LED add to running boards

[phil0383]

Hello guys I’m trying to add led lights for my running boards I’m getting them from F150leds

I know the wiring harness is under the plastic trim of the door question is which wire I need to
Tap into?

 

[Left Coast Geek]

vehicle wiring can vary some by year and by options, what year truck do you have? I only have wiring diagrams for 2019 Expeditions.

what circuit do you want to control these running board lights, your running/parking lights ? Me, I'd probably use a fuse tap in either the BJB or BCM fuse panels rather than splicing into existing wiring.

 

[phil0383]

I just want the lights on when the dome light or running boards are deploy

 

[East-TN]

I just want the lights on when the dome light or running boards are deploy

And what year/trim of Expy do you have?

 

[Left Coast Geek]

there's multiple dome lights on my 2019 Limited... they don't all come on at the same time.

the Running Boards on mine (I only have the 2019 wiring diagrams) are controlled by a RBM,Running Board Control Module. Its powered by an 'always hot' fuse, so the fuse panel isn't of much use. It gets its commadns from the MS CANbus. The RBM sends 'left running board deploy', and 'left running board stow', also has a 'left running board hall effect signal', all these go to the left running board motor asssembly, ditto the same for the right hand running board. On NAVIGATORS only, there is an additional 'illumination' signal to each running board motor assembly, but the connector for that doesn't exist on the Expeditions.

 

[phil0383]

I’ve got a 24 limited

 

[DieselMonk]

It depends on what you want the LED’s on the running boards to do. Do you want them on as soon as you start the car and stay on or off… or do you want the running boards lights to be activated only when the door opens and go in sync with the indoor lights?

 

[Left Coast Geek]

I’ve got a 24 limited

I only have a 2019 wiring diagram book. what I said earlier, my book shows an 'illumination' circuit on the Navigator running boards, but not on the Expedition. *maybe* the Expedition has it, maybe it doesn't.

If you can find the Running Board Control Module (RBM), on connector C3313A, pin 7 is the left running board illumination, and pin 8 is the right illumination. The illumination grounds to G300 on the left and G301 on the right side. Those grounds are shown as just forward of the drivers and passenger front doors, about midway up. Apparently on a 2019 Expy, the RBM is somewhere below the drivers door ?

 

[silverhawk184]

There is a tab floating around that said to loosen all the mounting bolts and tighten in a specific sequence. It took me 2 tries and now my boards operate perfectly

 

[Left Coast Geek]

note, I have NO idea if those Navigator illumination signals will work on a Expedition, never mind a 2024.... nor do I know if they are 12V power for an LED or what, nor how many watts they are rated for.

raw LEds can't be connected directly to a 12V PSU or they will blow. they make LED things that are designed for 12V, they have current regulators or at least current limiting resistors. Its up to you to figure this out.

 

[phil0383]

I just want the lights turn on when boards are activated nor when doors open

 

[Left Coast Geek]

well, IF the navigator's illumination outputs exist on the RBM on your expedition, they'll come on when the navigator would have turned them on. I don't have a navigator, so I don't know when that is. probably when they are deployed.

 

[phil0383]

well, IF the navigator's illumination outputs exist on the RBM on your expedition, they'll come on when the navigator would have turned them on. I don't have a navigator, so I don't know when that is. probably when they are deployed.

Do you know where the module is. ?

 

[Left Coast Geek]

according to my 2019 wiring diagrams, its on the floor, under the drivers seat, just inside of the door sill. on the same year Navigator, its behind the dashboard, somewhere near the 'push to start' button or the trailer brake control slider., it has two connectors, C3313A and C3313B, the pin 7 and 8 for the Navigator illumination are on the C3313A connector. C3313A is a 14 pin connector with 2 rows of pins

 

[phil0383]

thank you for the input…. I’ve decided to run a 4 pin relay (with the 12v Hot from the fuse box) trigger switch from the wire harness under kick panel)

 

[Left Coast Geek]

and what will you trigger this relay with ?

 

[phil0383]

One of the wires under driver side rear door kick panel (f150leds) u can see thier install video they wire controls the dome light and my keyfob… when I attach directly to the that wire running board led and dome lights turn on for 1 sec and it cut off (prolly drawing too much power for that control module with the running board led)

I’ll report back once I get it on

My second options is using a magnetic reed switch and and 12V hot and install near the motor arms on the boards (last resort as I don’t want external wiring)

 

[phil0383]

I finally had time to wire and tuck everything in… works like how I wanted. Lights turn on when unlock from key fob and from door opening….. will shut off when doors are closed or dome light is turn off….

I ran the 4pin relay to the passenger kick panel…. Wired the 12v battery from one of the dash cam to the relay trigger wire I ran a grey/violet from the rear driver to the front passenger got the ground near the kick panel as well and the led hot wire to the relay

Yes it prolly the long way but it works the way I want

 

[Dadriva]

That looks great and is exactly what I am looking to accomplish on my 24 limited. Can you explain in further detail? Thanks

 

[mseymour67]

Looking to do the same type of install. A bit more detail about the relay used and install would be great. Thanks.