So i removed the vent trim on the left side beside the steering wheel to wrap in vinyl. everything went smooth but then for some reason when i put everything back and plugged in the mirror light buttons now they don't work. For some reason when i lock the truck now the back third brake light led's stay on as well as the tailgate light, as well as the puddle lights on the mirrors. I've removed the vent to ensure the harness was plugged in all the way and even disconnected the battery for 10 mins to let everything reset. Still the same the lights stay on and the buttons themselves don't work. Now i'm worried the lights will stay on and drain my batter.

 

What model do you have?
On a Lariat everything turns off after a set time so your battery will not die.

 

i have a 2018 lariat FX4, i read in the manual the same thing but curious to why the buttons themselves don't work now

 

Make sure that a fuse didn't blow.
Also make sure that a pin in the connector didn't get damaged or got pushed out of the connector.

 

update: i have checked all the fuses as well as the connector and everything is okay but still not working

i come from the import world this is my first domestic vehicle. This is just strange that i unplug a harness and then stops working when plugged back in.

 

It doesn't, either a pin got damaged, pushed in or something close to where you were working got disturbed. Did you make sure all of the doors were closed? How long did you watch the light before deciding it will never go out?

 

try unplugging the harness again - and press each of the buttons then plug it back in. Specifically the button for the rear lights - if nothing else. Also do you know if your mirrors move correctly?

Ir I recall correctly there was only a few wires to that harness - like 5 or 6. And the reason is those switches are CAN BUSS modules - not just a simple switch. and it might be that the circuit board got confused or shorted even. Causing it to provide an uncommanded buss signal. Forscan might could tell you if the there is a call for the tail gate lights to be on.

But that's sort of what it sounds like - a can buss module that's faulted but outputting a command.

 

I have a 15 Lariat that after locking , puddle lights, tailgate, and lights on back of the cab come back on. Some times it's just puddle lights, sometimes others and they can come back on hours after locked..I have not performed any activity that would affect these lights.

 

my mirror functions still work fine, turn signals still work fine, puddle lights work fine, i can adjust the mirrors no issue. Just the external lights on the mirror don't work with the button as well as the high beam button doesn't work.

i will have to order a Forscan adapter and scan the truck to see what's going on.