Brake Controller Harness

[DaughertyD]

Not a total newb here, but I have not hooked up a brake controller before...



I have an 06 QC 2500 SB w/Tow Pkg. It has a Class IV receiver and 4 and 7 pin connectors pre-wired. I am getting a Prodigy brake controller and the dealer mentioned "Bring your harness" when I picked up the trailer. I didn't get a harness from the dealer. Should I? Is there a harness built in?

 

[NLofton]

Should have been in your glove box, but you can get them for 10 or 15 bucks from most parts houses or trailer dealers. It plugs in under the dash to the factory plug in.

 

[Pawpaw]

When I got my '04, the brake controller harness was in the glove box.



If yours isn't in the truck, you need to get it from the dealer it is (or at least was) part of the tow package.



Bob

 

[DaughertyD]

Well, reading on another thread, I think I found it. Blue connector under the left side dash behind the E-Brake pedal.



Grabbing some pics now.

 

[NLofton]

Yep, thats it, but you still need the other harness to plug into it.

 

[RSimmons]

You can buy a harness from Tekonsha that will plug in directly to the Prodigy and the truck connector. No splicing required



I bought mine from a local Redneck trailer parts dealer for about 18 bucks (needed it right away). I have seen them online for as little as 9 bucks.

 

[DaughertyD]

Pics

Behind this assembly:



#ad




Was this blue connector:



#ad




Is this correct?

 

[NLofton]

Thats the one.

 

[DaughertyD]

Man, it was a bugger to get to. Why in the h**l did they tape that thing back there?



So, I will get the mating connector from the manufacturer of the Prodigy controller to plug into that?



Thanks for the replies everyone. I figured I should post pics as punishment for the fact that I posted first and searched later.

Thats the one.

 

[NLofton]

Yeah, they are a little hard to get to :-laf But you got the hard part over with, plugs right in.

 

[RBritt]

the wiring harness that connects the brake controller to the receptacle you found under the dash is the harness that your Prodigy dealer is referring to. this harness should have been in your truck when you bought it new. it would have been in the dash or console sealed in a plastic bag. if you didnt get one, your dodge dealer owes you one.

 

[abdiver]

Thanks for the picture

Man, it was a bugger to get to. Why in the h**l did they tape that thing back there?



So, I will get the mating connector from the manufacturer of the Prodigy controller to plug into that?



Thanks for the replies everyone. I figured I should post pics as punishment for the fact that I posted first and searched later.

DaughertyD,

Thanks for posting the pictures. The Blue connector in your picture looks like a male and femaleunit, the 2 halves. I am assuming you took the picture after you plugged the brake controller harness in ?

So I take it that I am supposed to look for 1/2 of that blue connector. Is it taped back to the factory wiring? It is Blue right? Will look for it tomorrow am.



Thanks, Bill

 

[SnoKing]

NO the is just the truck part. The wire you see to the right of the blue connector is behind it. There are two routes from this point. Splice the standard trailer plug that comes with the trucks trailer package to the standard controller plug (I did this the first time, and you have to watch the colors, as they do not always match) or get the brake controllor manufactures custom cable that goings straight from that blue plug to the back of the controller without any splices. I did that the second time, except that I broke out the power lead and ran it thru my own circuit breaker and directly to the drivers side battery. I believe that you will find that stock the controller voltage supply is thru a fuss, one little short and you do not have trailer brakes.



I also broke the trailer charge lead out of the trailer harness on the other side of the firewall and ran it thru a constant rated relay that is powered only when the engine is running. Turn the truck off and trailer can not pull down the truck batteries. I have a Heart Inverter in the trailer that makes this even a more important mode, as the inverter can really draw high amps from the batteries, which would not be good for the size of wire going to the truck or any fuse in the line.



SNOKING

 

[abdiver]

NO the is just the truck part. The wire you see to the right of the blue connector is behind it. There are two routes from this point. Splice the standard trailer plug that comes with the trucks trailer package to the standard controller plug (I did this the first time, and you have to watch the colors, as they do not always match) or get the brake controllor manufactures custom cable that goings straight from that blue plug to the back of the controller without any splices. I did that the second time, except that I broke out the power lead and ran it thru my own circuit breaker and directly to the drivers side battery. I believe that you will find that stock the controller voltage supply is thru a fuss, one little short and you do not have trailer brakes.



