Request Clarification on Power Tow Mirror P/N ML3Z-17696-DA

[HammaMan]

This is great information - thank you. Please be patient with me, I REALLY want to get this figured out. I am seriously considering making the tow mirror upgrade....

So, the aftermarket harness is more expensive, but more.... "complete"? Meaning, it is more of a ready, direct swap?

It just adds in the connector with some wiring. The switch is illuminated so it taps the illumination bus, needs to replace one of the grounding circuits and needs to run the extend / collapse wires. I bought the platinum harness and tore it apart (that's about 2hrs of work). You can replace the harness ( about an hr depending on how quick you move) and scavenge whatever wires you need from your factory harness. You need the wiring diagrams. Not hard to do.

I don't know your level of competence in this realm. Wiring diagrams are really easy for me to go through, for some it might as well be a foreign language.

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[Neticen]

My understanding is that if you have a truck with factory power FOLD then you also have the correct door harness for power EXTEND… but this is Ford an there seem to be more variations than there are stars in the sky.

 

[FirstFord]

It just adds in the connector with some wiring. The switch is illuminated so it taps the illumination bus, needs to replace one of the grounding circuits and needs to run the extend / collapse wires. I bought the platinum harness and tore it apart (that's about 2hrs of work). You can replace the harness ( about an hr depending on how quick you move) and scavenge whatever wires you need from your factory harness. You need the wiring diagrams. Not hard to do.

I don't know your level of competence in this realm. Wiring diagrams are really easy for me to go through, for some it might as well be a foreign language.

You have been a great source of information, HammaMan, and I appreciate all of your input.

Regarding your question of my level of competence, I have the knowledge and skills to be able to splice wires, and read wire schematics (as long as they don't get too complicated). The problem I have is that I am reluctant to start butchering up an OEM wire harness on a truck that cost more than my first house. IF a suitable plug-in replacement wire harness exists, I would much rather go that direction because that way you can always return things to the way it was (OEM).

 

[FirstFord]

My understanding is that if you have a truck with factory power FOLD then you also have the correct door harness for power EXTEND… but this is Ford an there seem to be more variations than there are stars in the sky.

This is EXACTLY what I would like to be able to figure out - if the *power-extend* wire is already a part of my Lariot 502A harness, then that would be a game changer...

 

[HammaMan]

This is EXACTLY what I would like to be able to figure out - if the *power-extend* wire is already a part of my Lariot 502A harness, then that would be a game changer...

Just pop the door panel off and take a look. Very easy to do.

 

[FirstFord]

BTW, I just now saw the parts diagram that you attached. It did not load until late. I now have a better idea of what's involved.

 

[FirstFord]

3rd party is more, ford is cheaper but more work. Replacing the entire door harness is more connections than you'd realize.
ML3Z-14631-H

BTW, I just now saw the parts diagram that you attached. It did not load until late. I now have a better idea of what's involved.

 

[Spiffers]

This is great information - thank you. Please be patient with me, I REALLY want to get this figured out. I am seriously considering making the tow mirror upgrade....

So, the aftermarket harness is more expensive, but more.... "complete"? Meaning, it is more of a ready, direct swap?

I’m of no help with what you need but I can tell you that tow mirrors will ruin you for regular mirrors. They came on my 23 Lariat and I don’t know how I ever drove anything without them. Once you get the blind spot mirrors set how you want them, nothing sneaks up beside you that you don’t see.

 

[FirstFord]

I’m of no help with what you need but I can tell you that tow mirrors will ruin you for regular mirrors. They came on my 23 Lariat and I don’t know how I ever drove anything without them. Once you get the blind spot mirrors set how you want them, nothing sneaks up beside you that you don’t see.

Haha - yeah, I believe it. I custom ordered my truck, and had tow mirrors on my list all along. But on the day I placed my order, I learned that at that particular time, the power-fold feature was not available on tow mirrors. Because of space restrictions, the power fold feature was important to me, so the "standard" mirror won out. Now I'm learning that I can (likely) retrofit my truck to the power fold / power extend tow mirrors, but for some reason my brain is a little laggy on this topic, and I am catching on slower than usual. I think I also suffer from a slight reluctance of tearing into my truck (even though it is a '22, it is still brand new to me!).

 

[FirstFord]

Just pop the door panel off and take a look. Very easy to do.

So you are saying that if I have the plug labeled C5020, then I'm good to go? No other harness modifications or jumper harnesses necessary?

 

[STL04]

Anyone know if there is a place to buy at a discount?

This kit is $1,600 after tax.

 

[24_TX_KR]

This is great information - thank you. Please be patient with me, I REALLY want to get this figured out. I am seriously considering making the tow mirror upgrade....

So, the aftermarket harness is more expensive, but more.... "complete"? Meaning, it is more of a ready, direct swap?

I am looking to do the same, did you ever get this figured out?

 

[FirstFord]

I am looking to do the same, did you ever get this figured out?

I was "hot to trot" to make this modification... VERY eager, and pursued it pretty hard. But my enthusiasm calmed down as I had a few realizations late in the game. That's not to say that I have made an absolute change of mind - I still might do it, but it is less likely now.

Everyone has a different thought process / philosophy when it comes to making modifications to their vehicles. As for me, it is important to me that any mods that I make look factory original - that it doesn't look like some kind of add-on. As I say, that's just me.

My 502A Lariat came equipped with side spot lights that are integrated into the mirrors, and there are buttons on the dash to turn them on / off.

The Tow Mirrors don't have the spot light feature. Are the spotlights that important? No. Do I use them regularly? No. Could I live without them? Yes. But I never came up with an answer as to what to do with the switches on the dash, how to repurpose them - especially noting that they are labeled with the spotlight icon. I don't want just some "dummy" switches there, that don't do anything. Is this a small detail? Absolutely - maybe even silly or petty. But, that's where I am.

 

[jetten]

Just an opinion....

I just install ML3Z-17696-DA on my 2024 Lariat 502a and will have the telescoping feature wired in the next week or 2. For me the loss of the spotlight was an afterthought. It would have been nice but not at the expense of better vision. For the past 25 years I have pulled an equipment trailer 20k to 30k miles annually in and out of Chicago traffic. Last year I began managing more and towing less so I stepped down to a F150 for comfort reasons, but still occasionally pull a trailer. I quickly found out that the makeup mirror in my wife's purse is better than the tiny car mirrors that came standard on my new truck.

For me it was about function and safty. Anyone considering the upgrade, I can tell you a car hauler or 7' wide deck over trailer in almost invisible when empty with sport mirrors and you can not see around 8.5' wide enclosed trailer.

 

[24_TX_KR]

I had tow mirrors on my 2020 F150 and they had the spot lights -- so is this a miss for just that part number for this 'swap' or just maybe a wiring issue from the harness? Wonder if the harness swap is completed then if those spotlights would work again???

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