Brake Controller

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May 8, 2009 | 10:01 PM

racefan1965

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Joined: May 2009

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Brake Controller

If this isn't the right forum for this please move it.

I just bought a 2003 250 superduty with the 6.0 and I went to install a brake controller into it and cannot find a plug under the dash like my 1999 dodge 2500 has. One thing i did find was a bundle of wires under the dash wrapped in tape that seem to be the right colors for a brake controller but if there was a plug on it, it was cut off. One more thing...there is a 5th wire. My brake controller only has 4 wires. Are there brake controllers with 5 wires now? I'd appreciate any help anyone can give me.

Thank You,
Rick

May 8, 2009 | 10:21 PM

dmd

Tuned

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 394

Likes: 1

From: DFW

Follow the bundle if wires, it should lead up to a plug way up on the dash
support to the driver side of the radio. It is really hard to see and get
to unless you have a spine like a snake and a arm to match.

Mine has 4 wires, not sure what the 5th would be..

Have no idea why it is way up there.

May 8, 2009 | 10:33 PM

nitrogen

Cargo Master

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 2,196

Likes: 120

From: Carstairs Alberta

on my 03 the wires for the brake controller were hidden under the steering column. remove fuse box cover unbolt fuse panel and look under steering column towards right side in later years it was in a different place

May 8, 2009 | 10:46 PM

spence13e

More Turbo

Joined: Feb 2007

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From: KS

no idea about 03, but my 04 was odd... took the panel off, and to the right (under the radio), clear up to the top was a plug. just on a whim i plugged the adapter and and hooked up the wires. sure 'nuff it worked.

May 11, 2009 | 01:58 AM

acertm

Junior User

Joined: Feb 2009

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The harness comes with the truck when new,it in the glove compartment. Sounds like someone plugged it in and left it there. Also I just installed a Prodigy in my truck it had 5 wires. I bought the jumper harness (Ford plug on one end, Prodigy on the other) the instructions mentioned the extra wire and color differences, it said just plut it in. I think the extra wire is for trailer back up lights.

May 11, 2009 | 04:37 AM

dchamberlain

Lead Driver

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 8,180

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From: Scio, OR

The 5th wire in the plug is illumination, which most brake controllers don't use.

People very often confuse the customer access and pass through bundles for the brake controller wires. The pass through wires are similar in color to standard brake controller wires. It is also possible that someone had a brake controller in there, and cut the wires off after the plug.

But the most common scenario is you are seeing the customer pass through and customer access wires and you are not seeing the plug. It is very well hidden. I thought I had a photograph of the plug somewhere, but I can't find it. I'll try to take one for you in the morning.

May 24, 2009 | 03:20 AM

racefan1965

Thread Starter

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Joined: May 2009

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Thanks all

I found the plug up next to the radio like it was mentioned. The bundle of wires I mentioned was plugged into it but I had already bought a new plug set up so I figure I'll use the old bundle with the 5th wire for any future controller I might get. I'm installing a old tekshona voyager that was given to me 3 years ago. My dodge has a old cheap hoppy controller than runs after a 2 second delay.
Any way...is there anything else I need to know before I plug this controller in? Any special fuses I need to install or look at? Is there any fuses I need to put in for the recharging wire at the plug to the trailer to work?
Thanks again. You guys have been extremely helpful.

Rick