Well I have a 22 but mine is stuck on the drivers side.. I can get the passenger side off just fine but it’s like it’s stuck on the drivers side.. gunna have it serviced soon so the dealership can figure it out for me ..
‘24 Owners Who Removed Tailgate
- OP 🔹 cs0430
- Start date
Feel free to forward any/all pics.
As I discovered, two dealerships 20 miles apart gave me two totally different experiences. Dealer #1 told me the ajar light was not fixable, and also rearranged the pins incorrectly messing things up worse. Dealer #2 had it fixed in 2 hours. So moral of the story is to keep looking if you get unsatisfactory results.
So interestingly, I looked up the jumper harness on ford parts website, and the pics of the harness are definitely missing any grounding wires. NO wires on that second row of the connector, just as ours are showing. Whatever harness Ford sent us, apparently was correctly built in Mexico... By the way, its $248 for that jumper...
I ordered an automotive pin kit with crimpers, and will try to build the 3 wire grounding jumper tomorrow.
I ordered an automotive pin kit with crimpers, and will try to build the 3 wire grounding jumper tomorrow.
Thank you so much. If you're willing to document it well you would be saint.
At that same source, can you look up the same for a '23? Or did you look it up by part number rather than year/make/model? Just curious if it the same part number and/or wiring/pin layout as for '24. And then the final piece of the puzzle will be a '23 owner providing pics of the harness that came with their truck. If their part number/harness/wire/pins are the same as our '24, then the plot thickens. If different, then Ford has sum splanin' to do. We'll, I guess either way they do.
....and $248?! Oofda.
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Well, partial win but also a delay.
As with most connectors, you have to release the secondary catch mechanism, which is the beige plug inside the housing. Using the small openings on the side of the black housing, you pry up a small amount on one side and the other, back and forth. Once that is popped up, use a very small flat blade screw driver to release side clips to release the unit entirely.
At the point, the new pin kit I bought failed me, it did not have the correct type needed. So, I stopped here for today.
I’m not sure how to locate the correct pins, but will ask at the dealer today if they have a kit, or even just a few they can part with ( going back for what feels like drag link #2 failure).
FYI - Ford has a PDF of various connector pigtails, but I don’t see this 12 pin one listed.
Stay tuned…
As with most connectors, you have to release the secondary catch mechanism, which is the beige plug inside the housing. Using the small openings on the side of the black housing, you pry up a small amount on one side and the other, back and forth. Once that is popped up, use a very small flat blade screw driver to release side clips to release the unit entirely.
At the point, the new pin kit I bought failed me, it did not have the correct type needed. So, I stopped here for today.
I’m not sure how to locate the correct pins, but will ask at the dealer today if they have a kit, or even just a few they can part with ( going back for what feels like drag link #2 failure).
FYI - Ford has a PDF of various connector pigtails, but I don’t see this 12 pin one listed.
Stay tuned…
Been silently following this thread even though I have a 22. I remember seeing ads for a company that can identify connectors with a picture, but couldn't remember the name. Not sure if this is who I've seen in the past, but found this site and uploaded one of @Chadx photos and got the following result (Seems like the D31A16 is the correct match?):
It looks like they offer the plugs with 10" wire pigtails, so seemingly they could sell you 3 individual wire pigtails with pins already installed which you could add to your plug?
It looks like they offer the plugs with 10" wire pigtails, so seemingly they could sell you 3 individual wire pigtails with pins already installed which you could add to your plug?
Nice. The D31A16 does look right. (Your link didn't work so here is the direct link: https://findpigtails.com/connector/d31a16/ )
I'm going to email them and ask about three wires with pins attached...
Edit: Email sent to them explaining situation and requesting they sell the pins/wires separately.
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So from @Darko Marko's image of the truck-side of the connector, the pins circled in red are the pins that the real/full tailgate harness interface with (that run to the tailgate closure sensors when the tailgate is installed). And, those are the same pins that mate with the blank/empty locations in our '24 tailgate removal harness connector. And are the same pins that get grounded when this fix is implemented on the interfacing connector (adding the three pins and tie them together to add ground).
I heard back from findpigtails customer service fast. They will sell them. Below is their reply. Shipping is a bit pricey. Wonder if they would ship in a simple first class envelope with some cardboard. Or maybe the crimps could get smashed in transit.
"
We certainly can, we do charge $2 per wires precrimped for this particular style. Our shipping for wires only is $15. If you would like to place an order for this, it would have to be put in over the phone. Give us a call at 844-255-5899 and ask for Hollis.
Hollis Alyea
Sales Rep
"
Response from my dealership after sending them another email update with images of the fixed harness and spoon feeding them the exact ports that need pins and wired together. They said I can make another appointment and bring in the truck as well as these notes/pictures so they can look at it again and that my truck is the only one they've seen with this issue. I find that hard to believe especially since my salesman, when I first told him about it, said he had another owner have the same issue when they mounted their camper and he sent them to the service department (though I don't know if that owner ever went in and had it looked at).
