Adding a Physical Interior Liftgate Power Switch

[JohnFoxeSheets]

I am hanging on to the defroster switch and will swap it back in if I ever get a headlight switch recall notice. ??

Good plan. I'll do the same... ?

And congrats on the mod! Did you find the right female pin for the connector? I just stuff my wire into the back of the connector and taped the wire to an adjacent one and it has (so far) worked flawlessly (once I learned that oddly the driver door needs to be open for this mod to work)...

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[Guss-E 2021]

I need a neighbor like @markboris ?

 

[markboris]

I am hanging on to the defroster switch and will swap it back in if I ever get a headlight switch recall notice. ??

Always a good idea to keep anything you remove, just in case......
I have a drawer/cabinet/attic storage full of OEM parts/items I've removed from my vehicles over the years in the event I need to swap back.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Good plan. I'll do the same... ?

And congrats on the mod! Did you find the right female pin for the connector? I just stuff my wire into the back of the connector and taped the wire to an adjacent one and it has (so far) worked flawlessly (once I learned that oddly the driver door needs to be open for this mod to work)...

I have some wire terminations for a DuPont connector housing, which are not correct for this housing. That’s what I crimped onto the wire. It doesn’t really stay in the housing, but has friction on both the housing and the pin, so for now it’s working more or less “as intended.” Should the button fail, I know where to look, at least. LOL ??

I didn’t know the driver’s door needed to be open. Now I want to go to the car and see if mine’s the same. At work right now, so going to check when I take Grady out to pee, which should be soon. ??

 

[KevinS]

(once I learned that oddly the driver door needs to be open for this mod to work)...

Yep, mine's the same way, unfortunately, but it's now more convenient than before if you're getting out of the car and want to pop the back open.

 

[HuntingPudel]

OK, dog went potty. I didn’t bring my key, so I used the keypad to unlock the door. Climbed in, closed the door, then I hit the liftgate button. It worked! ??

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

OK, dog went potty. I didn’t bring my key, so I used the keypad to unlock the door. Climbed in, closed the door, then I hit the liftgate button. It worked! ??

Interesting. So I just tested it again and now it works in all scenarios I could think of to try! No idea why both @KevinS and I've seen door-must-be-open behavior previously. Just another Ford s/w mystery, I suppose...

 

[HuntingPudel]

Interesting. So I just tested it again and now it works in all scenarios I could think of to try! No idea why both @KevinS and I've seen door-must-be-open behavior previously. Just another Ford s/w mystery, I suppose...

Doors locked, maybe? I did not lock my doors when I tried. Will try later. ??

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

Doors locked, maybe? I did not lock my doors when I tried. Will try later. ??

Ah, good point. Didn't think to try that. I pulled my car out of the garage and parked on the street, but I'd pretty sure I'd not gone far enough for the auto-lock to kick in.

I just tried it and yep, that's the answer! (The doors need to be unlocked for the lift gate to open.) Thanks Steve.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Ah, good point. Didn't think to try that. I pulled my car out of the garage and parked on the street, but I'd pretty sure I'd not gone far enough for the auto-lock to kick in.

I just tried it and yep, that's the answer! (The doors need to be unlocked for the lift gate to open.) Thanks Steve.

Confirmed on my crazy car too. Got in car. Closed door. Hit lock button. Car got mad at me because I was locking it with the key inside (beeped horn, did not lock
doors). Hit lock button again and car locked. Hit lift gate button next to headlight switch. No joy. Unlocked doors. Pressed lift gate button and lift gate functioned. ??

 

[KevinS]

Excellent R&D, gentlemen. Thanks!

 

[mkhuffman]

I have mine set to only unlock the driver door when I first get in. I suspect it won't work until you unlock all the doors, not just the driver door. I think that is what you guys confirmed, right?

 

[Rudedog]

I have some wire terminations for a DuPont connector housing, which are not correct for this housing. That’s what I crimped onto the wire. It doesn’t really stay in the housing, but has friction on both the housing and the pin, so for now it’s working more or less “as intended.”

I had a little challenge getting the wire to stay in the connector. I cut another short length of the same wire and wedged it in next to the wire I inserted. It tightened up the connection and then I taped it all together. Working well so far. This is a great mod and looks stock.

 

[jmatero]

You know, this could all be solved with a UI update. Ford should consider taking Tesla's approach where the Frunk/Hatch release buttons appear on the main display when the car is placed in Park and unlocked. Add to that, an option to auto-unlock the doors when the car is put in Park and BAM... anytime the car is in Park, you have instant access to the releases. Just sayin'......

 

[Neil4Real]

You know, this could all be solved with a UI update. Ford should consider taking Tesla's approach where the Frunk/Hatch release buttons appear on the main display when the car is placed in Park and unlocked. Add to that, an option to auto-unlock the doors when the car is put in Park and BAM... anytime the car is in Park, you have instant access to the releases. Just sayin'......

They really need to just get with the customization jibe and allow us to pick quick access items at the top like you added. If not, the very least they can do is your suggestion, that'd be very welcome.

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