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Which wires give constant, ignition and ground on a 2013 Ford Explorer?
On a 2013 Ford Explorer, take constant power from the Green/Red wire at the ignition switch, black 7-pin plug, pin 4, ignition from the White/Orange wire at the ignition switch, black 7-pin plug, pin 1, and ground to clean, bare body metal. Meter every wire first.
Written by API Signal, fleet GPS and camera installers for 35+ years across Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, installing every major telematics and camera brand. Every wire on this page lists its source.
Test every wire with a meter before you tap it
No wiring information is ever guaranteed. Colors and locations change with trim, options and build date, and the manufacturer can change them in the middle of a model year. We share this as a starting point for installers, and you are responsible for confirming every connection on the truck in front of you.
This page covers the 2013 Ford Explorer, the civilian SUV. The police version has its own pages.
This Explorer came with a key or push-button start, depending on trim. The colors come from installer guides that cover 2011 to 2015 as one set. Our own team has not yet metered these on a 2013 truck, and each row says so.
OBD-II portUnder the driver dash
Best power spotIgnition switch or BCM
System voltage12V
Ignition typeKey or push-button
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Where do I get constant, ignition and ground on a 2013 Ford Explorer?
Take constant, ignition and ground from the same area.
Option 1 Key start
Ignition switch (key start)
Steering column, black 7-pin plug.
Constant
Green/Red
Ignition switch, black 7-pin plug, pin 4Always hot. Key-start trucks. Only the Directed guide lists this wire; one installer used the Yellow/Orange trailer pre-wire (fused 25A) instead.
Ignition
White/Orange
Ignition switch, black 7-pin plug, pin 1Hot in run. Four installer sources agree.
Ground
Body ground
Body metal under the dashClean, bare metal only. Never the battery negative post.
Accessory
Purple/Green
Ignition switch, black 7-pin plug, pin 6Hot in accessory and run. Four sources agree.
The starter is Blue/White on pin 7 and key sense is Blue/Gray on pin 5. Never tap the starter.
Option 2 Push-button
BCM (push start)
The BCM is part of the dash fuse box, under the driver dash, left of the brake pedal.
Constant
Red
BCM plug C2280D (black 32-pin), pin 6, lower driver dashAlways hot. Push-start trucks. From the Directed smart key guide.
Ignition
Purple/Orange
BCM gray 10-pin plug, pin 10Ignition sense only. From a 2011 to 2012 chart; meter it on later years.
Ground
Body ground
Body metal under the dashClean, bare metal only. Never the battery negative post.
The push button signal is on BCM plug C2280B, pin 41 (Brown/Purple or Blue/White). Never tap it.
Key-start colors from two 2011 to 2015 Explorer wire sheets on the12volt and Directed's install guides for 2011 to 2015 Explorers, which agree. Push-start colors from the Directed smart key guide. Check which ignition your truck has.
What are the turn signal, reverse and light wires on a 2013 Ford Explorer?
Circuit
Wire color
Location and what it does
Left turnNot foundNot yet checked
Not found
Not foundWe found no source for this wire.
Right turnNot foundNot yet checked
Not found
Not foundWe found no source for this wire.
Park lightPositive +Not yet checked
Yellow/Blue
Yellow/Green (other tap)
BCM gray 10-pin plug, pin 6; or BCM plug C2280D, pin 18Park lamps on. Three sources give Yellow/Blue at the gray 10-pin; the smart key guide and a Ford mechanic give Yellow/Green at C2280D.
HeadlightNot foundNot yet checked
Not found
Not foundWe found no source for this wire.
ReverseNot foundNot yet checked
Not found
Not foundWe found no source for this wire.
Dome lightPositive +Not yet checked
Gray/Purple
BCM gray 12-pin plug, pin 1Dome light supervision. One sheet also uses it as a door trigger.
Each chip shows the main insulation color with its stripe. Source: two 2011 to 2015 Explorer wire sheets on the12volt and Directed's install guides for 2011 to 2015 Explorers.
Where are the brake, door, speed and CAN wires on a 2013 Ford Explorer?
Circuit
Wire color
Location and what it does
BrakePositive +Not yet checked
Blue/Orange
Purple/White (other tap)
Trailer brake pre-wire, gray 6-pin plug under the driver dash, pin 2; or BCM plug C2280B, pin 28Hot with the pedal pressed. Three sources agree on Blue/Orange; the smart key guide gives Purple/White at the BCM.
