Brake controller plug

[RClark]

Back again.

I've wired up and installed my brake controller. I found the plug under the dash-however.

It is fastened to a junction box, I can't figure if it comes off or how to ( it must).

There is a large bundle of wires about 1" from the opening, so if I do force the connectors together I'm worried that I might bend wires in a way that would cause future problems.

What have been your solutions ?

 

[RustyJC]

On my 2002, I was able to pull the wiring bundle out of the way enough to plug the factory controller pigtail into the socket. When released, the bundle went behind (below) the pigtail plug and wasn't under any strain. As I recall, it wasn't easy, but it was do-able.



Rusty

 

[BigUgly]

RClark;

I spent about 45 min under the dash of my truck cussin' and sweatin' when I installed my brake controller. Then, I cracked out a flashlight and got a good look at the junction block. The pigtail just slid off backwards (I think) and heas about 3-4 inches of slack to move it around the wire bundle. It was over a year ago I did this, so my memory is kinda fuzzy (Diesel Smoke and Beer I guess). But I would definatly take a flashlight and maybe one of those small mirrors and look at it carefully, now, my truck is a 2000, but they probably didn't change that.

Josiah

 

[wtrenholm]

My '01 truck w/ trailer tow package had the jumper harness for the brake controller in the glove box. Basically solder the four wires from controller to jumper harness (which colors didn't match) and plug in the connector under the dash. Then mount the box. No connector had to be moved. Although I did drop the knee bolster down. The whole process took 25 minutes start to finish, was a real nice set up.



Wayne

 

[RClark]

Got it installed and connected. Just moved the wires aside and pluged it in. It went in far enough to clear the other bundle of wires.

Now I'll have to think up another problem.

 

[wtrenholm]

Glad to hear it worked out.



Wayne

 

[RedRam1]

RClark,



Glad you got your controller sorted out. You don't mention what controller you have, and I can't remember the brand name on mine, but I do remember that the wires on the controller did not match the wires on the connector.



I've noticed a lot of guy's out there with new trucks; if you all have yet to install a brake controller, be sure to read the schematic, and hook the wires up correctly. On mine, the 4 or 5 wires on the connector were each a different color as were the wires on the controller. Naturally I didn't even consider reading the instructions, I thought "gee that's conveinient, the wires are color coded". Since the colors all matched, I hooked up red to red, blue to blue, etc. As soon as I turned on the ignition, there was smoke! I turned the key off, but not in time, I was lucky and just blew one of the big square "relay looking" fuses under the hood. Had to go to the dealer & pay 5 bucks for that fuse, couldn't find one anywhere else, but still feel I got of lucky since I didn't fry the controller. I don't know if I have an odd-ball controller, but in order to hook mine up right, I had to mismatch all the wire colors. It was all very clear and easy if you read the instructuions though, so be careful wiring those controllers!

 

[RClark]

My controller is a Tekshonka SENTINEL. It came off the old truck and worked OK.

I knew about the wires and he colors as somewhere-here or in the RV forum-I read about it. Haven't hauled the trailer yet but no fuses or relays smoked when I turne on the key.

Now I have to figure out where to mount the Circuit boss I just got from Genos, and what to hook uo to it.

I'd like to put a relay in the hot 12v circuit to the trailer.