DIY Tailgate Power Lock using Control/Actuator from Ranger

[FakeCowboy]

yes

I still have a theory that there's power to the rear of the truck in the main wiring harness for a tailgate lock actuator. According to parts diagrams for the ranger it looks like there's a shorter harness that includes plugs for the rear camera and the power lock actuator and connects into the main harness under the end of the truck bed. I'm willing to bet that if you trace back the wiring for the camera on the XL and unplug it you'll have multiple pins in the plug on the main part of the harness, two of which will be 12v and ground which are meant for a harness on an XLT or Lariat

Green harness is the shorter harness that connects to backup cam and tailgate lock actuator

Purple harness is main harness

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[Dadmezz]

Great find and install, thorough info, and potential diagram for connecting

 

[FakeCowboy]

So everything I can tell, there are two different mini-wiring harnesses that come from the main harness and go to the tailgate. One with a power lock and one without. If you want to go super cheap you should just be able to find the power lock actuator from a ranger (salvage or new) and then either grab power from that main harness in the rear or buy the actual harness from Ford. I checked the main harness and all versions of it (there are a lot) include both the non-power lock tailgate and the power lock tailgate so the 12v dedicated power is definitely there and you SHOULD NOT have to go to the B pillar like OP did. (Sorry OP)

Here are diagrams and part references specific for the Maverick as opposed to the Ranger above. I'm surprised they even had diagrams for the Maverick.

Also, the part number for that shorter tailgate harness which would bring power from the main harness to the tailgate lock actuator is NZ6Z-14A412-B

 

[Dadmezz]

So everything I can tell, there are two different mini-wiring harnesses that come from the main harness and go to the tailgate......

I don't know if I could handle the update projects without the great support with information from all the members in MTC! Thank you all for your hard work and thorough interest here.

 

[XLAZNDrvr]

So everything I can tell, there are two different mini-wiring harnesses that come from the main harness and go to the tailgate. One with a power lock and one without. If you want to go super cheap you should just be able to find the power lock actuator from a ranger (salvage or new) and then either grab power from that main harness in the rear or buy the actual harness from Ford. I checked the main harness and all versions of it (there are a lot) include both the non-power lock tailgate and the power lock tailgate so the 12v dedicated power is definitely there and you SHOULD NOT have to go to the B pillar like OP did. (Sorry OP)

Here are diagrams and part references specific for the Maverick as opposed to the Ranger above. I'm surprised they even had diagrams for the Maverick.

Also, the part number for that shorter tailgate harness which would bring power from the main harness to the tailgate lock actuator is NZ6Z-14A412-B

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you are correct! I was able to trace the correct wires from that harness. It's the yellow/purple and blue/red wire. You will have to lower your spare tire (if you have it) to access it. No more b filler tap.

 

[FakeCowboy]

you are correct! I was able to trace the correct wires from that harness. It's the yellow/purple and blue/red wire. You will have to lower your spare tire (if you have it) to access it. No more b filler tap.

Nice work, thanks for checking on that. I figured it could help with a more clean and reliable install. Tapping into the b-pillar leaves a lot of room for things to go wrong, a wire rubbing and shorting out. This and a hard tonneau cover are important for me to keep my side business equipment more secure as it's nice to know the tailgate is locked for sure by simply pressing the keyfob button and it's much easier when I'm going in and out of the truck bed at a job.

 

[NOLAguy]

If I send you the parts will you build my Maverick?

 

[JohnnyBravo]

Why the ranger parts? Are they different than the ones on the Mav?

 

[FakeCowboy]

If I send you the parts will you build my Maverick?

Seems like a dig but why spend an extra $3,000 on an XLT when you can have the only two options that really matter between them; cruise control and a locking tailgate for less than $300 with a little work. Plus the XL interior is the best of the three in my opinion anyway.

 

[FakeCowboy]

Why the ranger parts? Are they different than the ones on the Mav?

The Maverick is a parts bin truck to save money on development of it so Ford used a lot of parts from other vehicles like the Ranger, Escape, Bronco Sport, etc. You can use Maverick parts but I'm sure instead of buying a new tailgate lock actuator for $70 from Ford you could easily find one at a salvage yard from a Ranger for less than half that.

 

[710-oil-614]

Nice. Another addition to my "XL Lariat" package!

 

[olderbudwiser]

Seems like a dig but why spend an extra $3,000 on an XLT when you can have the only two options that really matter between them; cruise control and a locking tailgate for less than $300 with a little work. Plus the XL interior is the best of the three in my opinion anyway.

Actually I think NOLAguy was paying your compliment. You appear to have skills many of us lack.

 

[FakeCowboy]

Actually I think NOLAguy was paying your compliment. You appear to have skills many of us lack.

You're probably right, perspective is a funny thing. My bad.

 

[NOLAguy]

no harm no foul

 

[davedogg]

you are correct! I was able to trace the correct wires from that harness. It's the yellow/purple and blue/red wire. You will have to lower your spare tire (if you have it) to access it. No more b filler tap.

Electronics is not my strong suit. But what do you do with the with the two wires above? Do they connect directly to the new lock? Or do you splice the lock wires into these?

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