‘24 Owners Who Removed Tailgate

[Chadx]

did you plug in camera at original location where the tailgate camera was plugged in?

Yes. Bought a second camera, aftermarket housing and aftermarket cable. Plug into backup camera port freed up by unplugging tailgate (small brown plug). Camera will come on when in reverse and also blend with 360 degree camera view (though distorted unless you mount at same height and angle as tailgate camera). Mine is high, but still handy. Can still zoom in for hooking up trailer.

 

[Rustyshatz]

Yes. Bought a second camera, aftermarket housing and aftermarket cable. Plug into backup camera port freed up by unplugging tailgate (small brown plug). Camera will come on when in reverse and also blend with 360 degree camera view (though distorted unless you mount at same height and angle as tailgate camera). Mine is high, but still handy. Can still zoom in for hooking up trailer.

Then it must come down to trim level. As mentioned earlier the higher trims (KR and up) with power lift tailgate are experiencing different issues. We didn't get the tailgate ajar message on the dash, but auto folding mirrors stopped working and backup camera no longer works and just shows a tailgate down image in its place on the 360 camera view. Those with Lariat and below seems to find that modifying the tailgate delete harness (as detailed above) resolves the tailgate ajar message and camera issues. The plot thickens...

 

[Chadx]

... Those with Lariat and below seems to find that modifying the tailgate delete harness (as detailed above) resolves the tailgate ajar message and camera issues. The plot thickens...

Slight correction to that sentence in that there were no camera issues. Plug in a replacement camera and it works even with no harness mod. I have been using a camera all summer even with Tailgate Ajar message. One does not impact the other, at least in my Lariat

 

[Littlejeepr]

Then it must come down to trim level. As mentioned earlier the higher trims (KR and up) with power lift tailgate are experiencing different issues. We didn't get the tailgate ajar message on the dash, but auto folding mirrors stopped working and backup camera no longer works and just shows a tailgate down image in its place on the 360 camera view. Those with Lariat and below seems to find that modifying the tailgate delete harness (as detailed above) resolves the tailgate ajar message and camera issues. The plot thickens...

I did not try on my platty to fold my mirrors in last night with my gate unplugged, on my screen with the tailgate unplugged with or without the harness but did notice for the camera the front works Split View and the one in the 3rd brake light all still work. Just get a blank page as you should for the tailgate camera. Sounds like these trucks are a box of chocolates never know what you get lol. It makes me miss my 22 even thou it was a covid era truck think it had less issues.

 

[Rustyshatz]

I did not try on my platty to fold my mirrors in last night with my gate unplugged, on my screen with the tailgate unplugged with or without the harness but did notice for the camera the front works Split View and the one in the 3rd brake light all still work. Just get a blank page as you should for the tailgate camera. Sounds like these trucks are a box of chocolates never know what you get lol. It makes me miss my 22 even thou it was a covid era truck think it had less issues.

Per the ford bulletin I posted earlier no backup camera on KR and up is expected as well as tailgate ajar (I don't have this). A fix is "in progress" with no ETA of course.

 

[cs0430]

Just made this fix. Tailgate ajar message gone, the reverse 'lines' are back. Good stuff there.

HOWEVER, my "Reverse Brake Assist Unavailable - See Manual" warning still pops up. Any suggestions? The feature is turned on using my center screen.

 

[Chadx]

Interesting. My order is supposed to arrive today and I won't be able to do this work until next week.

Bummer on the brake assist message. Blah.

Do your "autofold mirrors when locking" and lights flash/horn honk when using fob to remotely lock? Those things don't work on mine with the tailgate ajar message.

 

[cs0430]

Interesting. My order is supposed to arrive today and I won't be able to do this work until next week.

Bummer on the brake assist message. Blah.

Do your "autofold mirrors when locking" and lights flash/horn honk when using fob to remotely lock? Those things don't work on mine with the tailgate ajar message.

I have auto fold off, but my turn signal lights flash when locking remotely.

I don't think I could have done something wrong with the install because the tailgate ajar message is gone...? Maybe an unrelated issue?

 

[Slippers]

Just made this fix. Tailgate ajar message gone, the reverse 'lines' are back. Good stuff there.

HOWEVER, my "Reverse Brake Assist Unavailable - See Manual" warning still pops up. Any suggestions? The feature is turned on using my center screen.

What trim is yours? And does the warning pop up all the time, even when in Park?

I want to see if mine does the same, but need to know the exact circumstances.

 

[cs0430]

What trim is yours? And does the warning pop up all the time, even when in Park?

I want to see if mine does the same, but need to know the exact circumstances.

Lariat. And only when put in reverse.

My rear parking sensors and my RCTA work. Thinking the camera being in a slightly different location may be the culprit. I tried to measure exactly to match factory location when I put it on my camper, but maybe it’s off just enough.

 

[Chadx]

Lariat. And only when put in reverse.

My rear parking sensors and my RCTA work. Thinking the camera being in a slightly different location may be the culprit. I tried to measure exactly to match factory location when I put it on my camper, but maybe it’s off just enough.

Does Reverse Brake Assist use the camera? I assumed it only used the little parking sensors in the rear bumper. Too close and it slams on the brakes. So guess I'm not sure how this tech is programmed.
My order didn't come yesterday so hopefully today (USPS). But will get to wire it Sunday or Monday and see what my Lariat does. [Edit: I take that back. Package delivered to mailbox last night at 10:32pm. They have been separating letter delivery and package delivery lately and the package delivers are really odd hours].

 

[Darko Marko]

Hmm, my Lariat does not throw any messages after the 3wire fix. FYI- My OE camera is mounted on the rear door of the FWC Hawk, just below the window.

 

[cs0430]

Hmm, my Lariat does not throw any messages after the 3wire fix. FYI- My OE camera is mounted on the rear door of the FWC Hawk, just below the window.

