Amber Turn Signals

[Grabber Rick]

Since I have been on this club lots of Mavericks have been rear ended. I am going to switch to LED bulbs. I don't have my truck yet (maybe October). I been always trying to figure out how to add amber signals somewhere on the back. They are way more easy to see. I ordered Night Light tailgate light strip on Amazon. It has red running lights red brake lights white backup lights. This one has amber directional turn signals. At first I thought will it work? Brakes and turns are combined on vehicles with red only lights. Only vehicles with amber turn signals are separate. I figured hitting the brake would result in amber brakes.

I plugged them into my 07 Ford focus trailer plug and yeah every thing functions properly. I figured I was going to have to run a wire to the front turn signals since they have no brake function. Then I thought I may had to buy a converter box for vehicles using amber lights. So glad I don't. I may have to hard wire so I don't loose my back up lines. The truck will think I always have a trailer attached. Just wanted to share this with fellow Maverick owners. We gotta protect our Mav's little rear ends. Check on Amazon and it will show up. I left a review so you will know you it is the correct item.

Sponsored

 

[Sembazuru]

Yeah, such is the cross we have to buy with American vehicles. I agree that adding turn signal functionality to the brake lights is something that should never have happened. This video pretty much echoes my sentiment on the topic...

 

[stevj]

You can tap/splice into the 7-pin trailer harness for extra brake and turn indicators for the rear.
I did that on my Tundra and I'll be doing it for my Maverick.
The added lights for the Tundra were mounted below the bumper.

EDIT: OOPS. Hybrids don't get the 7-pin connector. Must find another way.

Steve

 

[turinswift]

Yeah, such is the cross we have to buy with American vehicles. I agree that adding turn signal functionality to the brake lights is something that should never have happened. This video pretty much echoes my sentiment on the topic...

Oh man, Technology Connections. A poster of good taste!

 

[Azmig88]

Since I have been on this club lots of Mavericks have been rear ended. I am going to switch to LED bulbs. I don't have my truck yet (maybe October). I been always trying to figure out how to add amber signals somewhere on the back. They are way more easy to see. I ordered Night Light tailgate light strip on Amazon. It has red running lights red brake lights white backup lights. This one has amber directional turn signals. At first I thought will it work? Brakes and turns are combined on vehicles with red only lights. Only vehicles with amber turn signals are separate. I figured hitting the brake would result in amber brakes.

I plugged them into my 07 Ford focus trailer plug and yeah every thing functions properly. I figured I was going to have to run a wire to the front turn signals since they have no brake function. Then I thought I may had to buy a converter box for vehicles using amber lights. So glad I don't. I may have to hard wire so I don't loose my back up lines. The truck will think I always have a trailer attached. Just wanted to share this with fellow Maverick owners. We gotta protect our Mav's little rear ends. Check on Amazon and it will show up. I left a review so you will know you it is the correct item.

Check out Boosted Grey Goose Designs.
They have a simple plug-n-play adapter to use the LED’s.
They’re the only place I know that have exactly what you’re looking for

 

[TheWizziard]

Adding lights is fine. I have added various lights. Do whatever mods you want.

I do have a question. How many Mavericks have been rear ended. How many is "lots"

And is there any evidence that adding more lights to the back will "protect our Mav's little rear ends"?

 

[hdave]

I don't know where the rear-end data comes from but I think it's believable for Hybrids.

When you let off the gas, the truck goes into regen which slows it more than simply letting off the gas pedal on most ICE cars and it doesn't turn on the brake lights.

 

[Last Truck Ever]

This issue has been beaten around in other threads, but now that I've been driving my truck for about a month, I have noticed a different take on it -- not brake light related, but maybe build/profile related? I've noticed that even in ideal conditions, when drivers had plenty of time to notice I was stopped, they themselves stopped reasonably, they still seem to stop REALLY TOO DAMNED CLOSE to my tailgate. I have not seen that in any other vehicle I've driven, trucks nor cars. I don't know if maybe somehow the size of the truck plays with people's minds somehow and so they end up closer?? Not sure. I had an old school Ranger before this, never experienced that at all, but I also think the Ranger bumper was higher off the ground, maybe that has something to do with it?

I'm old, not enough brain cells left to figure it out. I've just gotten in the habit of flashing my brake lights a few times when someone's coming up behind me. And yet they STILL stop too close for my comfort.

