1.) Neither my horn or cruise control work. I've checked all the fuses and they're good. What's the list of things I need to check next?

and...

2.) What the heck is this in the picture? it's under the dash just to the left of the gas pedal. There are two plugs going in, but only one is plugged up at the moment. It makes a ding sound when I plug it in, like the door is open but a different tone. The truck seems to be running fine I just don't want to mess anything up. The truck is new to me and I'm new to Fords, so I just want to be safe and not tear it up.

Thanks in advance.

 

Horn\cruise possible brushes in the column where the wheel bolts to the column, the plug just probably is there, and the box is the warning thing it tells when the lights are on, keys in ign, door ajar, etc. Leave it I always forget about keys and lights. It might sometimes be annoying but its good to have.

 

Is everything else hooked up? There is something that is either not hooked up, or is broken. I would get a repair manual and see what it says.

 

Is your Air Bag light blinking? If so, you need a clock spring.

 

x2 on the clock spring - and I'm not sure what the heck is hanging under the dash... what year is your truck?

 

Looks aftermarket to me. Alarm system?

 

I agree with RedLightning93, looks like an alarm or if the truck was used as a fleet vehicle for a company, it could also be a GPS locating system. We have them in our company vehicles. It knows when the vehicle is turned off, speed, etc. If not a company vehicle, I would suspect a stalking girlfriend got it installed. lol.

 

In reference to your first question, since the truck is new to you, you might not know everything that was done to the truck. (i.e.-truck was stolen and had broken wires when theif ripped open column, not the original steering column, etc.) I would start checking contacts with an electrical tester. Make sure you have power to the fuses you checked. Make sure you have power to the contacts at the horn button in the steering wheel. Find out what color wires go to the cruise control and horn and carefully cut them open and test for power. If its a power problem, its a step-by-step process; start at one end and work your way to the other. Tedious...? yes, but exhilarating when you find the problem.

 

I wouldn't screw around with the airbag wires!!! I think that plug you show is for a trailer brake controller if you have the tow package on the truck.