Anyone with advise installing a trailer brake controller? Biggest problem is the brake switch and seven pin wire connections. I don't have any diagrams and actually haven't even looked under the dash yet.
Trailer Brake Controllers & install tips
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plstrns
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It sounds like you have done everything correctly with the exception of connecting the initiator circuit from the brake light switch. Unless the controller gets its signal to brake from an add on pedal or an inertial switch internally it has to get the signal from the brake light switch. One of the wires coming out of the switch, which is usually located above the pedal at the pivot point is most definitely needed to send a signal to the controller. Make sure that you are measuring each wire as you push the pedal and cause the brake light to light up. Also try measuring the output voltage at the blue wire that runs back to the trailer brakes. You are looking for an increase in voltage to operate the brakes.
Good Luck
Good Luck
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Not sure if I can help but I just installed the Tekonsha P-3 last week. I did have the factory installed tow package so the wires needed were taped under the dash for my application. I used the Mopar Wire Harnes (PN 82210512) It was all pretty simple the only 2 wires I needed to connect from the Mopar Harness were the white/tan from the wire harness to the white/tan on the brake switch (slot #2 of 1-6) and then splice the dark green (factory installed wire that is taped up behind the fuse box to the dark green on the Mopar Wire Harness. I all seems to work great but will be hooking up my camper next week so I have not towed with it yet. The p-3 seems to test itself OK and shows it all functioning properly when applying the brakes and also running the diagnostics.
sorry to bring this back up but I was trying to install the sub harness on my 07 xk limited with tow package and i'm having a bit of a problem. In the instruction of the harness it says to connect the white/tan wire of the harness to the white/tan wire on the plug that looks like its going to a solenoid on the brake pedal. The problem is there is no white/tan wire only a blue and brown wire. The only white and tan wire I found was on the brake switch close to the firewall. Is this where I'm suppose to connect it too? The green wire I did find but not this wire.
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Yep, that's the correct wire. It is easier to work on if you push the brake pedal in and then give the switch a counter-clockwise turn of about 30 degrees. It will then pull right out of the bracket. To put it back in after splicing the wire, just reverse the process making sure the switch is seated fully (it will twist back in at an angle if you aren't careful...).
It took me about 2 hours to figure this out as the picture is wrong but the description is correct. I also realized that the harness only adds a connection to your 12v socket.turbomut said:
I returned the harness and just spliced my own power from the socket.
09 Commander Limited w/factory hitch pkg
Does anyone know where the wires are hidden to tie in a brake controller on the 09? Manual says "4-or 7 wire harness" and I checked the plug at the back and there are 7 wires at the plug.
I talked with dealer and they don't have a clue - told me to go to the nearest trailer shop.
I pull a 4500 lb trailer of quads and want to install my brake controller.
For information with an 07 4.7L and trailer brake package I pulled the trailer over the mountains last summer with no issues at all; just could not turn down the package my dealer was offering on this 09 Limited
.
Does anyone know where the wires are hidden to tie in a brake controller on the 09? Manual says "4-or 7 wire harness" and I checked the plug at the back and there are 7 wires at the plug.
I talked with dealer and they don't have a clue - told me to go to the nearest trailer shop.
I pull a 4500 lb trailer of quads and want to install my brake controller.
For information with an 07 4.7L and trailer brake package I pulled the trailer over the mountains last summer with no issues at all; just could not turn down the package my dealer was offering on this 09 Limited
.I hardwired mine in. I bought a prodigy brake controller, aftermarket 4-pin wiring harness, 4 pin to 7 pin adapter, some wire, and i rocked and rolled.
The 4 pin adapter installed in 10 minutes by simply plugging into the tail light assemblies. I then mounted the 7 pin adapter under the rear bumper(just drilled holes in the plastic and screwed it in. Plugged the 4-pin into the 7 pin harness and that took care of the light wiring. Onto the hard wiring:
Drilled hole in jeep frame to hook up the ground wire to the fram from the 7-pin adapter.(the ground from the 4-pin is not used...4 wires down 3 to go!!)
Next I hooked a 10 Gauge wire to my battery with one of those round connectors...and wired in a 30 amp fuse) ran this wire unde the jeep..zip tied it to the brake lines, over the gas tank...etc..and hooked it to the 7-pin. (5 wires down 2 to go!!)