 

[OT18]

These work great on a motorcycle helmet, maybe someone will make something similar for the Mav hybrid.
Brake Free Helmet Light – Brake Free Technologies

 

[FriscoTXJoe]

JC.. I wasted 90 seconds of my life watching this video when I realized people are way too wrapped up in trying to be offended or hurt by the most mundane aspects of life.

We have it way too good some times.

 

[TCPTX65]

I've been thinking about getting the "triple flash" brake lights and replacing the ones mounted to the cab. Flashing lights tend to get people's attention.

 

[gwrace14651]

I don't know where the rear-end data comes from but I think it's believable for Hybrids.

When you let off the gas, the truck goes into regen which slows it more than simply letting off the gas pedal on most ICE cars and it doesn't turn on the brake lights.

That should be corrected. My wife's outlander PHEV lights up the brake lights whenever your using one pedal driving or heavy regenerated braking. But it cost quite a bit more than the Mav.

 

[Azmig88]

This issue has been beaten around in other threads, but now that I've been driving my truck for about a month, I have noticed a different take on it -- not brake light related, but maybe build/profile related? I've noticed that even in ideal conditions, when drivers had plenty of time to notice I was stopped, they themselves stopped reasonably, they still seem to stop REALLY TOO DAMNED CLOSE to my tailgate. I have not seen that in any other vehicle I've driven, trucks nor cars. I don't know if maybe somehow the size of the truck plays with people's minds somehow and so they end up closer?? Not sure. I had an old school Ranger before this, never experienced that at all, but I also think the Ranger bumper was higher off the ground, maybe that has something to do with it?

I'm old, not enough brain cells left to figure it out. I've just gotten in the habit of flashing my brake lights a few times when someone's coming up behind me. And yet they STILL stop too close for my comfort.

Is it possible that they’re not as close as you think they are?
And politely: Why do you care?
Personally, I don’t care how close they are as long as they don’t hit me. Now if it were horseshoes or hand grenades…

WAIT. I’ve got it!!
Railroad spikes, with the sharp points facing outward, painted orange and welded into the tailgate and bumper.

 

[Aherpa]

Since I have been on this club lots of Mavericks have been rear ended. I am going to switch to LED bulbs. I don't have my truck yet (maybe October). I been always trying to figure out how to add amber signals somewhere on the back. They are way more easy to see. I ordered Night Light tailgate light strip on Amazon. It has red running lights red brake lights white backup lights. This one has amber directional turn signals. At first I thought will it work? Brakes and turns are combined on vehicles with red only lights. Only vehicles with amber turn signals are separate. I figured hitting the brake would result in amber brakes.

I plugged them into my 07 Ford focus trailer plug and yeah every thing functions properly. I figured I was going to have to run a wire to the front turn signals since they have no brake function. Then I thought I may had to buy a converter box for vehicles using amber lights. So glad I don't. I may have to hard wire so I don't loose my back up lines. The truck will think I always have a trailer attached. Just wanted to share this with fellow Maverick owners. We gotta protect our Mav's little rear ends. Check on Amazon and it will show up. I left a review so you will know you it is the correct item.

If Mavericks are being rear ended more often than they should be, I wonder if it is because of the fact that the brake lights only come on when the driver manually applies the brakes and not when the truck is slowing due to regen or adaptive cruise control actions. (This would be true of any similarly equipped vehicle though, so, maybe it's only the Maverick because this a forum about Mavericks.)

When I am slowed by ACC I notice traffic behind me gets rather close before they back off again.
When I get cut off by someone who passes me and then suddenly ducks in front of me, the ACC kicks in and slows me very hard to maintain a set distance between me and that idiot. This happens without brake lights, unless I apply the brakes.

Because of the nature of high traffic, I think ACC is actually dangerous to use there, unless Ford applies a software fix to light the brake lights whenever the truck is being slowed down, either by the driver or the truck's features.

Dear Ford;
Please look into this, as it should be a simply fix and could prevent accidents across your entire line of vehicles.

 

[hdave]

@Ford Motor Company Do you know if this is being looked at? Or if its even possible to do via software?

applying the brake lights when the vehicle slows due to regen braking rather than the physical brake pedal.

Sponsored