Diode Dynamics C1R hitch light help

[Sporter421]

Would love some help from anyone else that has installed one of these diode dynamic C1R hitch lights. I came across a few posts on here that said they were installed with no issues, loved the idea, so I decided to order one. However my ST goes bonkers with trailer messages every time I hit the brakes.

Just curious from other ST owners that may have this installed if I am missing something, did something wrong or if this is something to return. It does appear to work correct and looks great but car just goes crazy with notifications. Trailer connected, disconnected, trailer light errors.

 

[23 Explorer ST]

Would love some help from anyone else that has installed one of these diode dynamic C1R hitch lights. I came across a few posts on here that said they were installed with no issues, loved the idea, so I decided to order one. However my ST goes bonkers with trailer messages every time I hit the brakes.

Just curious from other ST owners that may have this installed if I am missing something, did something wrong or if this is something to return. It does appear to work correct and looks great but car just goes crazy with notifications. Trailer connected, disconnected, trailer light errors.

I have one on my 23 ST and have no issues. Works perfect. Have you tried to contact DD about this? They may have sent you the wrong wiring harness.


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[Sporter421]

I have one on my 23 ST and have no issues. Works perfect. Have you tried to contact DD about this? They may have sent you the wrong wiring harness.


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I did not. I actually ordered from lethal performance so I could use PayPal and diode themselves were showing back order at the time. Little did I know it was gonna wait and ship from diode anyway. Prior I had messaged another forum member that I seen posted they had no problem, to ask which car he ordered for since they have ones labeled for different year F150 and Broncos but no Explorer. He sent me the model number he got and that’s what I searched for and ordered. Did you order one for a specific ford model?

I will reach out to them tomorrow and hopefully I just need a different harness even if it ends up costing me a little more in the end. It is weird, I had to go to dinner right after which is when I seen the issue but when I left dinner not a single notification on the way to the ice cream shop but then just got one or 2 sporadic notifications on the way home from there. It went from every brake press to none then random lol. I checked to make sure nothing was loose.

Figured I’d ask here to see if maybe I was supposed to do something else and wondered if they would just say it isn’t for the explorer just the F150 and Bronco or something. Could be a bad harness to I suppose, maybe. I will see what they say, thank you!!

 

[23 Explorer ST]

I did not. I actually ordered from lethal performance so I could use PayPal and diode themselves were showing back order at the time. Little did I know it was gonna wait and ship from diode anyway. Prior I had messaged another forum member that I seen posted they had no problem, to ask which car he ordered for since they have ones labeled for different year F150 and Broncos but no Explorer. He sent me the model number he got and that’s what I searched for and ordered. Did you order one for a specific ford model?

I will reach out to them tomorrow and hopefully I just need a different harness even if it ends up costing me a little more in the end. It is weird, I had to go to dinner right after which is when I seen the issue but when I left dinner not a single notification on the way to the ice cream shop but then just got one or 2 sporadic notifications on the way home from there. It went from every brake press to none then random lol. I checked to make sure nothing was loose.

Figured I’d ask here to see if maybe I was supposed to do something else and wondered if they would just say it isn’t for the explorer just the F150 and Bronco or something. Could be a bad harness to I suppose, maybe. I will see what they say, thank you!!

I actually had this light and harness on my 23 Dodge Durango which I traded for the Explorer. Put it on the Explorer and it has worked perfect.
I put one on my 24 F-150 Lariat that came off my 16 Ram 3500 Laramie and it threw all kinds of warnings and alarms.
I contacted DD recently and asked if they had a harness for the 2024 F-150’s and they stated they haven’t tested that year truck yet.


