Paddle Shifters install on Maverick XL -- DIY install instructions, photos & video

[EONR24]

@Chris25James Here is a post with pictures of what I mean by some steering wheels work with the airbag and others do NOT work.

This one will work below as the silver backing matches the factory steering wheel.

And this one below will NOT work because the silver backing is different and the maverick airbag will not clip in properly. It physically fits but the airbag will not fit.

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[Chris25James]

@EONR24 I saw your previous post and immediately started looking into the differences based on pictures I was finding online and the wheel I had just bought. I am very happy that you are showing me. I received the wheel today, it looks like a combo of both differences you are pointing out. I’ll update you based on what I find out tomorrow when I pop my air bag out.

 

[EONR24]

@EONR24 I saw your previous post and immediately started looking into the differences based on pictures I was finding online and the wheel I had just bought. I am very happy that you are showing me. I received the wheel today, it looks like a combo of both differences you are pointing out. I’ll update you based on what I find out tomorrow when I pop my air bag out.

sounds good. send a picture of the one you received and ill be able to tell the difference. The only reason I know is because I originally bought the wrong one! lol

 

[EONR24]

Unfortunately ford charges 16 bucks for 1 cable only lol sucks but its true before i shared this they used to be 25 bucks the bag of 5 thats how i used to order them true my parts department.

my ford dealer charged me $10 for a bag of 3 of the connectors

 

[Chris25James]

sounds good. send a picture of the one you received and ill be able to tell the difference. The only reason I know is because I originally bought the wrong one! lol

 

[Chris25James]

sounds good. send a picture of the one you received and ill be able to tell the difference. The only reason I know is because I originally bought the wrong one! lol

 

[Chris25James]

@EONR24 You are indeed correct sir, the wheel that I bought does have a different airbag that would mount vs the our US spec airbag. I can’t push the airbag enough in place to allow it to seat in the two prongs that will clip it in place. Also, there are no guide holes for the air bag to keep it centered in place so I believe the airbag could move very slightly in place even if I shave some material off to “force” fit in place.

 

[Carlitos_92]

Also, anyone doing this steering wheel mod needs to make sure they get the correct steering wheel. There are many FORD PUMA steering wheels in Europe that actually use a different airbag than the airbag used in the USA. Before you buy a steering wheel, make sure the silver backing behind the airbag is IDENTICAL to your stock steering wheel!!

Just for clarification though... there are US-market OEM Bronco Sport and Escape wheels with paddles too, right? I believe some of them are actual leather and are heated as well.

Is the main reason to find a Euro wheel just the perforated leather and sportier grip shape?

 

[EONR24]

@EONR24 You are indeed correct sir, the wheel that I bought does have a different airbag that would mount vs the our US spec airbag. I can’t push the airbag enough in place to allow it to seat in the two prongs that will clip it in place. Also, there are no guide holes for the air bag to keep it centered in place so I believe the airbag could move very slightly in place even if I shave some material off to “force” fit in place.

Im sorry. The same thing happened to me! Im sure you can return it or resell it!

 

[EONR24]

Just for clarification though... there are US-market OEM Bronco Sport and Escape wheels with paddles too, right? I believe some of them are actual leather and are heated as well.

Is the main reason to find a Euro wheel just the perforated leather and sportier grip shape?

I had a hard time finding a bronco sport or a escape steering wheel for sale but yes bronco sport and escape steering wheels will work and are leather. The euro spec ones just have a different look with the flat bottom, perforated leather and the ST badge.

 

[EONR24]

I compared the coding from a 2025 maverick awd ecoboost to a 2025 Maverick lobo to narrow down the coding for L and M mode. I am afraid that the coding is either buried in the transmission identification blocks in the PCM (which gets very complicated to understand what each line of code does) or it's a difference in physical wiring from the GSM (gear shift module) to the PCM. I still will continue to dig into the coding differences but it will take time. If someone out there could provide more information about the L and M gear shifters and the physical and coding differences that would help a ton. I believe the coding difference would be in the PCM but it could also be in the gateway module, the BCM, the IPC or even a different module.

 

[EONR24]

So the Maverick LOBO has SST M MODE enabled in the IPC. Every other 2022-2025 Maverick has S Mode enabled instead.

This setting does not change Low to Manual mode though.. I don’t think manual mode will be achieved by coding alone. I have a hunch that there is a difference in hardware, wiring, or transmission calibration that achieves manual mode. I do not think Forscan coding alone can achieve manual mode.

if we can get our hands on some wiring schematics and info about the 2025 LOBO’s PCM, GSM and transmission calibration. I think it’s possible to achieve manual mode. I would love if COBB came out with a TCM tune to use manual mode and skip second or third gear, similar to how the LOBO is set up.

 

[Chris25James]

I have some extra pins I could sell but the best and cheapest way to get these pin connectors is to call around your local ford dealerships. They have these pins for MUCH cheaper than online.

Is the option to buy from you still in the air? I have tried to message you but it wouldn’t go through.

 

[Shoptruck]

I wired as the guide shows, made changes with forescan... it does show what gear it's in now but can't get paddles to work. Not sure where I went wrong.

 

[Automan21]

I wired as the guide shows, made changes with forescan... it does show what gear it's in now but can't get paddles to work. Not sure where I went wrong.

Make sure you wired those 3 wires from the column correctly to the harness in the wheel well.

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