Cargo Area Lighting & Switch

Moraflex · Nov 30, 2023

BradVol said:
Look into using Forscan to enable the setting on the dash to have all the lights not turn on when a door is opened or the van in unlocked. It's called Police Dark Mode and there's two settings you have to turn on and there's another setting in the Body Module that doesn't do anything.

I have never used Forscan. How does it work? Is it a stand alone hand held module plugging into the OBD2 connector?

I'm coming to the conclusion the FORD engineers and programmers are really dim.There are things that are genius, but lots more that are at best, amateurish. Not installing an off on switch for the interior lights was a very dim decision. Nothing says "rob me" more than to have your entire van lights, light up like a Christmas tree at night in wall-mart parking lot, and then stay lit for minutes longer while in the store. Stupid and dangerous to say the least.

ranxerox · Nov 30, 2023

There is a off switch on my 2016 but most people are not smart enough to figure it out, And nobody reads the owners manual.

avenge · Nov 30, 2023

Moraflex said:
I have never used Forscan. How does it work? Is it a stand alone hand held module plugging into the OBD2 connector?

I'm coming to the conclusion the FORD engineers and programmers are really dim.There are things that are genius, but lots more that are at best, amateurish. Not installing an off on switch for the interior lights was a very dim decision. Nothing says "rob me" more than to have your entire van lights, light up like a Christmas tree at night in wall-mart parking lot, and then stay lit for minutes longer while in the store. Stupid and dangerous to say the least.

In what way is it dangerous? Going to Walmart is dangerous. Robbers prefer no lights. Put in a request to Walmart to turn off all their parking lot lights.

Moraflex · Nov 30, 2023

avenge said:
In what way is it dangerous? Going to Walmart is dangerous. Robbers prefer no lights. Put in a request to Walmart to turn off all their parking lot lights.

Interior lit vehicles attract attention, at night. It shows the whole world the information needed to make a decision. I would much rather pull up dark and stay dark, rather than light up like a Christmas tree. I'm speaking from multiple experiences.

avenge · Dec 1, 2023

Moraflex said:
Interior lit vehicles attract attention, at night. It shows the whole world the information needed to make a decision. I would much rather pull up dark and stay dark, rather than light up like a Christmas tree. I'm speaking from multiple experiences.

Sure the whole world is watching, manufacturers should just stop putting in interior lighting or post a warning for those that don't know how to turn them off. My lights go off when I lock it or shortly after the doors are closed.

ranxerox · Dec 1, 2023

Yep, The same here. Everything goes off when doors are closed. There is a 15 second delay, Just enough time for me to see where to put the key in the ignition.

kazuo · Dec 2, 2023

Buy the Wiring Diagrams book for your model. get the hard copy (book) easier to follow the circuits; I bought a used copy for my 2019 for $30.

harvleeds · Feb 7, 2024

hi guys... I was swapping out 2 stock lights in my transit custom for some LED bars and when doing the wiring connection i accidentally touched the blue&white cargo light cable on the roof of the van and it has tripped the fuse. i understand f32/25 are for interior lights as per the user manual leaving me with no clue which fuse the cargo lights are linked too. i really hope someone can help me out.... I've resorted to buying a fuse tester and will do process of elimination and replace those that are broken.

edit - my cab interior lights are working perfectly fine

alpinelakes · Mar 18, 2024

HarleyHauler said:
For those people on here that are still looking for a simple solution to the Transit cargo area lights that stay on for an extended period when any door is open, and that have no way to turn them off like the cab dome light has…here is the solution that I came up with.
I didn’t want to have to open up the main trunk of wires going into the cargo area to try to find the cargo area light wiring to put a switch in the cargo area. I wasn’t comfortable with messing with those wires back there…too many wires to make a mistake with!

