Trailer Brake Controller, Wiring Harness, and 12 Volt Power Wire Installation on a 2009 Ford F-150

Question:

I have a 2009 F150 with a 4-pin trailer harness. I have purchased from etrailer.com the TK63VR, the Wiring Adapter 22292, and the Pollak Circuit Breaker PK54540. I have mounted the Brake Controller and plugged in the wires under the dash, no problem. Now my question is in hooking up my 4-pin to 7-pin adapter. I plugged it in and i have the blue wire and black wire. The blue wire goes to the brake controller and the black to the positive on battery through the circuit breaker. The question is on the controller. All the wires are plugged in under the dash. Do i cut the wire going to the plug to connect the blue wire from the controller and cut the black wire to hook up the power?

asked by: John

Expert Reply:

Since your 2009 F-150 came with a 4-Way wiring harness, you will plug the Tekonsha # TK63VR brake controller in under the dash, using the adapter you referenced # 22292. Once this is done the power to the brake controller, black wire, and the stop light circuit to the brake controller, red wire, should be active. You can test these two wires for proper function using a circuit tester, item # PTW2993 if needed.

If you do not have power to the brake controller, you should check the tow package fuse for the brake controller power wire. This will be located in the power distribution box and the legend under the lid on the box will tell you the correct location of the fuse. If the fuse is absent or blown you will need to install a new one. The legend will also indicate the proper size fuse to use.

If neither the power or stoplight switch for the brake controller is working properly, you will need to hard wire the brake controller on your truck. We have a brake controller installation kit, # ETBC7, and detailed instructions, see link, for hard wiring a brake controller and 7-Way trailer connector on a vehicle with a working 4-Way connector.

The blue wire coming out of the back of the brake controller needs to be connected to the blue wire at the 7-Way adapter, # 37185, that you installed at the rear of the truck. Many times this wire can be found along the drivers side frame rail and spliced to the adapters blue wire. If the brake output wire cannot be located at the rear of the vehicle, you will need to sever the blue wire from the connector at the back of the brake controller and run a new wire, # 10-1-1, to the back of the truck and connect it to the blue wire from the 7-Way connector.

You may also find that there is a power wire for 12 volt power, if the blue brake controller output wire is located. If this wire is not present, you will need to run the power wire for the 7-Way trailer connector. Run a 10 gauge wire, # 10-1-1, from the positive post of the vehicle battery, to the battery (BAT) side of the circuit breaker, # PK54540, and then from the auxiliary (AUX) side of the circuit breaker to the black wire coming from the 7-Way adapter installed at the rear of the truck.