Tapping Into the Reverse Light Circuit on a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe to Install a 4 to 5-Way Adpater

Question:

I bought this part to be able to use the surge brake solenoid for backing up on my new boat trailer. I currently have the 4 pole wiring. I watched your demonstration video and it looks pretty straight forward. My vehicle is a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The back up light is on the hatch portion. my questions are 1 can it get to the back up wire back in the vehicle without fishing wires through the hatch lid? 2 if I have to fish it through the hatch lid how would I go about doing it? the flexible wire piece must come off somehow?

asked by: Rob E

Expert Reply:

Vehicles that have the reverse lights in the hatch can make tapping into the reverse light a little more difficult than most people would like. What I recommend doing is checking for the wiring harness leading to the lights UNDER the vehicle. Then use a circuit tester like # PTW2979 if needed to test the wires to find if the reverse light circuit is there.

If you cannot find it then there is another thing you can do. Use the vehicle owners manual and/or the legend on the power distribution box lid to find the location of the reverse light fuse. Then you can use a fuse tap, like # F2526 for example or one obtained locally if you have a different fuse type. You would need additional wiring # 12-1-1 to reach from the adapter to the fuse tap. This wire is sold in 1 foot increments and you would probably need about 20 feet or so.

Under the vehicle the wiring should be kept away from hot or moving parts that could damage the wire.

expert reply by: Michael H