How-To: Adding Hands Free Liftgate Late '22 and '23 explorer.

[Nightshade]

Giving an update! Huge thanks to @JCR ST, I finally got it working!

For those with a 2023 or 2024 Ford Explorer ST, go under the exhaust exit on the passenger side. Look behind the bumper cover and you will see the module there with 3 connectors connected into it; also look right beside it, you'll see a tube like part which is the tube sensors for the hands-free liftgate. If the parts are already there then you only need the module to swap it out and FORScan changes! The confirmed and verified part number for that module is: JX7Z*14B291*E. I ordered it through my local dealer here in Canada and only ran me just under $80 new.

Install that part and do the FORScan changes that @i8iridium mentioned in his first thread on page one and you're set! As for the BCM -> 726-55-02, he is correct; you'll need to choose either 04 or 05. For my fiancee's 2023 ST, the change was 05. For my 2024 ST, the change was 05. Once all that is done, disconnect FORScan out and get outside. Lock your ST and go to the back; kick motion in the middle and swipe your leg left or right! You'll see it open.


Note: That one screw (Torx - T20) is such a pain to get to and get off (holding the module in), but it's doable!

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

Yesterday I looked under my 23 and the dummy module box was there along with the sensors, so today I ordered the new module from tasca, it was 60 bucks and change. Cost me 78 with tax and shipping. This is the biggest thing I miss from my 21 as I used it all the time.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

The new module came in today, it is much smaller than I expected.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

Well I plugged it in and did the forscan changes and nada. I tried using 05 since everyone who has a 23 said 05 works, well it didn't on mine. I'll try using 04 when I go back in. Since I'm tuned, I had to put it back to stock so forscan could read my vehicle, do the changes, then reload my tune. It's kinda a pain in the ass in 95 degree weather with the sun beating down on you.

 

[bhunted1]

Try reboot the bcm?


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[Nightshade]

Well I plugged it in and did the forscan changes and nada. I tried using 05 since everyone who has a 23 said 05 works, well it didn't on mine. I'll try using 04 when I go back in. Since I'm tuned, I had to put it back to stock so forscan could read my vehicle, do the changes, then reload my tune. It's kinda a pain in the ass in 95 degree weather with the sun beating down on you.

I would double check the FORScan changes in the first post to double check if there’s any errors which do happen. Once that’s ruled out, I’d recommend maybe changing to 04, see if that helps? You can also do the “BdyCM Local Interconnect Network New Module Calibration" under the wrench in FORScan. I did this to mine seeing it’s a new brand new module instead of a used one and it doesn’t hurt anything. Takes about 10-15 seconds pretty much.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

I tried switching to 04, nada, tried calibrating the module and nada, switched back to 05, nada. I even crawled under to make sure there were no loose connections and everything was good. I even went into the IPC module to turn on the handsfree and its not there WTF? any ideas?

I'm ready to steal the module out of my wife's edge and swap it in case I got a bad module. She has a 24 edge ST and the hands free is disabled on it too, but it has the module and she don't want it anyway.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

Well today I played around again and found the hands free in the IPC module, enabled it and it still doesn't work. Does anyone know which fuse feeds power to this module? If that's not it, then I guess I got a bad module right out of the box.

 

[ZubrSV]

Good day. I'm sorry, but why change the factory module that is installed by the factory? I have module and antennas. The power lift gate is activated in Sync, but the function does not work, was the unit damaged by an impact during an accident or do I need to change something in Forscan? A little confused.

Giving an update! Huge thanks to @JCR ST, I finally got it working!

For those with a 2023 or 2024 Ford Explorer ST, go under the exhaust exit on the passenger side. Look behind the bumper cover and you will see the module there with 3 connectors connected into it; also look right beside it, you'll see a tube like part which is the tube sensors for the hands-free liftgate. If the parts are already there then you only need the module to swap it out and FORScan changes! The confirmed and verified part number for that module is: JX7Z*14B291*E. I ordered it through my local dealer here in Canada and only ran me just under $80 new.

Install that part and do the FORScan changes that @i8iridium mentioned in his first thread on page one and you're set! As for the BCM -> 726-55-02, he is correct; you'll need to choose either 04 or 05. For my fiancee's 2023 ST, the change was 05. For my 2024 ST, the change was 05. Once all that is done, disconnect FORScan out and get outside. Lock your ST and go to the back; kick motion in the middle and swipe your leg left or right! You'll see it open.


