulb) on the circuit, not sure if it would make enough difference to allow for the two extra lights, so paranoid now with this body control module I'm affraid to do anything.

I have possibly came up with a solution to my running board lights, thinking of using a door jam pin switch such as the one I have pictured, anyone have any experience with these, is it worth while fooling with them?



SD Dually


[IMG][/IMG]
 
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Old Jan 15, 2014 | 07:20 PM
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The only other option that I can think of is to run the lights and have a harness, then have the relay triggered by the done light circuit. It would be extra wiring but would bypass the issue with the BCM. There should be almost 0 extra load on the circuit.

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Old Jan 15, 2014 | 09:31 PM
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Originally Posted by 02TB250
The only other option that I can think of is to run the lights and have a harness, then have the relay triggered by the done light circuit. It would be extra wiring but would bypass the issue with the BCM. There should be almost 0 extra load on the circuit.

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Agreed, relays are the way to go here.

I have limited experience with automotive electrical work and decided at the last minute to use a relay for a cheap set of fog lights on the front of my truck. Worked out perfectly and with the relay, it's as if they aren't even there -- electrically speaking.
 
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Old Jan 27, 2014 | 02:00 AM
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Originally Posted by SD Dually
Krochus, good thought, only thing is there is only one light (one bulb) on the circuit, not sure if it would make enough difference to allow for the two extra lights, so paranoid now with this body control module I'm affraid to do anything.

I have possibly came up with a solution to my running board lights, thinking of using a door jam pin switch such as the one I have pictured, anyone have any experience with these, is it worth while fooling with them?



SD Dually

SD Dually,

Did you ever come up with a fix? I looked and I don't have the running board wiring (puddle light wiring) down on my frame rail either. I would like an easy fix for this. I have been poking around trying to find the Purple (Violet / VT) factory wiring that is supposed to be for factory running board lighting...but have not found it yet. Let me know what you come up with. Thanks,
Clint
 
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Old Feb 2, 2014 | 06:29 PM
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CKetchum, sorry for the delayed response, I haven't came up with anything yet other than a push pin which I am still debating it, can't seem to get any info on them as to how reliable they are or whether they are worth fooling with or not, some of them state that they are not water or weather proof which defeats the purpose for being automotive in my eyes, some of them don't state anything.
As for the trucks wiring, I have petty much given up on that thanks to this body control module.
My idea of installing mirrors with the running lights and turn signals will also be a no go thanks to this BCM.

Sorry I can't be of much help to you. I'm pretty much left in the dark with this.





SD Dually
 
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Old Feb 2, 2014 | 07:21 PM
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Check out this thread about the purple wire on the frame rail :

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post13115221
 
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Old Feb 2, 2014 | 10:01 PM
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Have either of you consulted the dealer or a well established Radio/Car Audio dealer.
Most Car Audio can do this easy. Remember the old Neon dayz??

I am pitiful with electrical stuff.
 
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