Next i hooked another 10 gauge wire to my battery, ran it to a 20 amp auto reset circuit breaker, then into the cab(punched a hole in the rubber wiring area that all the other wires come in trhough the fire wall)... I hooked this wire into the brake controller harness that came with the prodigy. hooked another 10 gauge wire to the harness and ran it back throught he firewall rubber thingy, under the jeep right next to the accesory wire i ran, and hooked it into the 7-pin harness. (6 wires down..1 to go)
The 7th wire is for backup lights or whatever..my trailer doesn need them so i didnt connect it(7 pin wiring complete!!!!))
This leaves you with two wires to go....
1. groud wire ran from brake controller harness to negative on battery. I used 16 gauge wire and ran through the same now holy..rubber firewall deal)
2. The brake controller needs to know when you are pressign the brake. Look at the brake pedal and you will see a switch on it that tells teh lights to turn on when you press the brakes. (on most vehicles there are only two wires there..on the commander there are about 10,000) I bought a 5 dollar wire tester deal that has a sharp point that you stab into the wiring insulation and lights up when it sees current. I stabbed a couple and pressed the brake..no light up!!. Third try is a charm..found a wire that lights up when i pressed the brakes. Use a wire connector to splice in and hook to the brake controller harness. DONE!!!
I used this setup to tow my wrangler on a 600 mile round trip and it worked flawlessly!!
soon to come is a thread that shows video of the towing!
This thread to be stickied.
The 4 pin adapter installed in 10 minutes by simply plugging into the tail light assemblies. I then mounted the 7 pin adapter under the rear bumper(just drilled holes in the plastic and screwed it in. Plugged the 4-pin into the 7 pin harness and that took care of the light wiring. Onto the hard wiring:
Drilled hole in jeep frame to hook up the ground wire to the fram from the 7-pin adapter.(the ground from the 4-pin is not used...4 wires down 3 to go!!)
Next I hooked a 10 Gauge wire to my battery with one of those round connectors...and wired in a 30 amp fuse) ran this wire unde the jeep..zip tied it to the brake lines, over the gas tank...etc..and hooked it to the 7-pin. (5 wires down 2 to go!!)
Next i hooked another 10 gauge wire to my battery, ran it to a 20 amp auto reset circuit breaker, then into the cab(punched a hole in the rubber wiring area that all the other wires come in trhough the fire wall)... I hooked this wire into the brake controller harness that came with the prodigy. hooked another 10 gauge wire to the harness and ran it back throught he firewall rubber thingy, under the jeep right next to the accesory wire i ran, and hooked it into the 7-pin harness. (6 wires down..1 to go)
The 7th wire is for backup lights or whatever..my trailer doesn need them so i didnt connect it(7 pin wiring complete!!!!))
This leaves you with two wires to go....
1. groud wire ran from brake controller harness to negative on battery. I used 16 gauge wire and ran through the same now holy..rubber firewall deal)
2. The brake controller needs to know when you are pressign the brake. Look at the brake pedal and you will see a switch on it that tells teh lights to turn on when you press the brakes. (on most vehicles there are only two wires there..on the commander there are about 10,000) I bought a 5 dollar wire tester deal that has a sharp point that you stab into the wiring insulation and lights up when it sees current. I stabbed a couple and pressed the brake..no light up!!. Third try is a charm..found a wire that lights up when i pressed the brakes. Use a wire connector to splice in and hook to the brake controller harness. DONE!!!
I used this setup to tow my wrangler on a 600 mile round trip and it worked flawlessly!!
soon to come is a thread that shows video of the towing!
This thread to be stickied.
No Factory Hookup
I understand there is not prewired connector that I just plug into - Please allow me to rephrase the question.
Does anyone know where the other end of the wires are? There is no doubt that the plug has 7 wires and before I begin to tear apart the existing harness to determine where they go I was hoping for some suggestions.
I understand there is not prewired connector that I just plug into - Please allow me to rephrase the question.
Does anyone know where the other end of the wires are? There is no doubt that the plug has 7 wires and before I begin to tear apart the existing harness to determine where they go I was hoping for some suggestions.
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Brake Controller Wire Found!!!!
I have read and reread several times the threads listed in this forum on brake controllers. I have a very early 06 Commander 4.7 . It has a build date of 11-17-05. According to the VIP Summary report provided by the dealer, it does NOT have the trailer tow package. However, it did have the wire bundle with a connector to attach to a 7 pin connector. I had to add the receiver hitch.
