[njvagabond]

Disclaimer: I'm an ME, not a EE. Sparky stuff scares me.

I have, however, read all 435 posts on cargo lights more than once. As near as I can figure out, it all got changed for 2020. So the helpful information about adding a switch onto a specific fuse no longer applies. Not a solution, but at least explains why the information you've tried doesn't work. I think the cargo lights now run through the BCM (maybe, remember, I'm not a EE).

I just removed the middle lights completely. Easy to do. The clips are on the short ends of the lights and harness disconnects from the main harness easily enough. Eventually I'll probably get frustrated enough to take the rear light out too. Not there yet. Did I mention sparky stuff scares me?

I am an IE so I even less understanding about electricity! After 4 reads of the BEMM and not finding a fuse for the cargo lights I found the table showing the BCM outputs.

I suppose all things electric are going this way. Less cost, more control and most importantly for Ford, beyond the reach of (most?) people for self repair. It looks like the modem that sends your data home to the mothership in Dearborn is now powered through the BCM. I guess too many people were pulling fuse #32 to disable it. My guess is if I can find it (under headlined?) and unplug it there will be other "unintended" consequences. My hope is that it doesn't communicate if I don't enable FordPass. Also hoping it won't be a parasitic draw. Unfortunately I think the horse has left the barn, never to be retrieved, in terms the consumers digital and repair rights.

 

[njvagabond]

I was going to wait until I decided on a ceiling and just leave them alone until then but I couldn't stand it! Sometimes on. Sometimes off. They have a mind of their own. I ran new wires to all four of them and put in switches. Got power from CCP 1. I absolutely hated them!!! I put the back two on one switch and the front two on another. I wired an LED strip as the main source of light while camping. We call the factory LED's "Cleaning Lights" now.

If you can, don't try and pull all the clips out. Sometimes I was able to slide the plastic raceway to the side and out of the remaining clips. I broke two.

I like that plan. Maybe because I can actually understand it.

 

[njvagabond]

We just have a few Harbor Freight flashlights in the van. You know, the ones they give out for free. Between the magnet and the hook, we can position any where we need. We only use van for travel and sleeping so have no need for very much light. If it's dark, we're in bed

I did mask them off and have Z spray paint them because the original color clashed with our window shades.

My wife just hung one of those from our IKEA chandelier with stylish but insufficient flame bulbs that hangs over the dining table which has now become the pandemic jigsaw table. Engineers! I refuse to paint it to match.