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[Jeppo]

I remember there were issues early on. I have the C1 and it works perfectly.

https://www.explorerst.org/threads/...our-explorer-st-today.889/page-138#post-98014

 

[Sporter421]

I remember there were issues early on. I have the C1 and it works perfectly.

https://www.explorerst.org/threads/...our-explorer-st-today.889/page-138#post-98014

Yeah that’s why I didn’t call them first and I’m still worried that’s all they are gonna say but maybe not. I mean I know different model Ford have different sync versions, modules and stuff but I would like to imagine there is enough similarity somewhere that one of the F150 or bronco versions would also work on the Explorer or even Edge for that matter. I’m no engineer or mechanic so what the hell do I know lol. But I have no idea why it’s ok on someone’s 23 and not my 21. Does my ST have a different package? Is the harness different? Are those with no issues using the C1 without the brake light feature(don’t think so as one member I messaged gave me this model). Am I supposed to use the extra wire that provides constant voltage(I believe that’s what it does)? Don’t know but was hoping to find out to see if I can fix it. Hopefully they have a solution but of course they are only open M-F so this will have to wait until Monday. If not I will try to return or simply resell at a loss if need be. Stuff happens, no biggie.

 

[DaHuntah]

Little did I know it was gonna wait and ship from diode anyway.

Leathal Performance is a drop-ship company. You order from them, pay them and then they order from the company that sells the product and have it shipped to you. I've ordered from them in the past when they showed something in stock only to find out it was back ordered from the company. I always try to support the little guy but that kind of pissed me off. We're not the only ones who have had this happen either!

 

[Jetiemann]

I dont even see it as an option on DiodeDynamics Site for the Explorer. Is this because of issues it causes?

Or because the explorer doesnt come with a 7 pin trailer connection, so it required modification to the harness. According to the site.

 

[23 Explorer ST]

I dont even see it as an option on DiodeDynamics Site for the Explorer. Is this because of issues it causes?

Or because the explorer doesnt come with a 7 pin trailer connection, so it required modification to the harness. According to the site.

My explorer came with a 7 pin connection. I used the wiring harness from my 23 Dodge Durango and I don’t have any issues at all with the light.


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[Sporter421]

I dont even see it as an option on DiodeDynamics Site for the Explorer. Is this because of issues it causes?

Or because the explorer doesnt come with a 7 pin trailer connection, so it required modification to the harness. According to the site.

I’m not really sure what the reason is if they simply haven’t tested them enough to sell it as compatible or simply cannot guarantee it. I mean there seams to be people here using it just fine with no issues. Just need to find out for me if it’s the actual same product, different or same harness or simply something faulty with my harness maybe I don’t know. I love the idea of it and it is nice, it works great other than these notifications and errors occasionally. I mean I just drove somewhere for 20 min with no issues then some sporadic notifications (only like 3) on the same 20 min trip home. It was plug and play for me no modification.

I’ll call them Monday and update what they say. Hopefully they recommend a different model harness or if I have the correct one already send a new one to try. At least it looks like I didn’t miss anything and just unlucky for now.

 

[DSGGEN2]

I have the C1R on my 23 and works great for reverse and braking with no issues. Initially I spoke to DD they said they couldn’t guarantee it working with the ST and didn’t recommend it. After talking to 23 explorerST and a couple others they confirmed it worked fine for them.

 

[Jetiemann]

My explorer came with a 7 pin connection. I used the wiring harness from my 23 Dodge Durango and I don’t have any issues at all with the light.


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Oh okay. Honestly never paid attention. Assumed it was a 4 pin.

 

[Sporter421]

Just got off the phone with them. Unfortunately they cannot guarantee anything for the explorer simply because they have not had any in for testing. He felt I would only need to use the addition t tap wire to eliminate my issue but I didn’t wanna go through that trouble to find out it didn’t work plus my box was missing the actual t tap so I’d have to run and get one. Decided to order a special order cord harness they offer. The harness is essentially the same harness but instead using the t tap it has 4 different plug in inline options but would still require removing both taillights, seeing which of the 4 are the same plug as ours, hook up one inline on one taillight, run the rest down underneath and over to do the same on the other taillight then plug into the same 7 pin harness that came with. He said if it doesn’t work I can always return no problem.

I even admitted I jumped the gun and cut the tabs off my sleeve for my lock pin before testing anything so I’m not sure I can return the light. He is sending me out a replacement sleeve no cost in case I wanna return everything. I don’t know lethal performance return policy but if I cannot return for any reason diode will take it back and give me store credit for it worst case. Very cool of them.

