Ok so I read up on installing aftermarket LED running board lights using the white wire at the 3rd brake light for power. I decided I didn't want to run that much wire so I traced what I thought was that white wire down into the wiring channel with a large bundle of wires that runs along the passenger side floor and clipped it. Guess what, it's not the same wire! I was able to get just enough slack to fix the wire with a butt connector. I would've rather soldered it but I couldn't get enough overlap so the butt connector was my only option. Anyway, everything seems fine but I'd really like to know what wire I actually cut in case I have future issues. Does anyone have any idea what the wire goes to? Truck is a 2015 XLT SuperCab with 302A package. Any help would be really appreciated!

 

You may want to include pictures etc....

Otherwise I'm guessing it is for the pump for your headlight fluid.

 

It's the wire for the muffler bearing overheat warning light.

 

You could have added a short piece of wire to solder and seal correctly. Crimp connectors aren't the best choice. The easy way to figure it out is cut the wire to repair it correctly and while cut figure out what ain't working. (All though I wouldn't suggest you use that method, that would be one way)

 

Cut first ask questions later is not a good method. Get yourself a test light, poke the wire and confirm its the correct one. Then shave the casing and poke a hole though the bare wire with the tester tip, slide the new wire in and twist. You can solder if you want to make it permanent or just leave it twisted and taped for removal in the future.

 

just poking wires isn't the best strategy either, what if you poke a wire to the airbag system

 

That would be real cute lmao. But if u do find the right wires feel free to post. I have all the stuff to do my running board courtesy lights but was just gonna tap the third brake light when it warms up some here

 

I ended up wiring the LED lights into the third brake light wiring. I guess I actually should be calling it the cargo light wiring which is where the third brake light is. The directions for that procedure are in another post on this forum. Those directions are what I followed. Everything works properly. Just would sleep better if I could figure out what effect if any my original mistake is going to have.

 

Another thing you need to do is check the color of the wires at the actual connection for the third brake light.... if I remember correctly the wires from the connection to the actual bulb are different colors

 

I wonder if anyone knows exactly where said connector is? I've read the threads using the white wire for the cargo lamps on the third brake light but it would be nice to be able to tap alittle lower