I know that a windstar (it's a 2000) isn't the best towing vehicle, but I want to use it to tow a trailer (only 1000lbs or so) 2000 miles (to florida and back, soon). I would then use it to pull the trailor around here, but that's the main reason I want to know what to use. I need to know what wiring harness i should use (on the vehicle side, the trailer has a 4 pin) (should i try to get one from Ford or not)? Where does the harness connect (on the vehicle), and is it a 4 or 7 pin connection (For the 2001 (online) ford has a hitch that's 7 pins, but parts stores (autozone) have a 4 pin (for 2000))? I've searched just about everywhere and can't find the answer. Please help soon! Thanks for the help!!

 

Check behind your rear bumper to see if there's already wiring run to the back of the vehicle. A trailer the weight of what you described isn't going to have brakes, so you don't need the 7-pin connector. If there are no wires already run you can very easily do it yourself. If that's the case, please let me know and either myself or others would be glad to help you out.

HERE is a wiring diagram for the connectors. The easy way to tell which wire is which is to manually test them. For a 4-pin connector you should have a ground, left turn/brake, right turn/brake, and tail lights/running lights. These are easy to test.

 

The trailer doesn't have brakes, you are right. Ford just had said that there was an easy way to hook it up using a seven pin connector in the back (I just wanted to make sure of any possibilities). Anyway no there isn't any wire running behind the bumper, so how do you get wire there? Part of that problem is that i don't know where the wire is in the back? Thanks for the response! Now, if you could help me get wires there, i'll be pretty good off. Thanks for any help!

 

I would suggest wiring for the 4-pin since you have no need for the 7-pin. It seems strange that Ford would recommend using a 7-pin connector when the trailer you're talking about only has a 4-pin connector.

Here you go:

1. Left turn/brake-remove the left tail light and with the left turn signal on test the wires to determine which wire is for that function (your tester will blink, not stay on). Tap into this wire with a coupler (can't remember the term) and run a wire down to the back of the vehicle behind the bumper. You should have a hole in the bottom of the tail light access to do so.

2. Right turn/brake-repeat procedure from left.

3. Tail lights/running lights-while you have one of the rear lights removed on the vehicle, test for the running lights (the light on your tester should stay on). Tap into this wire and run it behind the bumper.

4. Ground-some people rely on the hitch for the ground, but this is not the proper way to do things. Find a metal surface in close proximity to the harness and attach a ground wire. Make sure the surface will conduct electricity. The easy way to test for this is to put the clamp from your tester on the surface and pic one of the wires (in other words, decide where you want to do this during steps 1-3).

Makes sure to give all the wires a couple layers of electrical tape and you should be good to go.

I'm sorry if this is hard to understand, I'm running on 3 hours of sleep. If you have any more questions please reply. This assumes that your turn signals and brake lights are the same light/bulb. If not, you need an adaptor to accomodate the multiple lights.

I guess the first thing to figure out is whether or not the turn signal and brake lights on your vehicle are the same light bulb.

 

Thanks! I'll try it and if i have any questions, i'll ask!

 

Is there somewhere that you can just plug the wiring harness in? Go to this http://www.fordaccessoriesstore.com/...456&detail=yes

Does that mean if you already have wiring behind your bumper? (I know that it shows a 2001 and up, but if u go to any of the vehicle selections, it doesn't show anything less than a 2001). Thanks again!

 

That will only work if you already have the wiring there for the trailer. I must admit, I know absolutely nothing about the standard features on the Windstar. I would suggest that you contact the service department (definately NOT sales) and ask them if the wires are already run. That will help save you some trouble finding them if they are indeed already there. If not, use the method I described above.

 

Will that load be heavy enough that he will need to keep overdrive off and maintain 3rd gear? Will he be able to even turn overdrive back on when on good flat stretches?

 

thanks again!

 

I have a ranger that I tow with, and I usually keep it out of overdrive. Even on the flat stretches. Even if you look in the ford manuals, they say to leave it out of overdrive. Otherwise, you could ruin your tranny.

 

Be extremely careful about hooking up to the wiring in Windstar for trailer lights. Begining in 1999 Windstar uses a Rear Electronic Module to control lights. (a computer) You might just damage some expensive parts if you don't hook up properly.
Ford offers a kit for installing trailer light wiring. It is the only safe way to hook up.

 

Then that means all the lights are controlled individually. I'm surprised that there aren't wires already run to the rear of the vehicle. As I said, check with the dealer first to see what they say and if wires are already run to some point.

 

Alright, I'll go to Ford tomorrow and check it out! As soon as I know what to do, I'll let you know if and how it works. Thanks again! Talk to all of you soon!

 

I was looking at a transmission cooler, and it asked how many passes I have? What does that mean, and how can I figure it out? I've heard about all of the transmission problems with the windstars, but they seem to be before 2000. I might not even risk it. What's your opinion on it? Thanks!

 

Check HERE to see a plug-and-play kit for the 99-2003 Windstar. At the price it is a fast, easy, pretty much fool proof way to hook up.

Similar kits and such are available at places like Wal-Mart.

I have used on several vehicles, no wires to cut, splice or tap into.

Dave / Believer