I also broke the trailer charge lead out of the trailer harness on the other side of the firewall and ran it thru a constant rated relay that is powered only when the engine is running. Turn the truck off and trailer can not pull down the truck batteries. I have a Heart Inverter in the trailer that makes this even a more important mode, as the inverter can really draw high amps from the batteries, which would not be good for the size of wire going to the truck or any fuse in the line.



SNOKING

SNOKING Thanks, But I still am a bit confused,as you state "that is just the truck part. The wire you see to the right of the blue connector is behind it. " Then later you state " or get the brake controllor manufactures custom cable that goings straight from that blue plug to the back of the controller without any splices" Sorry to be a pest but from your second statement is sounds like



I would just plug my factory brake controller wiring piece that was in my glove box (came with trailor PKG option) into the Blue connector



Thanks Bill

 

[SnoKing]

SNOKING Thanks, But I still am a bit confused,as you state "that is just the truck part. The wire you see to the right of the blue connector is behind it. " Then later you state " or get the brake controllor manufactures custom cable that goings straight from that blue plug to the back of the controller without any splices" Sorry to be a pest but from your second statement is sounds like



I would just plug my factory brake controller wiring piece that was in my glove box (came with trailor PKG option) into the Blue connector



Thanks Bill

The pig tail in the glove box has a connector only on the truck end. You would have to splice those wires onto the standard controller pig tail. The Custom one per vechicle from the controller company will have the plug on both end. Either way it works. The Custom one is "Trailer wiring for dumbies" Plug and play. SNOKING

 

[abdiver]

Snorking Thanks again, OK I had figured to splice pig tail in the glove box to the standard controller pig tail. So once I do this I would just plug in to the BLUE Connector is that Right?



I like your idea of using a seperate hot wire with a circut breaker I will follow your lead



Also like your other suggestion trailer charge lead out of the trailer harness on the other side of the firewall and ran it thru a constant rated relay that is powered only when the engine is running.



Do you know the color of the trailer trailer charge lead and its aprox location?



Bill

 

[SnoKing]

Snorking Thanks again, OK I had figured to splice pig tail in the glove box to the standard controller pig tail. So once I do this I would just plug in to the BLUE Connector is that Right?



I like your idea of using a seperate hot wire with a circut breaker I will follow your lead



Also like your other suggestion trailer charge lead out of the trailer harness on the other side of the firewall and ran it thru a constant rated relay that is powered only when the engine is running.



Do you know the color of the trailer trailer charge lead and its aprox location?



Bill

Mine charge wire on my 2001. 5 is Red about a 12-10 gauge. It is on my engine side of the firewall and head down to the frame and back. Bundled in a plastic loom. Watch out for the color differences splicing the controller connections. Might do a search on that. Here is the Prodigy wiring instructions. http://www.tekonsha.com/instructions/BC Wiring.pdf



The wires seem to be out of sync, still. Truck pig tail has the colors below for my 2001. 5 and wires have labels on them.



Truck---Wire--Prodigy

Red----12V----Black

Blue----Trailer--Blue

Black---Ground-White

White---Stop sw-Red



This is the same on my spare old Kelsey controller



SNOKING

 

[abdiver]

Ok I found the connector and are ready to cut wires and splice the brake controller



But I have four wires coming from the Dodge harness and 3 from the Jordan Ultima 2020 brake controller I assume I would wire the



Truck----------------------Wire-------Jordan

White w/Red trace----------12V---------Red

Lt. Blue---------------Trailer Brakes-----Blue

Dark Green w/Black trace---Ground------White

Lt. Blue w/white trace---Brake lites -----Where Do I place this wire????????

 

[abdiver]

I also broke the trailer charge lead out of the trailer harness on the other side of the firewall



SNOKING

SNOKING or ANYONE, Can you tell me where to look for the trailer charge lead other side of the firewall, I have a fair idea but do you know the color of this wire, any info is appreciated.



Thanks Bill

 

[grabinov]

Guys,



I just spent a half hour under the dash and another half hour on the phone with 2 different dealers and a trailer place looking for this harness BEFORE I remembered that I was a member of TDR. It took less than 60 seconds to find the answer to my wiring question - the same one addressed here - on this site! You gotta love this place...



Greg