Note: That one screw (Torx - T20) is such a pain to get to and get off (holding the module in), but it's doable!

 

[JCR ST]

Good day. I'm sorry, but why change the factory module that is installed by the factory? I have module and antennas. The power lift gate is activated in Sync, but the function does not work, was the unit damaged by an impact during an accident or do I need to change something in Forscan? A little confused.

if it has never worked you may have just a dummy module. And then Forscan adjustments.

 

[Zildar2]

Well today I played around again and found the hands free in the IPC module, enabled it and it still doesn't work. Does anyone know which fuse feeds power to this module? If that's not it, then I guess I got a bad module right out of the box.

Did you ever get yours working? I'm having the same issue with the forscan changes not working.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

No, I eventually gave up.

 

[digitaltrucker]

Just got the module to do this on my sons 23 limited. Have a question: I saw this entry on the MachE Forum - 7D0-09-03 XXXX X8XX XXXX. Apparently this adds an "on/off" function on the center screen.

Anyone do this, did it work? Anyone willing to try it? Here is where I saw it: MachE Forum Handsfree

 

[Nightshade]

No, I eventually gave up.

Shoot me a PM, let’s see if we can troubleshoot and work this out.

 

[Bocker]

Many thanks to @i8iridium!

Worked like a charm! Needed to do the new module calibration and I drilled a hole in the lower part of the bumper to get at that damn T20 screw holding the module in place.
Pictures of the hole I drilled. Much easier install, can’t see it unless under the car. Might 3D print a black TPU plug but I’m fine with it.

 

[digitaltrucker]

I wasn't sure if this was the best spot for the thread, but here it is. I know it's not everyone's preference to add it, and a lot of folks hate it. It's cool, we get it. Let's keep that chatter out of here.

It took a bit of work getting between the bumper cover, but I ended up swapping the module by just removing one of the rivets and shoving a short piece of 2x4 to create a gap. There was barely enough space to get my hand in there. The workshop manual details removing the entire rear bumper cover, but I wasn't doing that. You can see what I'm talking about if you look under the back passenger side corner of the bumper. Pics will be below. I swapped out the "dummy" module with the one i got from ebay and.

The part number I got was from a 2021 Explorer off eBay. Jx7t14f679aa You can look on Tasca and some of the other parts sites, but they're all on back order, so eBay is probably your best bet. The module from Expeditions, Edges, and Escapes should work, but you're on your own for testing them.

The mods I had to make in forscan are below. I had to edit the as-built code, as there is no easy config for this. This won't be a lesson on Forscan. There's a billion resources out there to learn how to use this tool, and I suggest you be familiar with it before changing values.

Back up your stock config!

BodyCM: Note: Don't change values with an "x". The values with "--" are checksums that Forscan will fix for you.
726-36-01 x1xx xxxx xx--
726-55-02 xx04 xxxx xx-- <-- This might be a trial and error. I found some early '22 explorers with a 05. That didn't work on mine and I used 04 based on a '21 explorer.
726-59-02 xxxx xxx2 xx--
726-65-02 xxxx xxxx x1--
726-82-01 x1x1 x1x1 x1--
Write each change after modification using the button next to it.

Note: If your explorer came with hands free and you want to disable it, change the values above to 0. Remember, don't touch the "x".

IPC:
Easy Config, search for hands, and you'll see handsfree pop up. Change to enable. This optional, since it worked with it disabled. I wanted to keep it consistent.
View attachment 17098

Finally, you might have to run the "BdyCM Local Interconnect Network New Module Calibration" under the wrench in forscan. I did not. It won't hurt to do it anyway. Since it's a new module on the LIN Bus, the Body Control Module needs to learn that it exists.

View attachment 17099

View attachment 17096
Don't order this module, it's the DUMMY LOL
View attachment 17097

Did you by chance try changing: 7D0-09-03 XXXX X8XX XXXX to get the Power liftgate option on the center screen? The Mach E guy said this worked for them?

 

[digitaltrucker]

Completed this on my son's 23 Limited today April 2, 2025. All went well. Used the "04" as stated.

Question: Does this or should this now show up as a toggle option under setting/vehicle?

THANKS