Anyone know what this wire is for/supposed to connect to?

[1stnewcar]

This fell down when i took my driver-side mat out to clean. The mat must have knocked this loose. Anyone know what it is and where it's supposed to plug into?

Hopefully its nothing to do with the driving

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[Edge Haley]

If it is a used truck it may be an accessory plug the previous owner installed ?? If no luck I'd ask the dealer service boys. I would think it would be a warranty covered issue.

If this is a "Tracking Device" I'd be pissed.

 

[1stnewcar]

If it is a used truck it may be an accessory plug the previous owner installed ?? If no luck I'd ask the dealer service boys.

I bought it new. The only accessory I added was a keypad but that seems to work fine. Youre right, might have to go ask if no one knows.

 

[Jman79]

Is that spliced into your ODB Port?

Based on wire color and the fuse it just seems like a permanent power feed coming off your ODB. Maybe an after market device plugs into the plastic end that the dealer had in there.

Perhaps a locator device the dealer installs on their inventory. Removed on delivery to you but left the harness.

Can you take a pic of where the wires attach on the other end?

 

[1stnewcar]

Is that spliced into your ODB Port?

Based on wire color and the fuse it just seems like a permanent power feed coming off your ODB. Maybe an after market device plugs into the plastic end that the dealer had in there.

Perhaps a locator device the dealer installs on their inventory. Removed on delivery to you but left the harness.

Can you take a pic of where the wires attach on the other end?

Heres the best pic i could get of the other end. The other end of the wire has the light blue caps and looks like its plugged into whatever this is. Is that the ODB?

 

[Jman79]

I don't know the ODB connector wires by heart, but based on this:
https://www.flexihub.com/images/upload/flexihub/articles/diagnostics/pinout/ford_obd2.png

It just looks like a power take off. So if you are the first owner, then the dealer should be able to tell you. Likely an inventory tracking device(lowjack). Which would mean those wires supply permanent power regardless of vehicle being on or off. I can't see perfect but that looks to be how it's wired in the photo also.

Good news is that it's doing nothing right now and your vehicle is fine. Also, you have a free power hookup if you decide to get a dashcam or something that needs it.

 

[Carlitos_92]

What's funny is I have the same exact wire up in that location. I never would've noticed it except that I installed the auto-start-stop eliminator which is an OBD2 pass-through dongle.

I bought my truck used, but the PO didn't do that much modification at all, so I figured I'd just leave it until I needed to go to a dealer for a recall or something, then I could ask them if they had any idea.

Since there is some consistency between these multiple occurrences, an OEM or common dealer practice makes sense - though I find it weird that little $30k trucks would be deserving of a GPS tracker. I mean, LoJack is a factory option if you are ordering a bespoke Ferrari, but maybe Ford does 1 truck per rail car, or only does it because of transit through Mexico?

 

[1stnewcar]

I don't know the ODB connector wires by heart, but based on this:
https://www.flexihub.com/images/upload/flexihub/articles/diagnostics/pinout/ford_obd2.png

It just looks like a power take off. So if you are the first owner, then the dealer should be able to tell you. Likely an inventory tracking device(lowjack). Which would mean those wires supply permanent power regardless of vehicle being on or off. I can't see perfect but that looks to be how it's wired in the photo also.

Good news is that it's doing nothing right now and your vehicle is fine. Also, you have a free power hookup if you decide to get a dashcam or something that needs it.

Thanks! ill check with the dealer next time im there. Looks like its time to go shopping for a dash cam!

 

[Jman79]

What's funny is I have the same exact wire up in that location. I never would've noticed it except that I installed the auto-start-stop eliminator which is an OBD2 pass-through dongle.

I bought my truck used, but the PO didn't do that much modification at all, so I figured I'd just leave it until I needed to go to a dealer for a recall or something, then I could ask them if they had any idea.

Since there is some consistency between these multiple occurrences, an OEM or common dealer practice makes sense - though I find it weird that little $30k trucks would be deserving of a GPS tracker. I mean, LoJack is a factory option if you are ordering a bespoke Ferrari, but maybe Ford does 1 truck per rail car, or only does it because of transit through Mexico?

I checked mine and I've got no taps. It wouldn't surprise me if some dealers just do this to every vehicle through their lot regardless of cost.

The one in a bunch, freight tracking, is also a valid theory.

 

[Carlitos_92]

I checked mine and I've got no taps. It wouldn't surprise me if some dealers just do this to every vehicle through their lot regardless of cost.

The one in a bunch, freight tracking, is also a valid theory.

If it isn't a coincidence, I'm leaning towards a centralized installation in Mexico or at the port of entry. OP is in CA and I am in TX, and my truck was special-ordered by the previous owner at the same dealer here that I bought it from - so it'd be funny if two dealers a few thousand miles apart had the same idea, right down to the wire color and fuse housing.

 

[Montana]

Sketchy.

 

[Zed79]

I don't know the ODB connector wires by heart, but based on this:
https://www.flexihub.com/images/upload/flexihub/articles/diagnostics/pinout/ford_obd2.png

It just looks like a power take off. So if you are the first owner, then the dealer should be able to tell you. Likely an inventory tracking device(lowjack). Which would mean those wires supply permanent power regardless of vehicle being on or off. I can't see perfect but that looks to be how it's wired in the photo also.

Good news is that it's doing nothing right now and your vehicle is fine. Also, you have a free power hookup if you decide to get a dashcam or something that needs it.

Bad news sorry the OBD harness was T-Taped and you need a dash harness when the wires turn green. Not covered under Ford warranty.

Yes I know someone will just ad another splice when it fails you can hope that one is sealed. But that tap will become a problem for some one if the truck lives a full life. just like all the time we got to spend fixing the audio shop splices on remote starts and alarms.

 

[Master Blaster]

There is no way that the manufacturer would install a crummy T-tap for anything. Your dealer did this hack. Have them properly remove it and properly fix the now-damaged wire insulation at the ODB2 connector on their dime.

 

[Oscarcat]

This fell down when i took my driver-side mat out to clean. The mat must have knocked this loose. Anyone know what it is and where it's supposed to plug into?

Hopefully its nothing to do with the driving

My guess is, it is related to an anti-theft tracking device installed by the dealer. Did your dealer charge you an additional fee above sticker and include "extras"?

If you are not the original purchaser, it was installed when it was originally purchased.

Here in SoCal, that is very common. They tell you it is an anti-theft device but it really helps repossessers locate yourl vehicle in case you default on the payments.

 

[RonFLA]

GPS tracker lead.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/unwanted-dealer-addons-may-include-lojack-gps-tracker.65324/

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