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Brake controller install need help

Old Jul 30, 2004 | 08:00 PM
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Question Brake controller install need help

Is there a conection under the dash of my 2002 Mountianeer for a brake controller or do I have to splice wires? Now there is
no tow package with this truck, but does have a trains cooler???
Thanks
 
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Old Jul 30, 2004 | 09:01 PM
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No tow package, no under-dash connector - you'll have to wire it. If you've never done this type of install, you might want to get a quote from a hitch shop. What brand of controller are you considering?

Steve
 
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Old Jul 30, 2004 | 11:56 PM
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Open your glove box, squeeze the sides in and the glove box will drop down. If you look in the top left corner towards the fire wall there is a connection point for a harness, so you don't have to cut wires. I have an '02 and '04 with no towing package and the connection point is there. You can get the harness from the dealer. The harness will be pigtailed so you can hook up the control mod. Hope this helps.
 
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Old Jul 31, 2004 | 12:15 AM
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Scrapy -

Does your '02 and '04 have the 1.25" or 2" receiver hitch? Semore's '02 Merc should have the 1.25" with no tow package, and a 4-pin electrical connector for the trailer. I stand corrected if the 6-pin (only 4 are used) dash connector is there, but he'll still have to swap the rear 4-pin for a 7-pin. He may also have to get fuses/relays for the power box under the hood.

Steve
 
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Old Aug 1, 2004 | 11:58 AM
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Thanks for the help I did find the conection behind the glove box and switch out the 4 pin conection to 7 pin in the back, do I need to put in a fuse in the power box under the hood???? PS their where 2 wires behind the rear light on the passanger side the where run for the 7 pin conection they where a blue and orange wire. Thanks Mark
 
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Old Aug 1, 2004 | 03:01 PM
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Semore -

If you've got the Owner's Guide, it will show what fuses/relays are needed for the tow circuits. Until you get a controller installed, you won't have any brake power to the 7-pin. When you installed the 7-pin did you add extra wires, or is that why you're asking about the blue/orange wires? I think blue is USUALLY for the brake circuit.

Steve
 
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Old Aug 1, 2004 | 03:10 PM
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I already installed the 7 plug conector from the flat 4 plug. I found the 2 extra wires behind the light fixture on the passanger side. I will look for the fuse under the hood using the oweners book. Thanks Mark
 
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Old Aug 1, 2004 | 03:13 PM
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Semore -

Does your Merc have the 1.25" receiver hitch? If so, you're gonna be pretty limited as to what you can tow.

Steve
 
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Old Aug 1, 2004 | 07:16 PM
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The reciever is the small one but I work a Ford trains factory in MI, so Im taking the reciever in and going have it hole drilled out to 1 1/16 inch. That way I can use a Ball that is 2 5/16 inch. I checked for a fuse under the hood and there was one in the spot for the trailer battery so I almost there. Is there any other way to test the 7 pin conector other then a VOM or test light? I got the left and right turn light is OK and the brake is good.

Semore
 
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Old Aug 1, 2004 | 07:51 PM
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Semore -

It doesn't matter what size ball and mount you use, that small 1.25" receiver hitch is rated at 3500# max. Also, you should have 7 wires to the trailer connector; R/H and L/H signal/brake lights, marker lights, trailer charge, trailer brakes, reverse, and ground (you don't need reverse unless the trailer has back-up lights or you tow a trailer with surge brakes and a lock-out solenoid). The charge pin is hot only when the ignition switch is on. Do you already have a controller installed?

Steve
 
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Old Aug 1, 2004 | 08:03 PM
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I do have a controler installed and the it is telling me that it is working normally. But I still havn't tried to hook a trailer yet.
 
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Old Aug 1, 2004 | 08:29 PM
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Semore -

Sounds like you're ready to hook up a trailer, if you've already confirmed the 7-pin is good with a VOM. Let me know how it goes. Good luck!

Steve
 
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 06:52 AM
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Talking

Thanks for all the info, We are renting a trailer for vac trip to upstate New York from Michigan. The only issue I can see right now is that the Mountaineer has a class 2 hitch so we will not be able use the weight distribution. but every thing easle looks great. Well I let you know how it goes. Thanks Agian

Mark
 
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 08:02 AM
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Padon the ignorant questions... but if you have a class II hitch why go through all the trouble to upgrade to a brake controller. Aren't the trucks brakes sufficient for what you can put on a class II? Or was the plan to upgrade the hitch on the truck as well?
 
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 08:38 AM
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The trailer I am towing is 3100 lbs and I'm going to about 600 mile trip with it. So I wanted to utilize the braking system on the trailer and save the brakes on the truck. I have only spent a 100.00 on every thing to upgrade from what I had. My truck already has a trains cooler, the connectors are already present and the wiring was in the back for the 7 pin trailer connection. The only thing I need is a class III hitch. But I don't think I will be towing any thing bigger then this trailer so I should be good. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

Mark<o></o>
 
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