I have spent the better part of a day trying to find the forward end of the brake controller line. This old body of mine has contorted to angles it hasn't seen in years! Finally, I dug down into my bag of old equipment and got out an old inductive signal tracer I used way back when in the telephone company.
No signal under the dash. I finally followed the signal from the rear to the front, and there it was. The forward end of the brake controller wire was neatly wound up and z strapped to the outside of a wire loom between the 1st set of fuses boxes and the driver fender directly behind the battery. I have been under the hood hundred's of time and never viewed this little bundle of wrapped blue wirel. Now I need to extend this wire through the firewall to under the dash at the appropriate spot. I have already identified the brake light wire (red) that is energized when the brake pedal is pushed. This forum has a wealth of information I traversed, and I'm glad to be a member. I'm a happy camper!
Hope this helps some of the early 06 owners.
Ron
06 Sport, Stone White, 4.7, 4WD 4X4, Quadra-Trac II,
I have read and reread several times the threads listed in this forum on brake controllers. I have a very early 06 Commander 4.7 . It has a build date of 11-17-05. According to the VIP Summary report provided by the dealer, it does NOT have the trailer tow package. However, it did have the wire bundle with a connector to attach to a 7 pin connector. I had to add the receiver hitch.
I have spent the better part of a day trying to find the forward end of the brake controller line. This old body of mine has contorted to angles it hasn't seen in years! Finally, I dug down into my bag of old equipment and got out an old inductive signal tracer I used way back when in the telephone company.
No signal under the dash. I finally followed the signal from the rear to the front, and there it was. The forward end of the brake controller wire was neatly wound up and z strapped to the outside of a wire loom between the 1st set of fuses boxes and the driver fender directly behind the battery. I have been under the hood hundred's of time and never viewed this little bundle of wrapped blue wirel. Now I need to extend this wire through the firewall to under the dash at the appropriate spot. I have already identified the brake light wire (red) that is energized when the brake pedal is pushed. This forum has a wealth of information I traversed, and I'm glad to be a member. I'm a happy camper!
Hope this helps some of the early 06 owners.
Ron
06 Sport, Stone White, 4.7, 4WD 4X4, Quadra-Trac II,
White Fox,
I would think that an old RVer like you would have just run another blue wire from the brake controller all the way back to the 7 pin connector. Bye the way, the wiring harness at the back of the Commander usually has both a round 7 pin and a flat 4 pin tucked up under the bumper.
You might also have to have the dealer use the Starscan to enable the towing package.
I would think that an old RVer like you would have just run another blue wire from the brake controller all the way back to the 7 pin connector. Bye the way, the wiring harness at the back of the Commander usually has both a round 7 pin and a flat 4 pin tucked up under the bumper.
You might also have to have the dealer use the Starscan to enable the towing package.
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Huey Pilot,
It was the principle of the task that pushed me to finding that factory run wire! Now I have to see where that other connector is. Didn't see any evidence of it during my search.
It was the principle of the task that pushed me to finding that factory run wire! Now I have to see where that other connector is. Didn't see any evidence of it during my search.
Brake Controller Location?
So where have you all mounted your brake controller? Anyone have some pics.
Putting a P3 in wife Commander.
I was thinking of putting it in the little dash hole on the left of the steering wheel. We dont use it for anything... I saw in JP magazing they put one there in a Grand.... looked nice.
Any other spots?
So where have you all mounted your brake controller? Anyone have some pics.
Putting a P3 in wife Commander.
I was thinking of putting it in the little dash hole on the left of the steering wheel. We dont use it for anything... I saw in JP magazing they put one there in a Grand.... looked nice.
Any other spots?
That is where I would put it also unless you want to mount a CB radio there. Then I would mount it under that spot. Sometime you need to actuate the trailer brakes alone, such as when it might sway, then you need to use your left hand to slide the lever to put on just the trailer brakes. Good luck with it.
Welcome to the forum.
Welcome to the forum.
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Thats where mine is tooo! I figured it was a useless cubby hole anyway, there were no other good locations, and when I take it out there will be no permanent marks!
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1,096 Posts
you HAVE to have access to the control arm.
The main reason to have access to the control arm is to help prevent the trailer from "Jack Kniveing". The control arm allows you to apply the trailer brakes alone without the car brakes. This can help to stop a trailer from swaying and getting out of control. It can also help prevent the trailer from pushing you. For instance down a steep hill or on a slick surface like ice.
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