Installing T-1 Harness # 118552 and Brake Controller on 2011 Dodge Durango using # ETBC7 Install Kit  

Question:

Expert Reply:

We have exactly what you need to equip your Durango to tow a trailer equipped with electric brakes. The T-1 wiring harness you recommended, # 118552 would be installed first. The harness plugs inline with the vehicle tail light wiring harness behind each tail light, with a separate power wire that is ran to the positive battery terminal, as you described. With this particular harness, the power needed for the trailer lights comes directly from the battery, rather than being drawn from the vehicle tail light circuit.

At this point, the Brake Controller Installation Kit, part # ETBC7 would be used. The kit includes an adapter that would plug directly into the 4-pole flat connector from the T-1 harness. The adapter has four additional wires that would need to be connected.

The black and the blue wire would attach to the black and the white wire in the duplex cable included in the kit, and would be ran under the vehicle to the engine compartment. In routing this cable, be sure to avoid any hot or moving parts such as steering, exhaust or suspension components. Once the cable reaches the engine compartment, the black wire connects to the positive battery terminal via a 40 amp circuit breaker included in the kit. The white wire (that is was connected to the blue wire coming off of the adapter) would run through the firewall to attach to the blue wire exiting the rear of the brake controller.

The remaining white adapter wire would ground to the vehicle frame, and the purple wire would tap into the reverse light circuit if the trailer has reverse lights. If this circuit is not needed, the wire can be taped up out of the way.

The controller would install under the dash within easy reach of the driver, typically to the right of the steering column. The controller has 4 wires exiting the rear. The blue wire attaches to the white wire that was ran through the firewall earlier. The black wire runs through the firewall to connect to the positive battery terminal using either the 20- or 30-amp breaker included with the kit. The instructions included with your brake controller will state which breaker is needed. The white wire runs through the firewall and connects to the negative battery terminal. The remaining red wire would tap into to the cold side circuit of the brake stoplight switch. This switch is located at the top of the brake pedal, under the dash. There will be several wires exiting the switch. The wire you are looking to tap the red wire into is usually a white wire with a tan stripe, but you should use a circuit tester like part # PTW2993 to verify that this wire only shows current when the brake pedal is applied.

I will link you to instructions for the # ETBC7 and the T-1 harness. I have also linked you to some install videos that you might find helpful. The videos show the harness and the ETBC7 being installed on similar vehicles.

expert reply by: Mike L

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