DoorsPolarity: meter itNot yet checked
Green/Purple (driver)
BCM plug C2280C (black 26-pin), pin 9Driver door. Sources disagree on polarity, so meter it.
LiftgateNegative -Not yet checked
Brown (release)
Gray/Yellow (power liftgate)
BCM black 26-pin plug (C), pin 23; power liftgate switch, black 8-pin, pin 7Liftgate release output and power liftgate switch. No liftgate-open wire found.
Lock / unlockNegative -Not yet checked
Blue/Green (lock)
Yellow/Purple (unlock)
BCM black 26-pin plug (C), pins 6 and 8Lock and unlock inputs.
Parking brakeNot foundNot yet checked
Not found
Not foundWe found no source for this wire.
HazardNot foundNot yet checked
Not found
Not foundWe found no source for this wire.
Vehicle speedNot foundNot yet checked
Not found
Not foundWe found no source for this wire.
CAN busDataNot yet checked
White/Blue (HS high)
White (HS low)
Gray/Orange (MS high)
Purple/Orange (MS low)
OBD port: pins 6 and 14 (high speed), pins 3 and 11 (medium speed)From the Directed guides. Never cut or splice them.
Sources: two 2011 to 2015 Explorer wire sheets on the12volt, Directed's install guides for 2011 to 2015 Explorers, a 2011 to 2012 alarm chart and Ford's 2011 to 2015 remote start install sheet. Turns, headlight, reverse, parking brake and speed were not found.
Which years share wiring with the 2013 Ford Explorer?
This page2013Installer guides for 2011 to 2015.
Same wiring2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015Every installer guide we found covers 2011 to 2015 Explorers as one set.
Not this page2016 to 2019The refresh changed the plugs and pins. Do not carry these colors across.
Where are the fuse boxes and ground points on a 2013 Ford Explorer?
InteriorDash fuse box with the BCMUnder the driver dash, left of the brake pedal. Fuse 49 is the delayed accessory relay.
Under the hoodPower distribution boxIn the engine compartment.
Ground pointsClean body metalUse clean, bare body metal, never the battery negative post.
Fuse numbers from a transcription of Ford's owner's manual and owner posts. Our team has not yet checked them on a truck.
Where is the OBD-II port on a 2013 Ford Explorer?
OBD II
Diagnostic portOBD-II port: under the driver dashPlug-in GPS trackers and OBD harnesses connect here. Check the port before you plan the install.
Common questions about 2013 Ford Explorer wiring
What wire is constant power on a 2013 Ford Explorer?
Green/Red at the ignition switch, black 7-pin plug, pin 4. Always hot. Meter it before you tap it.
What wire is ignition on a 2013 Ford Explorer?
White/Orange at the ignition switch, black 7-pin plug, pin 1. Hot in run. Meter it before you tap it.
Where is the brake wire on a 2013 Ford Explorer?
Blue/Orange and Purple/White (other tap) (positive +) at the trailer brake pre-wire, gray 6-pin plug under the driver dash, pin 2; or BCM plug C2280B, pin 28. Hot with the pedal pressed. Meter it before you tap it.
Where is the CAN bus on a 2013 Ford Explorer?
White/Blue (HS high) and White (HS low) and Gray/Orange (MS high) and Purple/Orange (MS low) at the OBD port: pins 6 and 14 (high speed), pins 3 and 11 (medium speed). From the Directed guides.
Which years share wiring with the 2013 Ford Explorer?
2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. Every installer guide we found covers 2011 to 2015 Explorers as one set.
Help build this page
Had the panels off on one of these? Show the next installer what you found.
No one has sent photos for the 2013 Ford Explorer yet, so yours could be the first. Every photo, wire color and tip we use goes on this page with your name on it, and it saves the next installer time under the dash.
1. Snap it
The plugs, tap points, fuse boxes and ground points. Phone photos are fine.
2. Send it
Tap "Add yours" at the top of this page. Your tip and your photos go in the same box.
3. See your name on it
We check every tip, then post it here "Compliments of" you, by name.
Compliments of
The installers who helped build this page.
★
Founding contributor spot: openThe first installer to confirm a wire or send photos for the 2013 Ford Explorer gets their name here, and it stays here.
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