cross-year compatibility on interior parts 2013 civilian XLT to 2016 FPIU Explorer

[Reverend Biker]

Hello knowledgeable people... I have an opportunity to pick up some interior parts from a help-yourself and make an offer, part out of a 2013 XLT Explorer. I have a an early 2016 FPIU (12/2015 build date).

I'm considering the auto-off headlight switch, rear door panels (maybe all 4 if the prices is right), a-pillar and b-pillar trim and maybe the dome lights depending on the time the rest takes. It's a 3 hour round trip and I would like to know what I can use and what is a waste of time before I go with a pocket full of cash to make an on-the-spot package deal for stuff that won't fit.

I'm emotionally prepared to try my hand with forscan if the auto off switch is compatible. I appreciate any insight or resources anyone can share to help me figure this out before I drive 170 miles for nothing.

Thanks!

The Rev

 

[DePolicify]

For the auto headlight switch they changed the plug from 11-15 to 16-19, so stick within the same year range.

Door panels will fit but some bolts won't line up, that may only be on the front panels but I can't recall. You can still use them though. Pillar trim should be the same, except the inner passenger A-pillar panels have the grab handle in the pillar from 11-15, and then in 16-19 the handle moved to the headliner.

If you are replacing the round police ticket dome light they cut out a different shaped hole for it, but if it's a straight forward/backward cutout then you can usually slide the OEM dome light in it's place, you will need to wire it up though, so make sure to also get the male end of the connector from the donor. If the cutout is angled you don't have an OEM option, but there is an aftermarket option.

For the outer A-pillar trim, you should be eligible for the recall to get them replaced for free by ford, just pop the old ones off (if you still have them before you go in and they will replace them. I do believe that parts are not available yet for that recall though.

I always swap out all my seats, console and sometimes the steering wheel.

 

[Steve8316]

...part out of a 2013 XLT Explorer. I have a an early 2016 FPIU (12/2015 build date).
... a-pillar and b-pillar trim and maybe the dome lights...

I put '15 A- & B-pillar interior trims in my '16. They fit, but they're graphite grey which is slightly different from the PIU black - not enough to bother me, and no one else notices. The difference between the A-pillar & dash is not as obvious IRL as in this pic.

...and maybe the dome lights...

I'd snag the whole headliner. They're basically worthless to the JY because they can't even transport them locally - too big. So try not to pay more than $30 for it, with the domes. And you have to pull yours out & drive the PIU there to get it. But it's the only real way to get rid of the ticket light hole.

And I definitely agree with getting the dash-side connector pigtail with it. I transferred terminals from a donor pigtail to my dash so I could wire up extra features in my PIU headliner, but I'm looking for one to swap.

 

[Reverend Biker]

I put '15 A- & B-pillar interior trims in my '16. They fit, but they're graphite grey which is slightly different from the PIU black - not enough to bother me, and no one else notices. The difference between the A-pillar & dash is not as obvious IRL as in this pic.

View attachment 465411


I'd snag the whole headliner. They're basically worthless to the JY because they can't even transport them locally - too big. So try not to pay more than $30 for it, with the domes. And you have to pull yours out & drive the PIU there to get it. But it's the only real way to get rid of the ticket light hole.

View attachment 465413

And I definitely agree with getting the dash-side connector pigtail with it. I transferred terminals from a donor pigtail to my dash so I could wire up extra features in my PIU headliner, but I'm looking for one to swap.

View attachment 465414

Thanks for sharing those pics. As best I can tell, my vehicle is a franken-splorer. It clearly started life as a cruiser, it still has the whelen siren controls, blue and red LEDs, search light etc, all removed and shoved in a bag in the cargo area. Before its first proper wash, there was road grime on the door and I could see some sticker residue that identified it as a DPW vehicle for the town. So it was decomissioned to the DPW, and they just clipped wires when they sold it. There were at least two different color panels in the cargo area, black and gray and after cleaning the doors, one looked black, and the other dark blue? It was hard to tell, but I think one of the panels was spray-dyed to match and my cleaner took it off.

 

[Reverend Biker]

Thanks for the advice! I appreciate the wisdom, it saved me stripping things I couldn't use. Below is my haul, taken out of a dark gray 2014 XLT. There are a few splits in the armrest that I've already dealt with, as you will see in the pics. I used a heavy needle and some heavy embroidery thread to stitch them up.

I also took the opportunity working inside during our latest heat wave, to install ambient lighting in the front panels. You can see the test of the wiring for the door pull in the last pic. I added an acrylic led bulb I modified to fit the front door handles and ran a strip of LEDs for the pocket ambient light. I'm also taking a stab at some color upholstery inserts for the door panels for some contrast. That is what is holding up installation on the panels.

Today's project is to get the 3rd row speakers wired and install the two rear cargo panels and B pillar trim and wire the 12v socket in the rear. I'm also planning to install the second cargo light fixture from the original left rear panel into the right panel, up closer to the speaker and tie into the circuit on the left side to work off the interior light switch, to fully light the space.


I'm not familiar enough with the used market, so I used online sellers on craigslist and ebay to determine my spending limit. Do y'all think $150 for all of this is a good deal? I thought so after browsing ebay and finding A pillar trim for $80 bucks used, and door panels for $125. I picked this up from a local bone yard who advertised on FB marketplace.

The start of the repair and cleaning...

 

[Reverend Biker]

Thanks for sharing those pics. As best I can tell, my vehicle is a franken-splorer. It clearly started life as a cruiser, it still has the whelen siren controls, blue and red LEDs, search light etc, all removed and shoved in a bag in the cargo area. Before its first proper wash, there was road grime on the door and I could see some sticker residue that identified it as a DPW vehicle for the town. So it was decomissioned to the DPW, and they just clipped wires when they sold it. There were at least two different color panels in the cargo area, black and gray and after cleaning the doors, one looked black, and the other dark blue? It was hard to tell, but I think one of the panels was spray-dyed to match and my cleaner took it off.

Some of the hacked up wiring I found when I pulled the right rear panel.

 

[Steve8316]

There were at least two different color panels in the cargo area, black and gray and after cleaning the doors, one looked black, and the other dark blue? It was hard to tell, but I think one of the panels was spray-dyed to match and my cleaner took it off.

I had something like that...

...this is a good deal? I thought so...

If you're happy, that's all that matters. Could you have gotten it for less? Of course - but there's no telling how long you'd have had to search or how far you'd have had to drive to get a few bucks lower. And since you already bought that stuff, it's moot - you have it, so install it & enjoy it.

Some of the hacked up wiring...

Since that's aftermarket wiring, it doesn't really count as "hacked". That term only applies to the factory harness, which looks OK so far. You can probably pop loose the upper interior trim around the liftgate window and pull most of those wires back down & out. I got a bunch out of mine that way, and a bunch of loose screws/nuts/zip-ties...