I’m new to posting on FTE always used forums for guidance and inspiration starting with my 2000 7.3 PSD and now onto my 2017 f250 6.7 lariat. My question is the AMP power running boards I’ve dug though the forums I could find and found some answers. But who has found alternative ways to wiring the amp running boards rather than the obd2 or splitter method.

I have a few ideas, for one I’ve considered using the factory 2 pin puddle light harnesses under the rear door on the frame rail as the trigger instead of obd2, but I’m unsure of how AMP uses the obd2 wiring if it’s as simple as a power and a ground or if it relies on specific signal voltage. my issue with that idea is the steps would be triggered for 30 seconds everytime I unlock the truck and also stay down for 30 seconds after I shut the door. My other idea was to figure out which pins the amp uses out of the obd2 and re-pinning or splicing them with the AMP trigger wires.

I saw a post I really liked where OP bought all of fords factory hardware and essentially installed OEM but the price tag on parts now is over 4k USD. I’m keen on all ideas I haven’t bought the amp steps yet I want to do more research before hand but any and all info is helpful.

(My truck)

 

That is not how it works. The main power comes from a harness you install that is connected to ground and the battery. The OBD2 connection simply signals the steps to deploy when a door is opened. They do not deploy when unlocking remotely, etc. You have to open a door. The step that deploys is based on the side of the truck you enter. Also, they close up about 3 seconds after you close a door. AMP has alternative wiring schematics for those who want to use a door status switch in lieu of the ODB2 connection. The door switch below has been used and works in this scenario. Obviously, you simply need to apply a ground to the trigger wire(s) to deploy the step(s). Removing the ground causes the step(s) to retract. Lots of options in that scenario.

 

yeah I’ve seen that diagram how would I apply that to work with both doors? Could I split the two trigger wires into four and run one for each door back through the two wires? What kind of signal do the amp step trigger wires need? Is one trigger looking for +12v and one looking for ground? And do you have any feed back on splicing into the back of the OBD2? Possibly pulling the pins the amp gets signal from and just adding the amp trigger wires to the respective pins and reinserting them?

 

You would need 4 door switches. The driver's side gets connected together and then to the controller. Same for the passenger side. Like I said, the controller is activated by applying a ground to the trigger wires.

Not sure why you would splice into the ODB2 cable. Using the AMP cabling they way it was designed is easily accommodated by buying one of these:

https://a.co/d/dmJghHt

I used one of those adapters. It allowed me to leave my OBD2 port open for my MX Forscan adapter and use the AMP controller harness. Simple to install and no harness hacking needed.

 

On my F350 you could either t-tap into the wires behind the OBD plug, or you could run wires into the front doors and grab one of the door wires in that harness. I chose to tap into the wire behind the OBD plug that way I could keep it open for other uses.

 

I thought the OBD harness was optional and you had to wire it one of the two ways I listed above if you didn't want to pay for the OBD plug. Maybe its changed, that was 3 or 4 years ago. My new truck has the OEM power steps

 

I bought and installed my AMP powersteps in 2020 and they came with the OBD2 connector. In fact, the instructions I posted above were not included in my purchase. I found those on the web to help another member several years ago.

 

Interesting. I bought and installed mine in 2021/2022 and it didn't come with a OBD connector on mine. I specifically remember not wanting the OBD plug so I could keep the plug open. Oh well.

 

Hello, Which wire did you tap behind the OBD plug?