Lighted running boards on a 2001 Sport Trac.

[timcherry]

I just installed a pair of lighted running boards on a 2001 Sport Trac. My question. Where do I tap into to get the running board lights to only light up when you open the door???

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread into the 2001-2005 Sport Trac section. You will need to locate the color of the wire going to any of the interior lights that are on this circuit. A schematic diagram would be helpful.

 

[ncranchero]

Your dome lamp power wiring is black/light blue.

The harness to the front dome lamp (with overhead console) or the center dome lamp (without overhead console) goes up the left windshield post, from behind the left kick panel.

The harness to the rear dome lamp & CHMSL/bed lamps goes down the left side of the floor and up the left rear corner of the cab.

 

[timcherry]

Trying to locate a wire to splice into..........

Thank you Steve. I will have a look again this morning. Only luck I have had so far is splicing into a wire that stays hot all the time! This has turned into a real pain. Installing the boards was easy. Finding the correct wire NOT !

 

[Pheonixx77]

:ttiwwp:

 

[ncranchero]

Well I have photos of almost everything, except this wiring. I'll snap a few today and see if I can't help you pick out the right wire. Pop off the door sill plates and loosen the tape/wrapping atround the harness running to towards the rear and see if there's not a 20 ga BK/LB wire in there to splice into.

Thank you ...........77 !

Edit: Your pic, Sir.

 

[timcherry]

Thank you Steve ! I got lights to work ! You were right. Black wire with blue stripe. I have a question on running board mounting for Sport Trac. The set I installed are aftermarket. They seem a bit flimsy, and flex when you step on them. I used 3 brackets per side. They came with 4. Should I drill extra holes and add the 4th bracket??? Would that strengthen it up a bit? Should the running boards mount slightly underneath the vehicle door, or mount level and flush with the door? I am curious if some of the running board should extend underneath the vehicle. Sure does flex a lot ! Again, thanks so much for wiring info. The manufacturer couldn't even tell me how to wire them !

 

[ncranchero]

Glad you got them wired. I'll bet they're nice! The Sport Trac specific running boards mount in the 3 factory bracket locations and are quite sturdy. I have 1 OEM gray '01 set and another black Westin set. Both mount in the same holes.

 

[timcherry]

Thanks for the info and pics Steve. These I put on are Westin. I used 3 brackets and mounted them in original holes. I called the manufacturer and told them how I installed them. They said it was fine using 3. I am doing this job for a friend. The boards came with 4 brackets. The owner of the vehicle thinks they are flimsy feeling and wants the 4th bracket put on them. Guess I will drill more holes and put them on ! Factory brackets were actually made much better than these aftermarket Westin brackets but I do not have the originals. May not have had any on in the first place, but holes are there. I just have doubts adding the 4th bracket will add much of any strength to them. What do you think???

 

[ncranchero]

Actually I don't think my Westin's had but 2 brackets per bar. As I remember, they were nowhere near as rigid as the OEM's. I took them all off anyway though so i didn't worry over them much. You'll have to do what the owner asks I guess.

 

[timcherry]

Ok. Thanks again so much for your help. I'll add that 4th bracket and see what happens!

 

[gordonjj]

Ok. Thanks again so much for your help. I'll add that 4th bracket and see what happens!

Did you add the bracket?

 

[paulclark1965]

Running boards

Do you still have the grey oem 2001 sport trac running boards???