Electric Brakes- Factory Plug

[MaxTorque]

Help!

I need help in connecting the painless blue electric brake plug(the one supplied with the truck) to its mate just on the left side of the steering column. Can someone tell me how to gain access to the plug. There is the main wiring harness in the way and I cannot figure out how to remove the plug from its attachment on the wiring harness.

Anyone out there have a solution? The truck is a 2003.

 

[Wiredawg]

Don't remove it

It's been a while since I did my wife's, but I'm sure all I did was plug into it. You might have to contort a little bit.



good luck, Wiredawg

 

[TTubb]

Mine is a 04. 5 but I just did it last week. The plug is way over to the left of the main wire bundle with a strap holding it. You will have to cut the strap to get it loose. The plug was light blue and should mate with the factory adapter that came with the truck. Hard to see but it should be there if it is factory tow. Good luck. Terry

 

[Blufrog]

It was pretty easy to do, you just need to get the plug up above the wires and get it lined up. It takes moving the wire harness a bit but it will give just enough space to get the plug up there and in. Also there is a small bolt holding the white plastic cover just below it and you can loosen that up and get a bit more room.

 

[MaxTorque]

I guess my question was not understood. I know the color and its location but there is no way I can plug the mate into it with all the wires in the way and the wires are simply too tight to move. How is the plug held in place? It looks like a bracket. I don't want to bust something but I know I have to get the plug in the truck loose before I can plug in the brake controller.

 

[Don-T]

I just did mine last weekend. I removed the big connector that the blue plug is attached to the top of and then I grabbed the blue plug and pulled it which broke the strap holding it. I then pulled it down on the left side of the big connector and reattached the big connector. It was then easy to plug the brake controller into it. I hope that makes sense.

 

[Blufrog]

Originally posted by MaxTorque

I guess my question was not understood. I know the color and its location but there is no way I can plug the mate into it with all the wires in the way and the wires are simply too tight to move. How is the plug held in place? It looks like a bracket. I don't want to bust something but I know I have to get the plug in the truck loose before I can plug in the brake controller.

I answered your question above.



Also there is a small bolt holding the white plastic cover just below it and you can loosen that up and get a bit more room.





I loosened that bolt and that got the wire harness out of the way without destroying the bracket that holds the plug up in place under the dash.

 

[Don-T]

My 04 doesn't have a bracket for the brake connector. It is just held by a plastic strap to the top of the big white connector assembly which is held on the dash frame by two bolts. If you push in on the end of the bracket where it passes through the big white connector, the connector will slide right off the bracket. You then have easy access to the blue connector so you can cut / break the plastic strap. After I did that I pulled the blue connector down the back side of the big white connector and plugged into the brake controller. Then I slid the big connector back onto the bracket and it latched in place.

 

[MaxTorque]

Thanks to all who responded to my question. Thanks to your tips I got it w/o damaging anything.

Here is the secret. Remove the main plug by unbolting the bolt holding it in place. You will need a 10 mm socket w/ a 4 to 6 in ext. Pull the plug down and to your right. Using the braille system push the mating brake plug in place. The notch is on top. Reinstall the the main plug and tighten the 10 mm bolt. Doing it this way you do not damage the bracket holding the blue brake plug. Replace the facia cover. EUREKA!

 

[Wiredawg]

I just figured out the difference in approaches!

Max Torque and Rest:



just figured out the difference in approach: The automatics are easier than the standards. I was trying to figure out why this wuz so hard and then it dawned on me my 02 (6-spd) wuz a real pain and the 03 (auto) wuz a snap (or wuz it a click?).



BTW, do you guys having the problems have extra large hands?



Either way, ya figgered it out in true TDR fashion.



Take care, Wiredawg

 

[rkelso98]

Please excuse my stupidity on this, I have been up way too many hours and "Murphy" has been in rare form for this whole week. I am installing the Brakesmart controller. It says to connect it to the Blue connector under the dash you guys are talking about. My question is, where does the "7 pin" connector the dealer handed me connect to? Does it go in the rear of the truck where the 4 pin is now or does it go in the blue connector under the dash??? If it goes in the blue connector then where the hech do I plug in the Brakesmart connector? I may be able to figure this out in the morning but I am pressed for time and need to get the truck ready ASAP in the morning to go get my new trailer. Thanks to any who can lend me their brain cells since my are falling asleep.



Ray

 

[MaxTorque]

rkelso98

The seven pin connector plugs into the rear connector which is connected to the trailer or whatever you are towing. Wire the blue connector to your brake controller (there are 4 wires to connect) then plug the blue connector to the blue mate on the left side of the steering column.

 

[rkelso98]

Thanks for the help. The rear appears to have a plug already in it. The rear plug is a 7 pin and it is already hooked up. There is a 4 pin connector hanging down unused. Safe to assume the one already plugged in is a 7 pin? If so what is the one the dealer gave me for I wonder?

 

[MaxTorque]

rkelso98

It sounds like you are confusing the blue connector for the brake controller with the 4 plug in the rear? If your truck is prewired for towing there will be a 4 plug in the rear and a 7 plug. If you are towing with a trailer w/ electric brakes you need to use the 7 pin. If a non electric brake trailer you can use the 4 plug.

 

[rkelso98]

MAxTorue thanks I figured it out with yours and everyones help plus sleeping on it ;-) It doesn't pay to stay up way past bedtime and try to install anything requireing brain activity. LOL