Can the Rear Accessory Socket on a 2017 Mazda CX-5 be Used to Power the T-One # 118746

Question:

In regards to the Tekonsha trailer wiring kit. The 2017+ CX5s have a power source bus in the hatch area. The OEM Mazda trailer harness kit taps into a power source there instead of running a wire all the way to the front of the battery. Cant the same thing be done with the Tekonsha kit or must one run the long 12v wire to the battery?

asked by: Peter

Expert Reply:

Although the recent CX-5s may have a power source bus in the hatch area you will want to run the wire for power to the battery.

The Tekonsha T-One # 118746 is a new kit for 2017+ Mazda CX-5s which Tekonsha designed specifically for your vehicle. Since both Tekonsha and Curt (for the Kit # C56377) say that you need to route the power wire directly to the battery that is the best route to go. After routing the wire up to the battery you need to install the included fuse and connect it to the wire you ran and the battery.

The whole idea of routing the wire directly to your battery is to bypass the wiring on your vehicle anyways. This means that if something were to happen to the wiring on your trailer the wiring on your CX-5 would remain unaffected.

Although it may seem like a pain it is always best to install vehicle accessories (especially wiring) exactly as the manufacturer states.

expert reply by: Jon G