In my quest for installing a switch inside the cabin as seamless or stealthy as possible, I came across the obvious first choice: the blank, non-pushable button/cap next to the ESC OFF button ('14 ST3). The first road block was, well, you can't push the darn thing so is it even a button? Previous posts on here suggest that it is indeed a part of a "module" of some sort paired with the ESC OFF switch and on other models of Foci it functions as a park assist switch. No problem. Warning: there is a bit of sanding/dremeling and soldering/wire splicing involved and wiring things up to the car's battery. Be careful. I am not responsible for you blowing up you car, injuring yourself or anyone else. Anyway, start ripping out the instrument panel...
![]()
Remove the plastic trim around the shifter then the trim to the left of that to expose the screw holding the left side of the lower panel. Under the volume knob there might be a bit of plastic to remove that covers the two screws holding the upper panel in place. I was lucky enough not to have this inconvenient cover installed when I purchased this car new... If you have it, pull it out, remove the screws and pull the panel out enough to reach in and unclip the two wiring harnesses attached to the back.
![]()
![]()
![]()
With that top part out of the way, remove the two screws holding the top of the lower panel. Don't forget the screw on the left circled in the first picture!! Once all THREE screws are out, give it a yank then unplug the four wiring harnesses plugged into the back.
![]()
![]()
With the lower panel free, locate the button cluster you want to modify, push in the two tabs on either side and push the button module through the front of the panel to remove it.
Now that you have the switch free, break out a skinny file or a dremel with a small reamer bit and file down the three stoppers molded into the button. They're super small but super effective so take your time and try not to mangle the switch beyond repair. The stops can be found here:
![]()
here:
![]()
and here:
![]()
At this point you should be repeatedly pushing the previously unpushable button jumping up and down giggling like a little kid (I was at least). But it's not over yet! Conveniently, Ford decided to put exactly as many wires into the wiring harness as there are pins on the functional side of this switch but the rest of the circuit board is intact and just waiting to be pinned! Pop that sucker out of the plastic housing. Again I can't stress this enough, please be careful with this plastic stuff. A very skinny flathead or a small knife should get the back removed from the button module/cluster and allowing you access to the circuit board (I didn't get pictures of this part, I'll have to get some later when I do my final install). I added a small length of solid copper hookup wire to each of the three open holes in the board but later on found the only one necessary for this button to function as a momentary switch is pin #10. So if that is what you're after, solder a pin to that spot and close the switch back up and it should look like this:
![]()
Now you have a button that is pressable, and if you wire something up to pin's 10 & 12, you have a functioning momentary switch. In my case, I'm still in the process of installing an LED light bar and this will be my on/off button. Here's proof of it working:
I'm using this: https://www.pololu.com/product/2812 to make the momentary switch function as a latching on/off switch for activating a relay. That's all I've got for now. Good luck!
Remove the plastic trim around the shifter then the trim to the left of that to expose the screw holding the left side of the lower panel. Under the volume knob there might be a bit of plastic to remove that covers the two screws holding the upper panel in place. I was lucky enough not to have this inconvenient cover installed when I purchased this car new... If you have it, pull it out, remove the screws and pull the panel out enough to reach in and unclip the two wiring harnesses attached to the back.
With that top part out of the way, remove the two screws holding the top of the lower panel. Don't forget the screw on the left circled in the first picture!! Once all THREE screws are out, give it a yank then unplug the four wiring harnesses plugged into the back.
With the lower panel free, locate the button cluster you want to modify, push in the two tabs on either side and push the button module through the front of the panel to remove it.
Now that you have the switch free, break out a skinny file or a dremel with a small reamer bit and file down the three stoppers molded into the button. They're super small but super effective so take your time and try not to mangle the switch beyond repair. The stops can be found here:
here:
and here:
At this point you should be repeatedly pushing the previously unpushable button jumping up and down giggling like a little kid (I was at least). But it's not over yet! Conveniently, Ford decided to put exactly as many wires into the wiring harness as there are pins on the functional side of this switch but the rest of the circuit board is intact and just waiting to be pinned! Pop that sucker out of the plastic housing. Again I can't stress this enough, please be careful with this plastic stuff. A very skinny flathead or a small knife should get the back removed from the button module/cluster and allowing you access to the circuit board (I didn't get pictures of this part, I'll have to get some later when I do my final install). I added a small length of solid copper hookup wire to each of the three open holes in the board but later on found the only one necessary for this button to function as a momentary switch is pin #10. So if that is what you're after, solder a pin to that spot and close the switch back up and it should look like this:
Now you have a button that is pressable, and if you wire something up to pin's 10 & 12, you have a functioning momentary switch. In my case, I'm still in the process of installing an LED light bar and this will be my on/off button. Here's proof of it working:
I'm using this: https://www.pololu.com/product/2812 to make the momentary switch function as a latching on/off switch for activating a relay. That's all I've got for now. Good luck!
