adding upfitter switches to 2016
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 168
Likes: 11
From: Summit Park, UT
Thanks for checking Ron.
I just gave it a quick glance and assumed it was two different connectors due to the colors. It's going to be warmer this week and I give a more thorough inspection. I ordered the switch kit and light today.
I just gave it a quick glance and assumed it was two different connectors due to the colors. It's going to be warmer this week and I give a more thorough inspection. I ordered the switch kit and light today.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 26
From: BA, OK
Upfitter switches are on my to do list. This thread has been really helpful. One question that you may be able to answer for me.....I have a XLT w/o fog lights. I'd like to add a 20'' light bar in the bumper opening. On the front frame cross bar, just under and behind the radiator are two capped off connectors. One has wire color yellow/black and the other is yellow/purple w/ a green tracer. Are they for fog lights?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 168
Likes: 11
From: Summit Park, UT
Thanks. Great diagram, but definitely have not seen brown/yellow yet. I'll root around this week and see if I can find it. Obviously, since the truck doesn't have fog lights, the main light switch doesn't have the ability to control them.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 168
Likes: 11
From: Summit Park, UT
The switches came in from Fairway Ford yesterday. The kit included the screws for the relay bracket. I consider myself fairy mechanically competent. I've replaced injectors, a turbo and a couple of injection pumps in my old 24 valve CTD(not to mention many sets of ball joints), but this install sort of kicked my ***. I finally got it, but it took a couple of trip to the computer to look at youtube videos. Removing the plug from the C215 connector was a bear at first, but in the end just slipped right out. Not exactly easy access there.
The Trail Master 21.5'' light is due in today. When this little snow storm we're having abates, I'll tackle that install this weekend.
The Trail Master 21.5'' light is due in today. When this little snow storm we're having abates, I'll tackle that install this weekend.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 168
Likes: 11
From: Summit Park, UT
Soooo, the 21.5'' Trail Master light bar showed up today. It seems like a quality unit. It came with a well made wiring harness with all of the terminal ends shrunk wrapped. The harness has a inline 30A fuse, 40A relay and a switch. Obviously, I'll cut the switch off and use one of the outfitter switches. Does anyone see any reason to not use the #3 10A outfitter switch for this purpose since all it's doing is powering the coil in the relay.?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 168
Likes: 11
From: Summit Park, UT
Well, After searching on FTE, it seemed like most folks wired their 20''-42'' light bars directly to the upfitter switches and that's what I did as well. Since the wiring harness came with a 30A fuse and 40A relay, I originally assumed the the 25A switch might be under powered. The wiring harness was really long, so I cut off what I needed and ran it to the dash pass through wires. That darn light is BRIGHT!!. The only bummer was the #1 aux. switch doesn't work. I hooked the light up to #2. A little frustrating to say the least. #3 and #4 also work. I'll call Fairway Ford to see if there's some kind of solution. Worst case, I guess I can wire the relay that came with the light wiring harness.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,729
Likes: 80
From: New Jersey
Well, After searching on FTE, it seemed like most folks wired their 20''-42'' light bars directly to the upfitter switches and that's what I did as well. Since the wiring harness came with a 30A fuse and 40A relay, I originally assumed the the 25A switch might be under powered. The wiring harness was really long, so I cut off what I needed and ran it to the dash pass through wires. That darn light is BRIGHT!!. The only bummer was the #1 aux. switch doesn't work. I hooked the light up to #2. A little frustrating to say the least. #3 and #4 also work. I'll call Fairway Ford to see if there's some kind of solution. Worst case, I guess I can wire the relay that came with the light wiring harness.
TO the previous posters, I know the feeling with the after sales install of the uplifters. I did it on my 2011. That connector was a bear to get to. It took longer to figure it out that to install it the first time. The second time, I looked for a truck that had it installed already.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 168
Likes: 11
From: Summit Park, UT
FordmanNJ,
Stripping and crimping the wires under dash is a piece of cake compared to doing the same in the engine bay by the brake booster IMO. It looks really easy in the 2017+ SD. Yup, I checked the yellow wire under dash with two multimeters and an old school 12V light probe. I'm going to pull the upfitter relay out today and see if there's anything obvious that looks out of whack. Hmmm, the spade connector suggestion is a good one. I may use that on the rest of the connections in the engine bay.
I told the wife this is the last truck I'll ever own, but if for some reason I buy another one, it will for sure have the damn switches in it....... or I'll pay someone to install them.
Stripping and crimping the wires under dash is a piece of cake compared to doing the same in the engine bay by the brake booster IMO. It looks really easy in the 2017+ SD. Yup, I checked the yellow wire under dash with two multimeters and an old school 12V light probe. I'm going to pull the upfitter relay out today and see if there's anything obvious that looks out of whack. Hmmm, the spade connector suggestion is a good one. I may use that on the rest of the connections in the engine bay.
I told the wife this is the last truck I'll ever own, but if for some reason I buy another one, it will for sure have the damn switches in it....... or I'll pay someone to install them.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 168
Likes: 11
From: Summit Park, UT
I couldn't figure out what the problem with the #1 switch was. With an ohm meter, I determined that the switch itself is good. The relay just isn't getting power supplied to it by the switch. I talked to Fairway Ford and they said to send the wiring harness/relays (BC3Z-14A303-B) back and they'll send a new one.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 168
Likes: 11
From: Summit Park, UT
[QUOTE=dirthawg;17911900]If your truck has the correct wiring you will be looking for Brown with yellow stripe.
OK, I bought some fog lights and i see that the what I thought was a yellow wire is the brown w/ yellow tracer. Dirthawg, for some reason the diagram you posted is no longer there. Would you mind posting it again?
OK, I bought some fog lights and i see that the what I thought was a yellow wire is the brown w/ yellow tracer. Dirthawg, for some reason the diagram you posted is no longer there. Would you mind posting it again?
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 26
From: BA, OK
[QUOTE=tmacc;17965566]
Looks like my image hosting site decided to change their url. Updated the wiring diagram with the new links. Let me know if you have issues view the images.
If your truck has the correct wiring you will be looking for Brown with yellow stripe.
OK, I bought some fog lights and i see that the what I thought was a yellow wire is the brown w/ yellow tracer. Dirthawg, for some reason the diagram you posted is no longer there. Would you mind posting it again?
OK, I bought some fog lights and i see that the what I thought was a yellow wire is the brown w/ yellow tracer. Dirthawg, for some reason the diagram you posted is no longer there. Would you mind posting it again?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 168
Likes: 11
From: Summit Park, UT
Thanks Dirthawg, No problem viewing the images...and this time, I snipped and save them. My plan is to tie the Gray/Violet switch wire into one of the upfitter switches.
Are these images from one of the online downloadable manuals? I might well purchase one of them.
Are these images from one of the online downloadable manuals? I might well purchase one of them.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 26
From: BA, OK
Yes, those are from the 2016 factory service manual PDF, well worth the $80. I purchased the standard version and wish I would have sprung for the deluxe version $130 as it has working hyperlinks.