I did ask if it is possible my harness is faulty and he said sure. So game plan is to start with the standard harness in the new one being sent. If that works I can return the faulty one with the additional pieces from the new one for a full refund. That would be best case, if not then I can try the additional pieces or t tap wire or give up and return it all before I run out of the time to do that.

 

[23 Explorer ST]

Just got off the phone with them. Unfortunately they cannot guarantee anything for the explorer simply because they have not had any in for testing. He felt I would only need to use the addition t tap wire to eliminate my issue but I didn’t wanna go through that trouble to find out it didn’t work plus my box was missing the actual t tap so I’d have to run and get one. Decided to order a special order cord harness they offer. The harness is essentially the same harness but instead using the t tap it has 4 different plug in inline options but would still require removing both taillights, seeing which of the 4 are the same plug as ours, hook up one inline on one taillight, run the rest down underneath and over to do the same on the other taillight then plug into the same 7 pin harness that came with. He said if it doesn’t work I can always return no problem.

I even admitted I jumped the gun and cut the tabs off my sleeve for my lock pin before testing anything so I’m not sure I can return the light. He is sending me out a replacement sleeve no cost in case I wanna return everything. I don’t know lethal performance return policy but if I cannot return for any reason diode will take it back and give me store credit for it worst case. Very cool of them.

I did ask if it is possible my harness is faulty and he said sure. So game plan is to start with the standard harness in the new one being sent. If that works I can return the faulty one with the additional pieces from the new one for a full refund. That would be best case, if not then I can try the additional pieces or t tap wire or give up and return it all before I run out of the time to do that.

Glad DD is helping you out. Be careful using T-taps, they will cause all sorts of issues after a while with water corrosion.


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[Sporter421]

Glad DD is helping you out. Be careful using T-taps, they will cause all sorts of issues after a while with water corrosion.


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That is exactly why I ordered this harness. It goes inline just like the main harness but to the taillights. Still have to run the wires though which may be a bigger pain than I will want to deal with especially since it has to go to both but definitely won’t be using the t tap. I’m really hoping the harness was faulty and swapping that will be all that’s needed if not I will see how easy or hard running those wires appears to be.

This is the video for that particular harness install. Hoping I don’t need that. Would have to get the taillights off and rig it up to make sure that’s a solution before running anything. Don’t remember what it looks like behind the taillight when I did the led bulb swap as far and running the harness down.

 

[23 Explorer ST]

That is exactly why I ordered this harness. It goes inline just like the main harness but to the taillights. Still have to run the wires though which may be a bigger pain than I will want to deal with especially since it has to go to both but definitely won’t be using the t tap. I’m really hoping the harness was faulty and swapping that will be all that’s needed if not I will see how easy or hard running those wires appears to be.

This is the video for that particular harness install. Hoping I don’t need that. Would have to get the taillights off and rig it up to make sure that’s a solution before running anything. Don’t remember what it looks like behind the taillight when I did the led bulb swap as far and running the harness down.

Man I sure hope this works for you. It’s definitely an added safety feature when braking.


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[Sporter421]

So finally got the harness yesterday and swapped out the main harness today. No errors but also no brake response. So I been using it this whole time cause I could go a day or 2 with no issue. Some of the problems I had, The light would strobe with the blinkers (noticed in the reflection of the truck behind me). Also strobed both when locking and unlocking the car. Then of course the slew of error messages. New harness light simply turns on when I unlock the car and turns off when locking(so turns on and off with the running lights. No strobing with the blinkers and no error messages but no high power red light. Now I don’t know if this is simply because it is not getting the 12v through trailer management system with the new harness for some reason or what. They want me to try the other cables to get the signal from the taillights or use the t tap. I am not sure what the proper behavior of the light is. None of it makes sense to me and for all I know if something is loose and I do get the brake light to work I may get all the errors again. Ugh

I just need another day to take the tail lights off and test it out and make sure one of these additional harnesses will work too. Gonna suck in this cold weather.

