Cup holder light installation / media bin light / glove box light / ambient lighting change

[TheDudeee]

Huuuuggggge shout out to @JHForman812 for helping me on this mod. Very helpful and very easy to put the lightings together.

Additional, I added the media bin sliding door with new bin that have the cutout for the light.

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[Rineland]

I ran into an issue recently where the tabs that secure a cup in the cup holder broke off and fell down inside the console. It’s not likely to happen if you’re just sliding a regular can, cup, or bottle in there. However, if you have a Yeti or Owala water bottle and also happen to have a rubber boot on the bottom to protect it, that rubber is a bit too much friction and stresses the hinge point on those tabs causing them to fail. Normally, since I’m still within the 3/36k warranty, I’d submit it to my dealer. Having done this mod though, that wasn’t an option seeing as they’d replace the cup holder assembly with the style that the truck was built with. I didn’t really want to buy another lighted cup holder assembly either. So, I decided to fix it, and while fixing it I took some pictures hoping it might help somebody else out if they find themselves in a similar situation.

Here you can see the missing tab.

Drill a small hole near the bottom of the broken off tab.

Drill another hole in the tab on the cup holder where the tab broke off. Then, reinstall the tab into the rubber band and thread a zip tie through the drilled holes in the tab and the cup holder. Tighten and trim the end. It should now work about as good as new and shouldn’t be as prone to fatigue failure.

 

[JHForman812]

I ran into an issue recently where the tabs that secure a cup in the cup holder broke off and fell down inside the console. It’s not likely to happen if you’re just sliding a regular can, cup, or bottle in there. However, if you have a Yeti or Owala water bottle and also happen to have a rubber boot on the bottom to protect it, that rubber is a bit too much friction and stresses the hinge point on those tabs causing them to fail. Normally, since I’m still within the 3/36k warranty, I’d submit it to my dealer. Having done this mod though, that wasn’t an option seeing as they’d replace the cup holder assembly with the style that the truck was built with. I didn’t really want to buy another lighted cup holder assembly either. So, I decided to fix it, and while fixing it I took some pictures hoping it might help somebody else out if they find themselves in a similar situation.

Here you can see the missing tab.

Drill a small hole near the bottom of the broken off tab.

Drill another hole in the tab on the cup holder where the tab broke off. Then, reinstall the tab into the rubber band and thread a zip tie through the drilled holes in the tab and the cup holder. Tighten and trim the end. It should now work about as good as new and shouldn’t be as prone to fatigue failure.

Those giant yetis people love so much are probably the reason the super duty cup holder is larger than the f150 currently lol

 

[rmaginnis]

@JHForman812 sent you a DM.

-Rick

 

[Jmwillets]

Has anyone been lucky to find a place local to them that has the rings and media box light available? I thought I had gotten them both and then suddenly today I get a notification that my order was cancelled. Anyone with a lead that might be able to pick them up and send them my way, for a price of course, would be awesome. Or even a link to somewhere that might be holding onto a few.

P/N's for good measure.
ML3Z-14A318-C
HC3Z-14A318-C

What is the difference between the P/N listed above and ML3Z-14A318-CA? I cant find a pic for comparison nor description. Both are generic.

 

[obrien455]

What is the difference between the P/N listed above and ML3Z-14A318-CA? I cant find a pic for comparison nor description. Both are generic.

CA is a whole wiring harness (not sure where or for what) the two that end with C are for media box light, and the one that starts with HC3Z is for rings that go into a lighted cupholder(no lights, just the clear rings).

 

[Jmwillets]

I see...Thank you for answering that question. I have a 2025 STX (201A) That I want to add ambient lighting, ergo why am reading this thread that is 105 pages...lol. Any chance you could answer this question for me...Is it doable to retrofit this option to my platform? I know I have no existing harnesses for this and will require forscan to enable.

 

[obrien455]

I see...Thank you for answering that question. I have a 2025 STX (201A) That I want to add ambient lighting, ergo why am reading this thread that is 105 pages...lol. Any chance you could answer this question for me...Is it doable to retrofit this option to my platform? I know I have no existing harnesses for this and will require forscan to enable.

Yeah I wouldnt be able to help you there, but there are lots of guys on here that are WAY more knowledgable than myself. @JHForman812 would probably know, he's kinda the resident wizard around here but I believe he works graveyards so might be a minute before he could chime in.

 

[Jmwillets]

Thank you for the response and honest answer. I will wait and see if anyone else jumps in that can answer this question.

 

[Texas2022XLT]

Thank you for the response and honest answer. I will wait and see if anyone else jumps in that can answer this question.

I’d message @JHForman812 directly but I’d bet he could make the harness needed.

 

[Jmwillets]

He and I spoke. Since I have an overpriced base model that still uses a key in 2025, the BCM lacks the logic to support ambient lighting. I have a fiberoptic solution using the OEM cup holder, Footwells, cubby, center console. I am now trying to see if a second fiber optic system could support the four doors and under the rear seat.

Sucks I cant use my SYNC to control, but its fully adjustable using an app on my phone.

 

[obrien455]

He and I spoke. Since I have an overpriced base model that still uses a key in 2025, the BCM lacks the logic to support ambient lighting. I have a fiberoptic solution using the OEM cup holder, Footwells, cubby, center console. I am now trying to see if a second fiber optic system could support the four doors and under the rear seat.

Sucks I cant use my SYNC to control, but its fully adjustable using an app on my phone.

Yeah thats crazy that the STX doesnt come with push start and ambient lighting! Seems like ford is quietly going backwards in features ever since the chip shortage.

 

[JHForman812]

Yeah thats crazy that the STX doesnt come with push start and ambient lighting! Seems like ford is quietly going backwards in features ever since the chip shortage.

wait till you find out that not all lariats have ambient lighting now? theres 2 packages, one lariat has it the other doesnt.

 

[TheDudeee]

wait till you find out that not all lariats have ambient lighting now? theres 2 packages, one lariat has it the other doesnt.

Just wait until 2026 models with more recalls.

 

[JHForman812]

Just wait until 2026 models with more recalls.

coming soon to a ford dealer near you !

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