About here? My 360 seems pretty “complete” like my camera is in a good spot, but still get that message every time I put it in reverse.

 

[Darko Marko]

Yes, very close to mine:

 

[Chadx]

I threw the pins in my harness a few minutes ago and tested. Here are my results for '24 F250 Supercab/non-tremor with Lariat trim level (with a replacement backup camera mounted very high on my slide-in pickup camper):
- Tailgate Ajar popup message and small, red tailgate ajar warning light (in lower right hand of the gauge) are no longer occurring.
- Backup camera once again has colored distance line overlays as well as the predictive backup turn lines (that move with steering wheel movement) have returned (since my backup camera is mounted very high on my camper, these overlays will be inaccurate).
- "Park Aid Sensors/Rear Sensors" now work. Those are the rear proximity sensors that detect obstacles and beeps faster (and goes to steady tone) as you near and it also indicates which of the four rear sensors are detecting the obstacle by placing a green, yellow or red indicator directly behind the bumper on the 360 view. I forgot I turned this off in the past and really I don't recall if it was or was not working with Tailgate Ajar message, but I turned it on just now and it's working. I tow our fishing boat or a small trailer almost every weekend so will probably get tired of flipping it back and forth so will likely just turn it off again and leave it off.
- "Reverse Brake Assist Unavailable - See Manual" warning still pops up.

Interesting thing with the "Reverse Brake Assist Unavailable" message is I didn't get that for the first month+ of having my tailgate off. Others mentioned they received it, but I did not. Then one day it showed up. Not sure why I did not get it immediately, but it may have been related to my messing with the backup camera. As I wrote that, I couldn't help but try a quick experiment. I went out and unplugged my backup camera (brown plug) which gives the blue screen for backup camera and the blue "behind the pickup" section of the 360 camera. No change and "Reverse Brake Assist Unavailable" still pops up. No idea why I didn't get it for a period of time. As I recall, after I started receiving it is when I experimented with rolling my tailgate under the truck on a dolly and plugging in everything. Non of these messages appeared as I recall. So doesn't seem like the "Reverse Brake Assist Unavailable" was related to camera as the tailgate backup camera, at the time, was pointed at the ceiling. When I'd put the truck in reverse (without actually backing up, no messages). Guess I'll find out when I put the tailgate back on in a couple months.

What I found early on is if you turn off the "Reverse Brake Assist", you still get a pop up message that says "Reverse Brake Assist Turned Off". So Ford is going to blast you with a message whether you have it on or off. I turned mine off because the "Reverse Brake Assist Turned Off" doesn't chime; only does popup. But the "Reverse Brake Assist Unavailable - See Manual" message is accompanied by three loud chimes. So with it turned off, I'll still get a message, but at least no chimes. By the way, I do have entry chime, start up chime, seat belt chimes, etc. all turned off with FORScan. What can I say. I'm not a chime person. Don't worry, there are still plenty of other chimes going off all the time such as "truck is running" when I open the door to get out and move something or check something, key not detected if key is in my pocket instead of left in the truck (kind of defeats the purpose of keyless ignition if you ask me if you have to take the fob in and out of your pocket to avoid a bunch of chimes and messages), and plenty of other nanny chimes and messages. Ah well, 'tis the times we live in. Ha.

In the end, really happy to be rid of this Tailgate Ajar issue and associated list of things it prevents from working normally. Oh, and these harness plugs are really hard to get apart on my rig. I blame the dust/dirt since we overland the truck. Just got back from a hundred+ miles of trail and dusty road driving and it was even harder to remove the harness than a couple weeks ago. Glad I'll only have to do this twice a year (camper on then camper off for the season).

I just stripped a bit of extra insulation off the tips of all three wires and twisted them together for this experiment. Now that everything works, I'll solder and heat shrink those conductors.

Edit: and confirming that I used the 16gauge wires from here: https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/molex/2163011202/14296905
And the pins only slide in one way as the black connector has slot to allow the prong to go in (even though the slide the pin in from the rear, you can see that slot one the front). But if you look at the images, you'll see that one of the four sides of the pin is thicker and that thicker edge goes towards the outside of the connector as indicated by the red marks in the image below.

 

[andersondg]

Another confirmation that this fix works! Thank you everyone!! -2024 Superduty Lariat Ultimate Tremor mfg in 01/24

My brother just took delivery of a 2024 Superduty King Ranch Tremor. Ford is still shipping the tailgate delete harnesses without the grounds.

 

[Chadx]

Still would like to get a '23 owner to post images of their harness. Anyone know anyone and you can take some images and share? Don't even have to remove it from their truck or the plastic bag if it's new in their glovebox. Just would like to see if the black and white ends of the harness have the same wire count/colors coming out the back of each plug as our '24 harness.

@TRAMPER Can you help a brother out?

 

[cs0430]

@Chadx now that you mention it, I remember my brake assist working for a while as well. Any thoughts on what your next steps will be to get that message to go away? Dealer?

 

[zrlogan]

I want to thank everyone who has posted on here. I had a flatbed installed and had the tailgate ajar message and light. Same lack of support from my dealer. Since I have on intent to reinstall my bed/tailgate, i considered just cutting the wires on the harness and crimping them together. I ended up finding a light plug at my local parts store that had similar pins and wires. With a slight modification (I cut the "wing" on the pin so they would fit) it worked great. for anyone looking for a local source, the part I used was a pico 5459pt.

Now I have to figure out how to reinstall the blind spot sensors. That will be a fun challenge.

I should add this was a 24 f250 with the lariat ultimate package

 

[cs0430]

In an odd turn of events, the reverse brake unavailable warning went away, and now the setting for it is completely gone in vehicle settings.