 

[23 Explorer ST]

So finally got the harness yesterday and swapped out the main harness today. No errors but also no brake response. So I been using it this whole time cause I could go a day or 2 with no issue. Some of the problems I had, The light would strobe with the blinkers (noticed in the reflection of the truck behind me). Also strobed both when locking and unlocking the car. Then of course the slew of error messages. New harness light simply turns on when I unlock the car and turns off when locking(so turns on and off with the running lights. No strobing with the blinkers and no error messages but no high power red light. Now I don’t know if this is simply because it is not getting the 12v through trailer management system with the new harness for some reason or what. They want me to try the other cables to get the signal from the taillights or use the t tap. I am not sure what the proper behavior of the light is. None of it makes sense to me and for all I know if something is loose and I do get the brake light to work I may get all the errors again. Ugh

I just need another day to take the tail lights off and test it out and make sure one of these additional harnesses will work too. Gonna suck in this cold weather.

My C1R light comes on with the parking/headlights and does a 1 second strobe and turns bright when applying the brakes.

If you step on the brake again in less than 10 seconds the light will not strobe but will be solid.

Does your reverse light come on?

The light shouldn’t strobe or even come on when using the turn signals.
It does go on and off when locking/unlocking.


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[Sporter421]

My C1R light comes on with the parking/headlights and does a 1 second strobe and turns bright when applying the brakes.

If you step on the brake again in less than 10 seconds the light will not strobe but will be solid.

Does your reverse light come on?

The light shouldn’t strobe or even come on when using the turn signals.
It does go on and off when locking/unlocking.


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Ok so original behavior with the error codes was it would blink then stay on when unlock but also blink before turning off when locking the car as well. I don’t know if that was normal or not with the blinking or strobing part. I only tested the brake and reverse initially which worked as intended but is when the wife pointed out all the chiming and error messages. I only noticed the blinking while stopped in the reflection of the chrome bumper of a truck behind me sitting at a light with my blinker on. One of the errors other than the trailer connect and disconnect were trailer turn signal malfunctions which would also make my blinkers hyper flash.

Since changing it the harness I don’t get the strobing during lock and unlock but I also don’t get it at all since I get no high power red since it doesn’t respond to the brake. So I now need to hook up the t tap wire instead and was told to somehow touch the other end to a power source(most likely my wife’s edge battery) to make sure this harness is even passing the power to the light before I bother messing with the taillights at all. If not I will have 2 choices, yet another harness or trying the original harness with additional taillight harness assuming one of those are even compatible which is still an unknown since they are intended for the F150. Even Diode doesn’t know but assumed one of the 4 would hopefully also be the same as what ford uses for the Explorer.

Yes my reverse light works perfect it just doesn’t seam to currently be getting the signal for the high power red.

 

[23 Explorer ST]

Ok so original behavior with the error codes was it would blink then stay on when unlock but also blink before turning off when locking the car as well. I don’t know if that was normal or not with the blinking or strobing part. I only tested the brake and reverse initially which worked as intended but is when the wife pointed out all the chiming and error messages. I only noticed the blinking while stopped in the reflection of the chrome bumper of a truck behind me sitting at a light with my blinker on. One of the errors other than the trailer connect and disconnect were trailer turn signal malfunctions which would also make my blinkers hyper flash.

Since changing it the harness I don’t get the strobing during lock and unlock but I also don’t get it at all since I get no high power red since it doesn’t respond to the brake. So I now need to hook up the t tap wire instead and was told to somehow touch the other end to a power source(most likely my wife’s edge battery) to make sure this harness is even passing the power to the light before I bother messing with the taillights at all. If not I will have 2 choices, yet another harness or trying the original harness with additional taillight harness assuming one of those are even compatible which is still an unknown since they are intended for the F150. Even Diode doesn’t know but assumed one of the 4 would hopefully also be the same as what ford uses for the Explorer.

Yes my reverse light works perfect it just doesn’t seam to currently be getting the signal for the high power red.

Do you have the 360 view backup camera?
If so, that could be the cause of your issue but I’m not a Diode Dynamics expert. lol

Like I’ve stated before, the light and harness came off my 2023 Dodge Durango R/T and it has worked perfectly on my 2023 ST.

I don’t have the 360 view backup camera.
If you don’t have the 360, maybe you should have them send you a harness for a 2023 Dodge Durango?

Wouldn’t hurt to try since the two they sent you for a Ford aren’t working.


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