How do I move or add another third brake light when adding a DIY canopy?

[Gray Goose]

Could probably put a relay on the trailer output, so that it doesn't know anything is connected. But, how do you get the wiring from the tow hitch up into the truck bed?

Lots of option to route the wires. Two small grommets or the large panel on either side of the bed.

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[dsk7u]

It reduces rear impacts by making it easier for vehicles behind the first trailing vehicle from blocking the lower left and right tail lights. My first car only had ONE Running/Brake light which was bright enough to be seen a whole 60 feet away on a clear night.

In this study they were saying that there was a huge reduction in the number of collisions when the third light was first introduced, but that reduction decreased over time. The assumption is that when it was something new it caught people's attention quicker, but then it lost effectiveness as people became used to seeing it. Still though, 4% seems worthwhile to me.

 

[dsk7u]

Lots of option to route the wires. Two small grommets or the large panel on either side of the bed.

I imagine plugging something in next to the tow hitch, but then it has to route up to the top of the cap. Doesn't seem like there's a nice way to do it unless you can break into the cabling before the socket, T off and route up into the bed up above and behind the tow hitch. I don't have a truck to tinker with to see if that's a good way.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

In this study they were saying that there was a huge reduction in the number of collisions when the third light was first introduced, but that reduction decreased over time. The assumption is that when it was something new it caught people's attention quicker, but then it lost effectiveness as people became used to seeing it. Still though, 4% seems worthwhile to me.

0.001% is enough for me if it's ME that doesn't get hit!

 

[dsk7u]

Does your truck show that it is towing while you have that plugged in?

Also I had an idea, wondering if someone with more electrical expertise could chime in. I'm still trying to conjure up some setup where I don't have to dive into the OEM third brake light, looks like an absolute pain in the ass to get to the harness under the headliner.

What if I tapped into the brake light on BOTH tail lights, ran each wire through a diode, and then connected them BOTH to pin 86 on a SINGLE relay? That would have the same functionality as a third brake light right?

If that is what the Curt does I might just end up snagging that.. I'll call tomorrow

Edit: no im an idiot it would flash when a single turn signal is on...

It would be great to have a cheap wire harness T to siphon off the brake light signals, but the blue splicers that come with the 2-3 wire trailer light converter I linked to above aren't terrible. I don't like the idea of cutting a wire to splice in. I think the blue splicers are a lot better. Here's a video where they are used at 1:29:

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

This is an discussion... When Ford offered the Snug Cap for the Maverick, they had to tap into the Maverik for:
#1 the bed light now located inside at the front of the Snug Cap.
#2, the 3rd brake light now located outside at the back of the Snug Cap.

My absolutely stripped 06 4cyl 2wd Nissan Frontier had a plug near the left side (driver side) rear taillight. My ARE Cap had a matching plug that connected to it.... That way the bed light now illuminated the lamp inside the CAP and the brake light illuminated the lamp on the outside of the CAP. All of this was independent of the hitch wiring.. which was also present, from the factory, even without a hitch installed, just at the rear of the truck near the spare tire well.

I'm shocked that the Maverick isn't prepared like this? Especially since they offered the Snug CAP option... Can the wiring harness be purchased from Ford that they used to accomodate the CAP they sold and installed?

update #1 .. okay.. I see someone linked a video of the harness that Ford provides for the Snug CAP... you'd just use this, no? I'm watching the video now (as I'll have this same issue when I install the ARE MX).



update #2 .. oh good lord, I don't know how I'm going to sit through this video... guy drives you nuts just 30 seconds into it...

update #3.. yeah.. that was rough. unfortunately his snug top did not have an interior light option.. so we don't get to see what is involved with redirecting the bed light into the inside of the Snug Cap.. oh we..

Anyway, no reason why the Snug Cap wiring harness kit shouldn't work to tie in the 3rd light on a DIY canopy.

 

[dsk7u]

This is an discussion... When Ford offered the Snug Cap for the Maverick, they had to tap into the Maverik for:
#1 the bed light now located inside at the front of the Snug Cap.
#2, the 3rd brake light now located outside at the back of the Snug Cap.