While changing out my cargo area LED’s, I accidently touched one of the light socket contacts to the van’s metal framing, and blew the cargo area light fuse. So, getting into owner’s manual, and fuse box under the dash, to the right side of the steering wheel, I discover that there is a different fuse for the cargo area lights, and the cab area dome/map lights. So, a light comes on in my head….pardon the pun!...Why not put a simple little switch right there near the fuse box for the cargo area lights? So I got the parts as shown in my pictures, with a little bit of 16g wiring and made a fusible linked switch from my fuse box to little rocker switch right there near my fuse box. I looked into putting it more up on the dash, but it looked too difficult to get it into the dash and run the wires…my big hands couldn’t reach up much higher in the dash, and I am fine with it right where it is. I hardly ever even have that switch on, because I work out of my van during the day, and don’t need those lights burning during the day when I have the doors open.

The fuse socket connector kit from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TCXOTW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The mini fuse link…from Walmart…yes Walmart! The auto parts stores only carried a 12g fuse link, which was a heavier wire than needed.
The rocker switch (came in a 2 pack only) from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E1L7P3Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
16 gauge wire with .25 connectors and barrel splice connector came from an electrician friend.

And BTW, the Amazon LED’s I got are the brightest, LED’s I have ever seen…they light up the cargo area like daylight at night! …LUYED 33smd error free LED’s…link below.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0177C3AZ0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Nice work! Thanks for the write up!

wyntrout · Mar 20, 2024

As for that lower rear switch by the A/C blower, it was a Eureka moment when I found that it turned the lights on... but doesn't do ANYTHING when the doors are closed and there's seemingly no other light to "control" the cargo BRIGHT lights! Nothing in the manual... new 2023... and I can find no other switches.
I have 25 hours on my engine... and 15 are IDLING while I try to figure stuff out... what fun... so many "features"!

dronsin · Sep 17, 2024

surly Bill said:
I was originally going to add a switch to the fuse, but installed a SPDT on/off/on switch by the slider entrance above the passenger seatbelt.
In the wire loom along the top driver side wall, the white/blue stripe wire is the switched ground for the cab lights; they receive a constant positive. I pulled a couple of the cab lights and they are all wired with the same markings, which split into forward and rear wires where the wires to the forward cab lights come out. I cut the WH/blu wire forward of the split, ran two wires to the switch by the slider (one SEND from cab side of wiring, the other RETURN to cargo side of wiring from center post on my switch. I added a constant ground to the other other post on my switch. I can have the cargo lights operate normally, have them off all the time, or on as needed. About 45 minutes of work; less than a beer.

IS THIS the SURLY OLD BILL from the sprinter-source website? I owned a Sprinter and would not have if it were not for that set of experts on sprinter-source. Pure competence. And now I own a Transit....and see Surly Bill. Could it be?

surly Bill · Sep 17, 2024

dronsin said:
IS THIS the SURLY OLD BILL from the sprinter-source website? I owned a Sprinter and would not have if it were not for that set of experts on sprinter-source. Pure competence. And now I own a Transit....and see Surly Bill. Could it be?

it is I.
Natural progression toward Transit from the diesel-only Sprinter.
The next evolution will be a gas engine hybrid, EV with range extender gas generator, or 500 mile range EV. Or not; current thinking this morning is keep the old Transit as a camper/roadtrip/work truck for $0 and get an efficient thing for running around like a RAV4 or similar. Kinda leaning toward the 40mpg hybrid Maverick, but dealers are still marking them up 20%+ over msrp. Maybe Toyota Stout will appear on our shores.

c.ramos289 · Apr 20, 2025

Someone know the part number of the cargo area lighting switch?

Xprmntl · Apr 21, 2025

c.ramos289 said:
Someone know the part number of the cargo area lighting switch?

Which year. Which switch?

c.ramos289 said:
Someone know the part number of the cargo area lighting switch?

No, but seems same as F150 cargo light switch FL3Z9C888B

OMFG, found it. It's labeled a "door open warning switch," which is why no ordinary search could locate it.
door open warning switch
Outside.
Part #: SW5855 (1L2Z14018AC)

Cargo Area Lighting & Switch

Moraflex

ranxerox

avenge

Moraflex

avenge

ranxerox

kazuo

harvleeds

alpinelakes

wyntrout

dronsin

surly Bill

c.ramos289

Xprmntl

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