In any case, I asked them if they have a tech familiar with opening connectors, adding pins, etc and had the appropriate pins/crimpers on hand so I only have to go in once rather than twice after they order the needed pins. Also asked if I could just bring in the harness. I expect them to require the path of most resistance, however. Ha. But fingers crossed.
In any case, I asked them if they have a tech familiar with opening connectors, adding pins, etc and had the appropriate pins/crimpers on hand so I only have to go in once rather than twice after they order the needed pins. Also asked if I could just bring in the harness. I expect them to require the path of most resistance, however. Ha. But fingers crossed.
Come on, take one for the team. You know you really like their waiting area and the "freshly burnt coffee"
is to die for 
Come on, take one for the team. You know you really like their waiting area and the "freshly burnt coffee"
Well, I just heard back from my dealership. They assure me all their techs can depin/pin connectors (though, even though I'd asked, they didn't confirm they would have them in stock to avoid a second appointment). They are currently booked out through November. The first time they looked into this, they wanted the pickup for several days. I insisted one day was more than adequate to confirm and evaluate the Tailgate Ajar issue. My salesman even arranged a complimentary rental, but not sure sure I'd get the same treatment this time. They'll want it for an entire day at a minimum, so no "waiting area" opportunity.
I'll book a slot and can always cancel it. I trust doing it myself more and time-to-resolution would be much quicker, but I really want them to make this right, even if it's a time suck and inconvenience for me; if for nothing else than to ticket it to make it "real" and help out the next guy that inevitably goes in with the same issue. (I don't believe I'm the only one that has reported this to this dealership. Perhaps the only one that made an appointment and didn't take "they are supposed to do that" as the answer. Ha. )
More info from findpittails.com regarding the individual pin/wire pigtails for this connector. They do not have any other shipping options, so it's a fixed $15 for shipping (and $2 per pigtail). $15 is a bit much for shipping, but still, for $20, a person can have 5 pigtails to your door (two extra to account for screw ups. Ha).
If anyone wants to order individual pin/pigtail for connector D31A16 https://findpigtails.com/connector/d31a16/ , (looking at you @Darko Marko ), you will have to call them. Phone number on their website following that connector link. The tech told me that the SKU, for the wires with pin, is "F13NS-16PM" which is not available online at this time. But if you call with that SKU, make sure they know it's for connector D31A16, just to doublecheck.
If anyone wants to order individual pin/pigtail for connector D31A16 https://findpigtails.com/connector/d31a16/ , (looking at you @Darko Marko ), you will have to call them. Phone number on their website following that connector link. The tech told me that the SKU, for the wires with pin, is "F13NS-16PM" which is not available online at this time. But if you call with that SKU, make sure they know it's for connector D31A16, just to doublecheck.
I emailed the photos and info to my Service advisor this morning but have not heard back from him yet.
While waiting I did google D31A16 and it looks like it comes up as a Molex 34985 connector. https://www.molex.com/en-us/products/part-detail/349851601?display=pdf. Looks like it uses MX150 female pins. Digi-key has the pins and 18-20AWG pins are 1.09 for 10 with 6.99 shipping. https://www.digikey.com/ordering/shoppingcart . Depending on what Ford says I may just order the pins and make my own pigtails.
While waiting I did google D31A16 and it looks like it comes up as a Molex 34985 connector. https://www.molex.com/en-us/products/part-detail/349851601?display=pdf. Looks like it uses MX150 female pins. Digi-key has the pins and 18-20AWG pins are 1.09 for 10 with 6.99 shipping. https://www.digikey.com/ordering/shoppingcart . Depending on what Ford says I may just order the pins and make my own pigtails.
Good stuff. I appreciate you chasing this down. I reached out to Rossmonster in my case as I do not know what my situation is. I know they have done a few 2024s already, so I am hoping it is a non-issue for me.
It looks like digikey has pre-crimped leads for about $1. Molex part number 216301-1212 which consists of 16 awg wire plus the female crimp part number 330013003. Their shipping prices are usually reasonable and they ship quick.
I ordered a dozen, might have them Friday. I’ll share the 9 extras with anyone else for the cost of shipping.
I ordered a dozen, might have them Friday. I’ll share the 9 extras with anyone else for the cost of shipping.
Nice work. I'm down for three of the nine. Anxious to see a few people do this mod and report back results so us scaredy-cats can benefit from your confidence and experience. Ha.
I imagine I can do this mod faster than I can drive one way across town to the dealership.
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- OP 🔹
- #139
I’d take 3 if it ends up working.
Great find @Slippers ! I’ve ordered some and will test further early next week.
@Chadx How did you get the backside black cover (that the wires run through) off the connector housing? The sides have a small clip inside? I pried but didn’t want to break it… will try again.
FYI: In @Chadx photos, numbers 2 and 5 are the upper and lower tailgate open/closed sensor circuits, and 3 is ground.
@Chadx How did you get the backside black cover (that the wires run through) off the connector housing? The sides have a small clip inside? I pried but didn’t want to break it… will try again.
FYI: In @Chadx photos, numbers 2 and 5 are the upper and lower tailgate open/closed sensor circuits, and 3 is ground.
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