My absolutely stripped 06 4cyl 2wd Nissan Frontier had a plug near the left side (driver side) rear taillight. My ARE Cap had a matching plug that connected to it.... That way the bed light now illuminated the lamp inside the CAP and the brake light illuminated the lamp on the outside of the CAP. All of this was independent of the hitch wiring.. which was also present, from the factory, even without a hitch installed, just at the rear of the truck near the spare tire well.

I'm shocked that the Maverick isn't prepared like this? Especially since they offered the Snug CAP option... Can the wiring harness be purchased from Ford that they used to accomodate the CAP they sold and installed?

update #1 .. okay.. I see someone linked a video of the harness that Ford provides for the Snug CAP... you'd just use this, no? I'm watching the video now (as I'll have this same issue when I install the ARE MX).



update #2 .. oh good lord, I don't know how I'm going to sit through this video... guy drives you nuts just 30 seconds into it...

update #3.. yeah.. that was rough. unfortunately his snug top did not have an interior light option.. so we don't get to see what is involved with redirecting the bed light into the inside of the Snug Cap.. oh we..

Anyway, no reason why the Snug Cap wiring harness kit shouldn't work to tie in the 3rd light on a DIY canopy.

There are many nice bed features, but I'm also dismayed that it's so hard to add a third brake light. Seems like a common (and sometimes legal) need for anyone adding any sort of cap. Should just have a standardized plug.

I haven't been able to find those harnesses separately. I imagine they come with the cap, and if you can get them separately they might be stupidly expensive.

I always watch those kinds of videos on double speed. Still though, it was so haphazard (though very helpful) that I went to look directly at the instructions instead:

https://www.snugtop.com/images/pdf/ford/SnugTop Sport iSheet.pdf

I think the tail light connectors are the same as the Ford Bronco, but I haven't 100% confirmed that yet. Searching for the connector under Ford Maverick doesn't give any good results, but searching for Ford Bronco tail light harness or adapter gives lots of choices where it's promising. It would be a Ford bronco tail light harness (maybe rewired if necessary) then a 2-3 wire converter, and then finally a 12V relay to the light plug. All inexpensive, but not a quick job.

 

[zolland]

Pacer makes a "3RD Brake Light Logic Module" that can apparently filter out the brake light signal from the turn signals... I called and the tech just said "it works by detecting amperage.. that's all I got." so I have no idea how it works. At $16 I think it's worth a try.

https://pacerperformance.com/products-footer/3rd-brake-light-logic-module/20-702-detail

I just used a multi meter to confirm 12V coming out of the tow hitch wiring harness when brake lights are on. Assuming the module mentioned above works, and doesn't trigger the trucks tow detection, I believe the easiest and least invasive way to implement a third brake light will be through the tow harness with a relay. Will update when I've tried it out!

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

If the USA just used Amber rear turn signals like Europe, this would all be so much easier.

 

[zolland]

I can confirm in my initial testing that wiring up that module through the 4 pin harness does NOT work. The third brake light blinks if any turn signal is on. Will call Pacer tomorrow to confirm my setup is correct, that is if they'll cooperate...

 

[BlueSpec1]

I looked at making a harness with a tap for the 3rd brake light.
I decided accessing it would be more than I wanted to do since it's above the headliner.

I did look into what parts I'd need to make the harness for C475:

CHMSL Light + Wire Socket Harness = Female BLACK Connector. Polarization A. = BLACK.

