Rear Window Switch Illumination

[TheJackal]

Another stupid question...

The rear power window switches on my Explorer don't illuminate. They never did even when it was brand new. What I'm asking is, although the rear switches don't illuminate by design, do the switches themselves have the capability? In other words, can they be wired for illumination without replacing the switch? I'm hardly about to take the door panels off just to do this, but I figure when I do need to I can prepare to wire it up if it's that simple.

 

[budwich]

well, I would say that you have problems with your illumination as the switches are illuminated (at least in 96).... likely a broken splice problem as the "light" comes from the same connection as the other window switches which I do believe is by the left passenger door post.

 

[TheJackal]

hmm... I don't know if it's supposed to be or not... they never have lit up for the life of the car, I'm sure that would have been caught before it left the factory, right....?
Mine is an XL, so I'd assumed that they just didn't bother for the wiring for the rear window switch illumination. But I see that yours in an XL, too. Maybe I'll check that out when I have the time.

 

[TheJackal]

Does anyone know where the connection for the illumination is? What color is the wire? I'm a little interested in figuring this out now.

 

[studd469]

Jackal, on my 97, if you unscrew the 2 screws on the rear doors, the armrest/handel will slide away from the door, providing access to the switches. I think the wires for the switch lights are a black and red wire either on the very top or very bottom of the switch. Hope this helps.

 

[TheJackal]

Jackal, on my 97, if you unscrew the 2 screws on the rear doors, the armrest/handel will slide away from the door, providing access to the switches. I think the wires for the switch lights are a black and red wire either on the very top or very bottom of the switch. Hope this helps.

That's cool, but I think the issue must be a connection where the wiring splits off for the 2 rear doors, like budwitch mentioned. But I find it a bit strange that the illumination for both doors comes from one source, as the two front doors illuminate fine, and both back doors don't. I removed the passenger kick panel and door sill trim and took a look down in there; all of the wiring is still in factory loom and it didn't appear to be kinked or pulled in any way. I'll need to take a look behind the dash to see what's going on behind there and probably test the wire. But your information is still helpful though because now I'll be able to figure out what the wire colors are by looking at them coming into the switch.

And I know this isn't exactly a do-or-die thing, but I can be OC sometimes when things don't work the way they're supposed to.

 

[budwich]

oops.... when I meant "left passenger side".... I meant "left rear door post" as in "back seat passenger"... sorry for the confusion... my bad for not reading my post carefully. Anyways, auto manufacturers do strange things when it comes to routing / connecting wire. My suggestion would be to check the left rear door to see if they actually put a light in the switch... it could be blown or not there at all. As you mentioned, its strange that all 4 doors come from the same splice and that the other two (fronts) work.

 

[TheJackal]

Ahh, great. I'll check that out then. I seem to think it's made this way. I find it extremely unlikely that the bulbs in both switches would not only be blown but they'd be that way out of the factory. The only way I could see this affecting both doors is if the circuit is wired in series and if one goes out the other will, too. But if the splice for all 4 doors comes from one spot that doesn't sound likely, either.

Either way, I'll take a look at it tomorrow for the hell of it. After all, the way they see it is you're lucky to have the XL with the optional power windows at all. Now you want the rear window switches to light up, too?...

 

[TheJackal]

OK, I was able to do a little investigation tonight on the subject, since I didn't realize how easy it was to get to the switch itself (thanks studd469). After popping the armrest off and having a look at the wiring, I ended up answering my own question:

If you can see, highlighted by the 2 yellow arrows, there are 2 additional posts in the switch itself but the harness has no wires going to them. Clearly, for the '99 model year at least, Ford did not run wires for the illumination of the rear window switches in the XL trim level. The switches themselves seem to have the capability, though.

Thanks to those who helped! :biggthump: