Trailer Wiring Recall (23C04) - Quick Fix

[Darnon]

Oh there's full instructions out there? All I had were those photos I shared with my post. Not super helpful, but good enough to make sense out of. Those full instructions could be nice to add to this thread! Thanks!

The NHTSA website mirrors the repair documentation for Recalls and sometimes CSPs/TSBs

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCMN-23V160-5910.pdf

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[Cactuspicious]

Thank you for posting this!! Now that I know what's involved in the recall, I'll have to take it in to the service department I trust more rather than the dealer that's a mile from me. I'm an ASE certified tech myself but I'm too busy at my own shop to do it plus I have the right rear window dilemma to deal with.

 

[angry_mechanic]

Thank you for posting this!! Now that I know what's involved in the recall, I'll have to take it in to the service department I trust more rather than the dealer that's a mile from me. I'm an ASE certified tech myself but I'm too busy at my own shop to do it plus I have the right rear window dilemma to deal with.

Hey no problem!

 

[Azmkat]

Update number 3 on recall fiasco: The dealer spent 2 more hours again this week trying to figure out why my left parking light has no power after they did the recall. Taking it in next week. Tempted just to run a jumper wire across pretty soon.

 

[angry_mechanic]

Update number 3 on recall fiasco: The dealer spent 2 more hours again this week trying to figure out why my left parking light has no power after they did the recall. Taking it in next week. Tempted just to run a jumper wire across pretty soon.

Sorry to hear that!

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Update number 3 on recall fiasco: The dealer spent 2 more hours again this week trying to figure out why my left parking light has no power after they did the recall. Taking it in next week. Tempted just to run a jumper wire across pretty soon.

Hi there! I can look into your Maverick's light concern on my end. To get started, could you please send a private message over with the name/location of your local Ford dealer and your Maverick's VIN?

 

[Azmkat]

Hi there! I can look into your Maverick's light concern on my end. To get started, could you please send a private message over with the name/location of your local Ford dealer and your Maverick's VIN?

I'll PM you after the next appointment Tuesday morning to update you.

 

[Azmkat]

Hopefully the last update on this recall. After Ford mobile technicians spent well over 5 hours on my trailer wire recall, the dealer said I needed to take it in. It went in Tuesday for another few hours because they said the mobile technicians did not due the repair properly and used incorrect parts. The also said they needed to resolder connections in the junction box. As you can see from my avatar I have the LED hood strip. They undid my wiring to the strip saying it was "causing the parking lamps to shut down". The technician said he sees this all the time. I'm wondering if any of you have had this "shutting down" issue. Funny that I've never had an issue with that for 8 months. I reconnected the strip and everything is working fine.

Below is a line they included in my paperwork:

***We understand that your knowledge of your vehicle and its necessary repairs is probably not on par with the understanding that your technician has.***

Hmmmm....an insult, and, well, kind of a joke in there too.

One more thing to point out though, the manager was very personable and polite.

 

[Darnon]

As you can see from my avatar I have the LED hood strip. They undid my wiring to the strip saying it was "causing the parking lamps to shut down". The technician said he sees this all the time. I'm wondering if any of you have had this "shutting down" issue. Funny that I've never had an issue with that for 8 months. I reconnected the strip and everything is working fine.

The Lariat accent lighting will shut down eventually if one taps into that. The parking lamp circuit should be less fussy, though, as its a more general circuit.

 

[angry_mechanic]

Hopefully the last update on this recall. After Ford mobile technicians spent well over 5 hours on my trailer wire recall, the dealer said I needed to take it in. It went in Tuesday for another few hours because they said the mobile technicians did not due the repair properly and used incorrect parts. The also said they needed to resolder connections in the junction box. As you can see from my avatar I have the LED hood strip. They undid my wiring to the strip saying it was "causing the parking lamps to shut down". The technician said he sees this all the time. I'm wondering if any of you have had this "shutting down" issue. Funny that I've never had an issue with that for 8 months. I reconnected the strip and everything is working fine.

Below is a line they included in my paperwork:

***We understand that your knowledge of your vehicle and its necessary repairs is probably not on par with the understanding that your technician has.***

Hmmmm....an insult, and, well, kind of a joke in there too.

One more thing to point out though, the manager was very personable and polite.