Female:
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Molex/31067-1010?qs=EgZ34ONzqwiI93Itp3Z3Cw==
Mfr.#: 31067-1010
Mouser #: 538-31067-1010
Number of Positions: 3 Position
Pitch: 2.54 mm
Gender: Receptacle (Female)
Mounting Style: Cable Mount / Free Hanging
Termination Style: Crimp
Color: BLACK
Features: Polarization Option A.
Series: 31067 - https://www.mouser.com/c/connectors/automotive-connectors/?m=Molex&series=31067

Male:
Mfr.#: 31067-1040
Mouser #: 538-31067-1040
Description: Automotive Connectors HDAC64 SR MALE 3 CKT T W/O XMAS BLK POL 1

Number of Positions: 3 Position
Pitch: 2.54 mm
Gender: Plug (Male)
Mounting Style: Cable Mount / Free Hanging
Termination Style: Crimp
Color: BLACK
Series: 31067 - https://www.mouser.com/c/connectors/automotive-connectors/?m=Molex&series=31067
Tradename: H-DAC 64
Desc: Automotive Connectors HDAC64 SR MALE 3 CKT T W/O XMAS BLK POL 1
Features: Polarization A
w/o Xmas Tree


In the end I added a tap onto the CHMSL wire coming out of the BCM and used a solid state relay between the BCM's CHMSL pin 57 and the LEDs on rear bumper. Routed the wire thru rocker panel to the grommet on right hand side of rear cabin and back to rear of the Maverick.
BCM YL 22 Awg -->>---> SSR IN+ | SSR Out+ >>---- RD 20 Awg -- +12v
12v Ground 22 Awg -----> SSR IN- | SSR Out- >>---- YL 20 Awg ----->>--- LEDs.

SSR I used:
KF0604D Relay Solid State, 32 VDC Input, 4 Amp, 60 VDC Output, 4 Pin
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B888YME

 

[dsk7u]

I can confirm in my initial testing that wiring up that module through the 4 pin harness does NOT work. The third brake light blinks if any turn signal is on. Will call Pacer tomorrow to confirm my setup is correct, that is if they'll cooperate...

When I looked at the installation instructions for that Pacer unit, it looked like the same kind of device as the 2-3-Wire Splice-in Trailer Tail Light Converter that I posted. There's no way to distinguish the turn signal from the brake light by amperage, so I believe that rep was wrong when he gave you that information. The brake and turn signal both use the same bulb and 12V, therefore the current will be the same. The brake light is separated from the turn signals by logic and timing, I imagine, which means that it needs both the left turn signal and the right turn signal connected to the converter. The left and right turn signals are in the tow harness, so what you're trying to do should work as long as you connect it right. If the Pacer unit doesn't work then the 2-3-Wire Splice-in Trailer Tail Light Converter that I posted should do it.

It seems like the tow harness would be easier than breaking into the tail lights, but I don't like how the wire would be exposed plugged into the socket and then wrapped underneath. I would want to break in behind the socket where the connection wouldn't be visible. I don't know if there's an easy way to put in a T there. I don't think there is. But to break in the tail lights only takes removing a few screws. Then with a Bronco harness it's trivial to T it off, assuming it's the same connector, so I'm still thinking tail lights are the place to tap.

 

[zolland]

In the end I added a tap onto the CHMSL wire coming out of the BCM and used a solid state relay between the BCM's CHMSL pin 57 and the LEDs on rear bumper.

Where did you find info for identifying the pins on the BCM?

 

[BlueSpec1]

Where did you find info for identifying the pins on the BCM?

For the CHMSL:
Service Manual > Wiring Diagrams > Turn Signal/Stop/Hazard Lights, C2280F Body Control Module.

J7 - C2280G
J6 - C2280F
J5 - C2280E
J4 - C2280D
J3 - C2280C = 3 Pin Female TE 22824442-2 A
J2 - C2280B
J1 - C2280A

Service Manual PDFs can be bought online like Factory-Manuals. There's a 22 Eco manual in one of the posts: Ford Maverick Factory Repair Manual

 

[racktrip]

I did research, and found we have to seperate the brake signal from the turning light
called "tail light converter 2-to-3 wire converter " /2 wire to 3 wire splice-in trailer tail light converter

I'm building a camper that sits on the bed like a canopy and will extend over the cab and therefore block the third brake light. Is there a best practice or known product for adding a third brake light to the back of my camper?

Do people usually just hook into the wiring harness for the trailer hitch? Or would it make more sense to take out the OEM third light and plug in there? Ideally I'd like to keep the OEM third light installed so if I ever take the trailer off to do something I won't have to worry about making it.

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