Odd Wiring near Interior Fuse Panel

[jamanrr]

@FordTechOne, I would almost not buy a used or new vehicle that a dealership did this to. Those wires are factory shielded and if not properly repaired can arch and cause all kinds of weird shorts/ glitches.

Would not believe a dealership would do this on purpose, but if they can make money from it.

 

[FordTechOne]

@FordTechOne, I would almost not buy a used or new vehicle that a dealership did this to. Those wires are factory shielded and if not properly repaired can arch and cause all kinds of weird shorts/ glitches.

Would not believe a dealership would do this on purpose, but if they can make money from it.

What they’re essentially doing is taking a vehicle with tens of millions of dollars of development and engineering and damaging it right on the lot by splicing in a $15 chinese alarm kit. That then leads to all kinds of issues later on, including starting problems, stalling, PATS issues, module programming/update failures, battery drains, etc.

If anyone on here finds one of these kits in their vehicle or paid for one, I strongly encourage it be removed and the factory wiring properly repaired.

 

[wheelman55]

They often also use scotch locks/quick splices, which actually cut into the factory wiring by slicing through the insulation as well as the first few strands of copper wire.

After you remove the kit, inspect the factory wiring carefully. If there are wires cut in half, re-solder then with heat shrink, or better yet make the dealer do it. Same with any wires that were damaged by scotch lock/quick splices; if the wire strands have been cut, the circuit is compromised and will need to be cut out and repaired with a new piece of wire and solder.

I don’t have enough fingers to count how many wire repairs that I’ve done due to ScotchLoks. 3M makes some wonderful products...the ScotchLoks are not one of them.

 

[SilverBolt]

Anti-theft or possibly a GPS tracking device hidden somewhere.

 

[Don S]

I removed it today. They cut two wires, splicing in four from the module and four "T" taps to splice into four other wires. I reconnected the two wires they cut and removed the "T" taps, taping over where they damaged the wire.

So there was the wiring where it tapped into the fuse box on the passenger side, a module tie wrapped behind the center console, and the sensor, attached under the driver's side dash.

I found all of this while installing the tailgate opener and a tap a fuse for my portable XM radio. Everything is wired up and the anti theft device is OUT of the system. I feel much better now.

Photos of the anti theft device and how they tapped it into the system. he red and yellow objects in the photo are wire taps. I know that this is a common practice, at least in So. Cal. This is not the first vehicle I've purchased with this system, but this is the first time I've found such poor craftsmanship.

 

[Ski4Ever]

I found all of this while installing the tailgate opener[...]

What is the "tailgate opener"?

 

[Don S]

There is a guy that sells a relay with wiring and GREAT color instructions that connects to one of your up fitter switches and releases your electric tailgate with the push of the up fitter switch. (25.00)

Once I got the relay and saw the wiring, it's pretty simple to make yourself, but the seller packages everything you need and has done the work on how to wire.

The release is already there for Ford cars with a trunk. I also ordered labels for the up fitter switches, with number six labeled "TAILGATE".

Here is his website. I ordered it and got it two days later. Here is his link.
https://www.paypal.me/BrendanWebster911/25

Here is another thread about it.
https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/gen-2-upfitter-switch-tailgate-release-kit.59853/