Wow. Yeah that is a joke and an insult. You had zero issues with it before. With any and all maintenance it's usually the simple and obvious things when stuff doesn't work. For instance, if an aircraft rolls into a hanger and everything works, then it suffers a starting issue after maintenance was done, we don't blame it some other modification... it was clearly the result of something that was touched. In your case, the lighting recall. Sorry for your troubles! Without getting into the wiring I wouldn't know what they did, but I can tell you whatever it was, was incorrect. It sounds like you have it going now, so that's good! Hopefully you won't have any issues down the road.

I'd still be pretty upset about that stupid comment, but what can you do. You know they're not that knowledgeable, otherwise you wouldn't have had to deal with this mess! Jokers! Take care!

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Below is a line they included in my paperwork:

***We understand that your knowledge of your vehicle and its necessary repairs is probably not on par with the understanding that your technician has.***

Ouch! HRG

 

[gp1200x]

The Lariat accent lighting will shut down eventually if one taps into that. The parking lamp circuit should be less fussy, though, as its a more general circuit.

On the Lariat, what engine compartment circuit should be tapped for power for the added front led strip that many are installing. I would want mine lit whenever the vehicle is running, regardless of the parking light state.

 

[mcc63303]

True. Definitely want to be comfortable with what you're doing! I was an aircraft electrician for 16 years in the USAF before changing career fields. I'd totally take it to the dealer too if I trusted their work. As a certified tech, fully knowing what that world is like, how many other techs would you let work on your vehicle? Between my experiences, my wife's, and other family and friends, I can say that it's almost as if they let the 18 year old lube techs do the repairs now. It's that bad! I have stories for days... I know there are some good ones out there. I just haven't met any, at least not in a long time. Thoughts?

As a retired Ford Dealership service advisor (used to be a tech)(that's a 1957 Chevy with a 454ci dual carb tunnel ram with front straight axle in my profile pic) I will say there are techs I wouldn't want touch any of my vehicles. However, there are more good ones than bad ones. It's the PROCESS of getting the RIGHT tech to do the needed repair that is the problem. The dealership I worked at targeted techs into a more specialized category, meaning if a vehicle had a drivability issue then a tech with more drivability training/skills was scheduled to work on that vehicle. Separate techs did transmission, steering/suspension/handling and electronic/computer/wiring issues. Most other dealerships just give the next tech available the next job meaning the tech may have little skill/experience/knowledge for the diagnosis (usually the most important part of the repair) and repair.
That's the problem. Doctors specialize in a field for a reason. Even Attorneys specialize in a field. It was very difficult to schedule work at the dealership I worked at because we had to "guess" to a point what the problem was before even having checked it out to schedule to a particular tech. Other dealerships just give the repair to the next "available" tech, which is the way most do it.
The "process" is greatly flawed but to do it otherwise really is more difficult, especially if several issues need addressed on one vehicle.
I just hope everyone will realize there is a shortage of skilled techs in almost every industry. Vehicle repair has gotten much harder with a tech being a plumber, electrician, computer tech and more all when working in tight confined places, hot (think of opening a hood in 100+ degree weather) and having to work in many disgusting conditions that people bring vehicles in (trash/diapers left in cars).
Most techs do try to do a good job but many times their hands are tied by having improper training for the job they are given, not to mention a lot of times it is more of an engineering/design/part problem they are having to try to remedy.
Many times the problem we all have getting our vehicles repaired (quickly and correctly) is not a tech issue, it's a dealership or manufacturing or process issue. I'm not making excuses (remember I first said there were techs I did not want to work on my vehicle) but hoping some will have patience when having to deal with dealerships. Sales is a whole other story!

 

[Darnon]

On the Lariat, what engine compartment circuit should be tapped for power for the added front led strip that many are installing. I would want mine lit whenever the vehicle is running, regardless of the parking light state.

Supposedly EcoBoosts can fuse tap one of the PCM Micro2 fuses in the underhood junction box (fuses 11-14, I believe). Although on the Hybrid I found those PCM fuses stay powered after key off so I used Fuse 34 for the front camera/CP360. Also in my experience I had to leave the fuse cover off with a fuse tap in there, but it's mostly superfluous.

 

[angry_mechanic]

On the Lariat, what engine compartment circuit should be tapped for power for the added front led strip that many are installing. I would want mine lit whenever the vehicle is running, regardless of the parking light state.

I agree. If the running lights are on with headlights then you could tap off that. Shouldn't be too hard to reach and tap off of. Just do a good job protecting the wiring and wrapping it all back up. You don't want water to get into any connections. That said, the DRL circuit would be where I'd probably have gone first. That taps off one of the three wires coming out the headlight connector. Very easy to reach. Depends on if you want it on always or just during the day...

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