Brake Controller Installation Instructions for a 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac with Factory 4-Way  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Sure, I will be glad to help you with installation instructions for installing the Hopkins Agility Electric Brake Controller, item # HM47294, on your 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac with with factory 4-Way trailer connector.

You will need several items. All of these items are available in our Brake Controller 7- and 4-Way Installation Kit, item # ETBC7, with the exception of a circuit tester, item # PTW2993. Once you have the brake controller, the wiring kit, and a circuit tester, you are ready to get started.

Start, by plugging your existing 4-way connector into the 4-Way connector on the back of the connector supplied in the ETBC7 kit, and then connect the additional wires.
The additional wires would be installed as follows:

White: Ground, attached to a suitable location on the vehicle frame.
Black: 12v power lead wire, run to the vehicle positive battery terminal, with a 40amp circuit breaker inline. This circuit breaker is included in the # ETBC7 kit.
Blue: Electric brake wire, connected to the blue electric brake wire coming from the brake controller in the vehicle cab.
The Black and Blue wire are ran forward by connecting the Black wire to the black wire in the double bonded cable in the kit and the blue wire to the white wire in the double bonded cable.
Purple: This is an auxiliary wire, and can be used as a 12v power source, or to power a reverse light or reverse lockout function if needed. If not, this wire can be tied up.

Next you will need to wire the brake controller. With the Agility brake controller you will need to remove the quick connector plug on the brake control and splice the wires to the wires you will run under the dash and into the engine compartment.

The 4 wires coming out of the brake controller need to be connected as follows.

White: Ground, attached to the negative vehicle battery terminal.
Black: 12v lead, attached to the vehicle positive battery terminal with either the 20amp or 30amp circuit breaker included in the # ETBC7 kit. Use the 20amp breaker if your trailer has 2 to 4 brakes, or the 30amp if the trailer has 4 to 8 brakes.
Attach the white and black wires to the vehicle battery with a leftover length of the double bonded cable.
Blue: Electric brakes, attached to the white electric brake wire you ran from the trailer connector at the rear of the vehicle.
Red: Stoplight switch, normally located directly off the vehicle brake pedal. Use the circuit tester mentioned earlier to find the wire that only goes hot when the brake pedal is pressed.

To give you a closer look at how the adapter and brake controller would connect to your vehicle, I am including links to a article with step by step instructions and a video demonstrating an installation.

expert reply by: Robert G

0