Installing Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller # 90195 on 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 w/ No Tow Package

Question:

Trying to find the wire colors to hardwire a trailer brake to my truck. My wire colors on the truck are 1 Yellow w/red line. 2 White w/purple line 3 Green w/black line and 4 Green. My trailer brake is the standard red, blue, black, white. I just cant tell which of mine is ground, 12V, stoplight and trailer brake. Appreciate whatever u can do.

asked by: Mark F

Expert Reply:

I'm guessing that you're dealing with a Ram that wasn't equipped with a factory tow package, right? I'm not sure what the wires you speak of are for. Due to the fact that wire colors aren't always consistent, we recommend wiring by function, not by wire color.

There's three separate installation scenarios. The way you'd proceed will depend on how the vehicle is equipped. If the truck has an OEM 7-way, and you're using a Tekonsha brake controller like the # 90195 you mentioned, you'd simply need a # 3021-P wiring adapter.

If you have the OEM 4-pole, you'll need the # 3021-P and a 4-pole to 7-way adapter, part # 37185. On the BLUE wire on the 3021-P wiring adapter, you'd need to sever the blue wire, and run your own output circuit by attaching one end of a length of 10 gauge wire like 10-1-1 to the blue wire exiting the rear of the controller and run it through the firewall, under the vehicle to the blue wire on the # 37185 adapter.

The third scenario assumes there's no tow package, no trailer connector. In this instance, the controller would be hardwired in using our # ETBC7 Brake Controller Install Kit. The kit contains just everything needed to install a brake controller. The kit includes a 4-pole to 7-way adapter for the rear of the truck. You can either cut off the 4-pole part of the adapter and wire it directly into the taillight circuits or use a # 18252 kit to install a 4-pole for the adapter to plug into. The brake controller would install under the dash, usually to the right of the steering column. The blue wire would carry the output voltage to the trailer connector, the black wire wold connect to the positive battery terminal, the white wire to the negative battery terminal and the red wire to the stoplight switch wire. You'll need to find the stoplight switch at the top of the brake pedal, and use a circuit tester on the wires exiting the switch. You're looking for the wire that only shows voltage when the brake pedal is pressed.

I've linked you to the install instructions for the # ETBC7 kit, as well as to and install video. The video shows the kit being installed on an older Ram truck, but the procedure for your truck would be very similar.