Hi guys, I have a 1996 Ford Explorer 4 door and I open the back hatch for work and leave it open. The lights stay on. I have searched many threads and found a few about adding a switch at the back ( cut white/purple wire ) and install rocker switch. But, I cannot find any photos of switch installed, or exactly where to access this wire. People have verbally described where, but I am still at a loss as to exactly where. Are there any photos of this installed, and any photos of which panel to remove to access the wire? Thanks

 

Hmmm, I seem to remember my 1999 Mountaineer having a switch from the factory, either in the cargo area or as part of the second row overhead interior light. Was I imagining that, or was it a post-1996 feature?

-Rod

 

Negative on the light switch on the overhead light, or in the rear. Only switch is a door lock/unlock on the driver side rear panel

 

My recall is obviously flawed then. Does only the rear cargo light illuminate when the liftgate glass and/or liftgate are opened, or do all the interior lights come on? I've been looking over the factory diagrams for the cargo lights and it appears all interior lights would come on, in which case I think you'll want to install a switch in the coil wire for the interior lamp relay, but that's not a white/purple wires. The good news is the interior lamp relay is located in the Aux Relay Box #4 which is located in the rear left of the vehicle, above the wheelwell. I don't find any white/purple wires associated with the cargo light circuit. Were the threads you were reading maybe referring to a different model year of Explorer?

-Rod