Hooking up a brake controler

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Oct 22, 2006 | 04:55 PM

CommercialNuke

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From: Oswego NY

Hooking up a brake controler

I have an '05 X Limited with the "Towing Support Package". If I buy a controler, will it hook right into the connector that I see hanging under the dash? Is that all I have to do? Is it already hooked up underneath?

Oct 22, 2006 | 07:27 PM

bigdog55

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From: Bremerton, Wa.

I would check out the thread titled "Brake Controllers" and you'll find some information there.. I don't believe that you want to hook up your controller to the little connector that is hanging down from your dash as I believe that's your OBD connector,or computer....On my '01 it's under the dash thru a little hole...

Oct 23, 2006 | 04:21 AM

CommercialNuke

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From: Oswego NY

OK. Thanks, I'll check it out.

Oct 24, 2006 | 09:16 AM

Excursionator

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C'Nuke, On both the 02 F250 and my 04 X, there is a "female" plug up under the dash kinda behind the OBDII plug that a "pigtail" can plug into. The "pigtail" should have been supplied with the truck (assuming it has the trailer towing pkg) and has loose wires out the back that connect to the wires of you brake controller. If you don't have that "pigtail" your Ford dealer should be able to get you one as they were all standard as far as I know.

Oct 24, 2006 | 09:22 AM

CommercialNuke

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From: Oswego NY

I have the big reciever with the 4-pin and 7-pin sockets at the back of the vehicle. I assume that I have the towing package. I think it came standard on the '05 Limited. My question concerns where to tap into the circuit with my new controler (when I get it). Is this something that I can do myself? When answering this question, you may assume (correctly) that I know nothing about vehicle wiring.

Oct 24, 2006 | 09:56 AM

Excursionator

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It's a piece of cake if you have that pigtail. You don't even have to find a "hot" wire. It will probably take you longer to find the plug under the dash than it will to hook up the wires. BTW there will also be a small paper showing what wires are what with that pigtail.

Keep me posted!

Oct 24, 2006 | 10:09 AM

DSMMH

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When I ordered the PRODIGY controller for my 04 X online, I told them the type of vehicle I had and they sent me a plug-n-play pigtail for free. My 4 pin OEM connector for a break controller plug in pigtail was to the right of the steering column just a little above and to the right of the OBD connector. Plugging the pigtail into the OEM connector and then into the back of your controller is all you need to do to have trailer brakes. Since you claim to know little about wiring, I would get the premade pigtail and NOT attempt to hard wire the controller.

DSMMH