No backup lights
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 764
Likes: 194
From: Elephant Butte NM
No backup lights
I have a 2012 XLT 4x4, 49,000 miles and it has no backup lights, I have checked all fuses and swapped relays and still no lights. Some of the internet stuff say there is backup switch and I don't see one on the tranny, am I missing something? All wiring is stock, I find no splices under the dash, factory trailer hitch, under the tail lights, I'm stumped.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,768
Likes: 1,082
From: St Louis
Some of the internet stuff say there is backup switch and I don't see one on the tranny, am I missing something?
You really need to scan the PCM (to determine if the transmission is correctly reporting shift lever position) and the BCM to see if it is reporting any faults with the reversing lamp circuit. There aren't many shortcuts.
Does the trailer reversing lamp relay "click" when the shift lever is switched into and out of the reverse position? That will give you a starting point as to whether it's a wiring issue or a control issue.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 764
Likes: 194
From: Elephant Butte NM
Thanks for the reply I'll check that and see what I get. I may have to take it to Ford for the scan as I don't have a scan tool other the a programmer that reads CEL codes.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,768
Likes: 1,082
From: St Louis
Maybe, maybe not. It could also be a BCM that has shut down the circuit due to a detected fault.
Until he does needed diagnostics, it's all guessing.
Until he does needed diagnostics, it's all guessing.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 764
Likes: 194
From: Elephant Butte NM
???? it's at Ford, wifes truck so we know it must be fixed. Leadframe? No idea what your talking about.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: St Louis
More likely, it's an issue in the BCM as already mentioned.
Proper hands-on diagnostic procedures should be used to pinpoint, guessing over the internet can only go so far. Good luck at the Ford dealer, let us know what they come up with.
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Lead Driver
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From: Sportsman's Paradise
Can only guess without putting hands/eyes on. What I can say is over the past 40+ years working on vehicles for a living I've seen more wiring/connector issues (a lot more) than module/sensor issues. 
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,768
Likes: 1,082
From: St Louis
Yeah, I hear you. The complication starting with the 09 [edit: 2011 is correct year as pointed out below] models was the "Smart FET" driver for all the lights that, if a fault of sufficient severity is detected, will shut down the circuit until the repair is made AND the body control module is reset with a scan tool.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 764
Likes: 194
From: Elephant Butte NM
BCM was the issue, Ford says they reprogrammed which leads to the new question. What would cause the BCM to forget what it was supposed to do, the truck pure stock?