Ranger Mods

G'day all. I'm about to add a 6 led DRL type light as an additional reversing light and am wondering if anyone here can tell me whether it's OK to simply tap into the existing reversing light circuit?

I know I can add a relay etc... but am trying to avoid that if it ain't necessary. Not sure of the additional load, but won't be much. Also wondering if the Canbus monitors these lights and may create an issue adding the led light?

Cheers

Firstly I always recommend to use a relay, by all means use the reverse power to trigger the relay, no problem there.

CANBUS does look at the load on the reverse lights (that's how it knows to tell you on the dash that a bulb around the car is blown) determining if the lights you have will cause an issue will require you to know the power draw of the unit. The reversing lamp circuit is rated at 10A but that includes a rearview mirror (possibly for the aftermarket camera) the lamps themselves are 21W (quickly gets out abacus) so would be less than 2A per bulb or 4A total draw. That leaves you with 6A to play with.

It's your choice, a relay is a lot cheaper than a new BCM

Yes, I agree Michael, I don't want to chance it. Was hoping someone here had done it and could report back. Good to know the 10a limit, just wasn't sure if the reverse lights were monitored.

Cheers and thanks mate.

gday gerry. Remember our good mate pyro from the annual ranger meetup 2017, he fitted and wired up the lightforce ROK9 flush mount lights on the weekend. they look great and would pass as a factory fitted item. check out the install on newranger.net. cheers

Lincolnland wrote: ↑Tue Jun 06, 2017 4:03 pm gday gerry. Remember our good mate pyro from the annual ranger meetup 2017, he fitted and wired up the lightforce ROK9 flush mount lights on the weekend. they look great and would pass as a factory fitted item. check out the install on newranger.net. cheers

Yeah, saw that Linc, looks nice too. I don't think he mentioned how he wired it though... any idea if he wired direct or with a relay?

I should ask him eh?

Don't believe he did use a relay. He did ask me when he dropped around and I said direct wire. They draw stuff all so will be interesting to see what he did do.

Good to hear you Linc.

I put a worklight on the back of mine without a relay and it worked fine for 3 years (PX1)

Lincolnland wrote: ↑Tue Jun 06, 2017 4:03 pm gday gerry. Remember our good mate pyro from the annual ranger meetup 2017, he fitted and wired up the lightforce ROK9 flush mount lights on the weekend. they look great and would pass as a factory fitted item. check out the install on newranger.net. cheers

Our good mate Pyro has confirmed that he indeed connected directly to the existing reversing lights without ill effect. His was around 9 watt, so maybe I should measure the current draw on mine first, just to be safe.

9W is 0.75A so would run no problems at all off the available circuit.

Ok, it's in and working. Did a quick measure and it pulls about 13.5w (about 1.1a @ 12.4v). Connected directly to the driver's side reversing light loom. All seems to be working fine, fingers crossed.

Thanks all for the feedback.

This is something I'm interested in doing. Have a couple of compact 10w (claimed) LED floods laying around that I use to have on the camper trailer before I sold it so thinking of using one of those, possibly mounted up on the sports bar so might also be useful camping.

My concern is, I've heard things can work initially but are actually generating a sort of error count on the BCM. Sort of like it knows there's an issue but it's not a major one so wait and see if it goes away. It reaches it's limit then says nope, something's wrong and permanently disables that circuit etc. Only way to fix it is replace the BCM.

Is that true? If so has a way been worked out to determine how to view these counts so the "problem" can be fixed before it's too late?

I have read it but not sure I believe it. I would say that the ones have failed have been fried from incorrect wiring or by drawing way too much current.

At the end of the day if there is an issue the lights will stay off until you clear the BCM so now the issue has cropped up install an external relay and problem resolved. Under normal circumstances I really cannot see someone killing a BCM. I would love to see one though...


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I've seen reports on other forums, Mustang6g for example, where FordUS claimed the dead BCM was due to having LED bulbs (not headlights, just parkers, indicators, interior etc) despite the fact they worked fine for several weeks. It's a concern that definitely in the back of my mind with some of my planned mods.

Definitely think what I need to do is install two new fuse blocks, one in the cabin and another under the bonnet. Try and avoid tapping existing circuits as much as possible.

Looked up that ROK9 install on Newranger, think that might be a good option for purely reversing and run a separate circuit with relay for the floods I already have to use as camping lights.

Appreciate all the advise and info here.

Do what you feel comfortable with. If adding additional fuses and relays gives you peace of mind then do so and then disable bulb out in the BCM and your good to go.

Worst case I do have a spare BCM sitting around so if I kill mine then I will roll down to the end of the road and get it PATS redone by Ford.

I have put my BCM through so much crap though and its still working.

What about the reverse circuit in the trailer loom? The trailer loom is designed to direct power trailer lights, and there is no restriction on LED or incandescent. Never checked, but assume the loom in the XLT include a live reverse wire.

Digging up an old thread...

I have mounted a couple of rear facing lights off a relay, and want to trigger them to only come on when the car is in reverse.

To save running extra cables into the cabin, I was hoping to pick up a reverse signal in the dash but haven’t had any luck finding one yet. Any suggestions?

I’m in a 2017 XLT Supercab Auto.

Andrew


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I wired up a LED work light (about 8 watts from memory) powered directly from one of the existing reversing lights. I figured that the originals being a normal globe should have enough spare capacity for an additional LED light. It's been on there for a year now with no fault codes or blown fuses.

Gerry, can you remember the colour of the reversing light wire?

I would like to mount an ROK9 on the towbar.

RossPat wrote: ↑Mon Jun 25, 2018 7:58 pm Gerry, can you remember the colour of the reversing light wire?

I would like to mount an ROK9 on the towbar.

Sorry mate, no idea. I usually cheat by sticking a small, sharp pin into the wire and checking for voltage while it's energised. If you don't want to do that, maybe someone else here can help?

Thanks Stewart

Started fitting a couple of extra reversing lights today.

Took a pic in the screen and even one makes a difference.