dark mark

Thank you for the quick reply!

I have a 2018 XLT. No rear sliding window. No rear window defroster. Would there be appropriate wires already in the truck somewhere in the rear for the CANbus connections? Or do all of you run the wires all the way to the front of the vehicle?

There is a salvage yard which just got a 2019 F150 with this Sync connect module, so I can pull all parts from it that I would need, I am just not sure if I can get the harness as I do not know where or how far it runs into the vehicle.

ranorris2

You will need to check if you have the connector already back there. If you look through this thread you will see a pic where someone already had the plug for sync connect sitting in a white plastic holder, however for the majority of us we don't have that connector. If you don't have it, then like stork mentioned you will need to make your own or purchase BGG's. With yours being an 18 if you buy BGG's harness, you will likely need to purchase BGG's test connector as well.
If you make your own connector I'm sure there are locations other than the front to use for power and canbus, but the cleanest OEM looking way will be to run it to the front plugging into the test port.

xlt2018

some trucks came with the plug that powers the TCU and connects it to the CANbus already in them even though they did not come with the TCU. My truck did not have that plug so you need to check behind your rear seat where the TCU will be mounted. If it’s not there I would STRONGLY suggest buying the prebuilt cable from 2016 BoostedGreyGoose. It runs from the TCU to the front of the truck via passenger floor track. There are post in the thread that tell you where to connect the plugs and pins. There will be no splicing if you use BGG harness if you don’t already have the factory harness.

dark mark

Just reading through some posts. Isn't that harness only for up to 2017 F150 years, as Ford discontinued that "test port" from 2018 and up?

I do not think my truck came with any wiring harnesses in the rear where TCU gets mounted. The only harness I have is for the rear sliding window (which I also do not have). Here is the picture of what my back wall looks like

xlt2018

that is correct you do not have the plug that was the way mine was also. When you order your harness from BGG and you tell him it is an 2018 he will build your harness with the test plug. He has covered all the bases.

ranorris2

The main tcu harness from BGG will work for 15+, but to use it in an 18+ you will have to add the test port to the backside of the gateway module, which BGG also sells.

15-17 need BGG's main tcu harness (there are a few who also needed a test port, this includes me on my 16)
18+ need BGG's main harness and BGG's test port

dark mark

Thank you! I just sent him a PM. Hopefully it will be a "plug and play" for me with minor ForScan changes.

Did most of you also add the sharkfin antenna instead of the puck one located above the front passenger seat?
This salvage F150 I will pull the TCU from comes with both pink and brown connectors for antenna, and my understanding is that the brown one is for LTE.

Are there any issues with activating the LTE hotspot? some threads say that for FordPass you just need pink antenna connected and you do not need the donor vin, and for LTE you need donor vin.

Thank you!!

Airborne_Ape

I still don't think anyone really needs to buy a harness. You just need a little intuition, a soldering iron and bit of scrap wire. YouTube can teach you how to use any tool these days, but I won't dive deep into that argument again.

ranorris2

I didn't add the shark fin antenna, but that was because I didn't want to cut on my truck. It's my understanding that 18+ (possibly 17+) already have the square hole for the shark fin to install easily, so I doubt you'd have any issues if you wanted to install everything. I purchased two PIFA antennas from Ford, one went in the OEM spot, the other I just attached to the back wall of the truck.

For the hotspot you don't need the VIN from the donor vehicle. As long as you have the hotspot menu in your truck, you will be able to see/change the password and once connected you will be forwarded to the att site which will have the donor VIN prepopulated for you to signup with. If you don't have the hotspot menu (and want to use hotspot) you'd either have to upgrade your APIM firmware or purchase a new APIM.

dark mark

I have wired many things in vehicles in the past. I have the soldering iron, bunch of various gauge wire etc, I just do not know where do I tap to get the 4 wires that this TCU needs (minus the ground hehe that can be off a ground in the back of the truck).