Plug Identification, Please Help!!
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Plug Identification, Please Help!!
So I am trying to install an electronic brake controller on the rig, I know the previous owner had one installed on the truck. In addition to the brake controller, he has the trailer electrical all hacked up on the rear hitch/ bumper, pluuuus there is another electrical plugin located in the bedside for one of those big camper units that goes in the bed. So im chasing wires for hours over here trying to figure this all out. My question, is I have a connector/ plug coming out of the firewall right below the e-brake area that is a round 3 pin connection(1 wire is hot) (Solid red, Blue/blk, Red/grn) Could it be the connection the previous owner used for his brake controller? There is also a black square connector on the side of the main harness along the steering column that has one single black wire/red stripe (not hot) that I cant figure out either... I attached some pics of these connectors.. Any help would be appreciated!!
'89 F250 460 Auto 4x4....
'89 F250 460 Auto 4x4....
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,533
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From: SW Florida
Probably best to just remove ALL the non-factory wires and start over. I do this with every vehicle I bring home. I've found all sorts of stupid things such as wires run direct to the battery and then along the frame out to the trailer hitch... NO fuse/breaker and the bare ends were just taped up and stuck up out of the way!
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Lynnwood Wa.
^^^^^X2 on what he said rip out what is not factory and start over fresh, if not you maybe chasing gremlins in the most unexpected or convenient time. 
On electrical hacks. It is amazing what people will do to these trucks to wire up a trailer even when the factory harness is ran all the way to the back for them. I can see cutting the plug off and splicing the wires together when done properly. Look under the dash where he had the brake controller, there will probably be a tell tale sign where he had it ran. I can not recall if these trucks came with a factory plug for the brake controller. I know my dads 90 f250 we had to run the brake controller wire(BLUE) all the way to the back. then the rest is simple find a good ground a good FUSED power source and hit the brake light switch.
As far as the trailer wiring IIRC his truck had the trailer wiring already ran to the back. Rip out the old hack job rats nest and start from scratch its easy. a couple rolls of wire and some good solder and shrink tubing and you are going have a trouble free system you can rely on.
On electrical hacks. It is amazing what people will do to these trucks to wire up a trailer even when the factory harness is ran all the way to the back for them. I can see cutting the plug off and splicing the wires together when done properly. Look under the dash where he had the brake controller, there will probably be a tell tale sign where he had it ran. I can not recall if these trucks came with a factory plug for the brake controller. I know my dads 90 f250 we had to run the brake controller wire(BLUE) all the way to the back. then the rest is simple find a good ground a good FUSED power source and hit the brake light switch. As far as the trailer wiring IIRC his truck had the trailer wiring already ran to the back. Rip out the old hack job rats nest and start from scratch its easy. a couple rolls of wire and some good solder and shrink tubing and you are going have a trouble free system you can rely on.
Postmaster
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From: SW Florida
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Thanks for the responses! So, I spoke with a buddy he has the same 3 wire connector, so that must be factory. I know these trucks did not come with factory trailer brake wiring, so Im curious to what this connector is for. Cant seem to be able to post the pics.
On this Controller, the Red wire must go to the cold side of stop lamp switch or brake light.. Is this connector/switch on the top of the brake pedal under the dash with the green wires? So if so, I want to probe the wire and it should be cold with pedal NOT engaged, and hot when brake pedal is engaged Correct????
Thanks for all the help!
On this Controller, the Red wire must go to the cold side of stop lamp switch or brake light.. Is this connector/switch on the top of the brake pedal under the dash with the green wires? So if so, I want to probe the wire and it should be cold with pedal NOT engaged, and hot when brake pedal is engaged Correct????
Thanks for all the help!
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Virginia Beach/Wisconsin
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Fleet Owner
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From: Easton,Ks
Not sure on the 1989 but here is the factory setup for the trailer in 1988.
I think the 1988 and the 1989 was the same but if not I could post the trailer setup for the 1990.
1988:
/
I think the 1988 and the 1989 was the same but if not I could post the trailer setup for the 1990.
1988:
/
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Perfect SubFord! that explains the plug that ive had in question this whole time. Those are the exact three wire colors in that plug. Went and grabbed some pins, a whole new setup to rewire the rear of the truck, should be good now.. see what happens. Thanks to everyone for helping me with this situation, members here are great!
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