another brake controller question
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another brake controller question
Hey all, I bought a tekonsha prodigy brake controller the other day and i cant find where the wire adapter plugs in. before i bought it i thought that it plugs into this adapter(long, skinny) right under the dash but i think thats the adaptor to hook a computer up to but when i saw the adaptor for the brake controller i saw that it wouldnt fit in that. Then i looked online to see where the plug-in might be and i still couldnt find it. I found something that looked like it but it had something else plugged into it. Does this mean i have to wire the whole thing in or am i not looking hard enough for this adapter. Thanks
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Wickenburg, AZ
What's the model and year for that truck?
For Super Duties from ~1999 to 2004, the place you plug your controller into is located all underneath the dash near the center of the truck. You'll have to remove the access panel underneath the steering column to get to it. It'll be over by a cutout section of a vertical metal support in there. That one is gray plastic, female, with two rows of pins. One will have three and the other will either have three or two. I hears somewhere that the 2005s and newer Super Duties are different because of the new TowCommand Option. I haven't got the chance to take one of those apart yet, so I couldn't tell you.
For F-150, Expedition, and 250 Regular Duty ~1996-? the plug is located almost directly in the center of the vehicle under the dash. It's the same two-row gray deal as in the super duty, but you shouldn't have to pull off any panels to get to it.
Heavy Duty 250 and 350 trucks, if they have one at all, will have a gray female plug that is two rows of two down low under the dash near the center.
By the way, did you buy the plug-in adapter from Tekonsha with your Prodigy? If you didn't get the plug-in one, you will need to get a pigtail harness and then you can crimp what Tekonsha gives you in the Prodigy kit to your Ford Pigtail and be down the road. Tekonsha gives you a key to help you do this.
For Super Duties from ~1999 to 2004, the place you plug your controller into is located all underneath the dash near the center of the truck. You'll have to remove the access panel underneath the steering column to get to it. It'll be over by a cutout section of a vertical metal support in there. That one is gray plastic, female, with two rows of pins. One will have three and the other will either have three or two. I hears somewhere that the 2005s and newer Super Duties are different because of the new TowCommand Option. I haven't got the chance to take one of those apart yet, so I couldn't tell you.
For F-150, Expedition, and 250 Regular Duty ~1996-? the plug is located almost directly in the center of the vehicle under the dash. It's the same two-row gray deal as in the super duty, but you shouldn't have to pull off any panels to get to it.
Heavy Duty 250 and 350 trucks, if they have one at all, will have a gray female plug that is two rows of two down low under the dash near the center.
By the way, did you buy the plug-in adapter from Tekonsha with your Prodigy? If you didn't get the plug-in one, you will need to get a pigtail harness and then you can crimp what Tekonsha gives you in the Prodigy kit to your Ford Pigtail and be down the road. Tekonsha gives you a key to help you do this.
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thank you!! after taking the panel off i was able to see under and i found the adapter. Now to mount this does it have to be perfect level wise? The place where i'm going to mount it is a little uneven but not a lot. The directions for the contoller says that it adjusts itself to varying terrain but the place that its going to be mounted wont allow the contoller to move to 0 degrees because the back hits. Maybe i have to mount it a little lower. Thanks again
Last edited by RIsuperduty89; Jul 23, 2006 at 04:29 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Southeastern PA
From your profile, looks like you have a 2004. I just did my 2005 with a Prodigy and the angle does not have to be 0 degrees. It has to be between 0 and 70 degrees.
Not sure if you have the little rectagular shelf next to the Upfitter switches (not even sure you have Upfitter switches) but if you have the little indented shelf right next to the switches, the Prodigy fits perfectly into it. On my truck, I cut out a little rectangle in the back of the shelf on the right side with a Dremel. I threaded my Prodigy connector through it and no bracket was required. On the 2005's, the connection for the brake is right behind there instead of below the steering wheel.
Not sure if you have the little rectagular shelf next to the Upfitter switches (not even sure you have Upfitter switches) but if you have the little indented shelf right next to the switches, the Prodigy fits perfectly into it. On my truck, I cut out a little rectangle in the back of the shelf on the right side with a Dremel. I threaded my Prodigy connector through it and no bracket was required. On the 2005's, the connection for the brake is right behind there instead of below the steering wheel.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Wickenburg, AZ
No problem, pardner.
Regarding the mounting:
You've got some leeway on the controller. It does not have to be parallel with the floor. Usually they have the limits on how far it can be tipped up or down right there in the installation instructions.
Tekonsha says anything from dead on the horizontal to 70 degrees above the horizontal is okay. Here's a link to the mounting rules:
http://www.tekonsha.com/instructions...89_H%20web.pdf
Happy towing!
Regarding the mounting:
You've got some leeway on the controller. It does not have to be parallel with the floor. Usually they have the limits on how far it can be tipped up or down right there in the installation instructions.
Tekonsha says anything from dead on the horizontal to 70 degrees above the horizontal is okay. Here's a link to the mounting rules:
http://www.tekonsha.com/instructions...89_H%20web.pdf
Happy towing!
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 638
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From: Birmingham, AL
If you didn't order the Ford specific patch cord with your Prodigy, be careful splicing the standard Prodigy pigtail to the Standard Ford pigtail. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. It isn't a direct color match.
The vehicle specific cords are only about 10 to 12 bucks and are the easiest way to get up and running. On the other hand, if your truck came with the towing package, it should have the truck end of the pigtail and a couple of relays in a plastic bag in the glove compartment. The dealer may have already installed the relays for you.
Gene
The vehicle specific cords are only about 10 to 12 bucks and are the easiest way to get up and running. On the other hand, if your truck came with the towing package, it should have the truck end of the pigtail and a couple of relays in a plastic bag in the glove compartment. The dealer may have already installed the relays for you.
Gene
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