Troubleshooting No Taillights or Side Markers On Trailer After Installing Curt 7-Way 2014 Explorer

Question

Question:

2014 Ford Explorer w/o tow package. Bought a small popup camper and installed this 7 way connector popup has brakes. I haven’t installed the trailer brake controller yet, but I hooked the trailer up to test out functionality and although the brake lights light up, and the blinkers work, the tail lights and side markers don’t come on when the headlights come on. A buddy hooked up his trailer wiring tool to check for a signal and everything except the taillight connection is working. Are there any procedures or steps I might be missing?

asked by: ClevelandITGuy

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

As the Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 7-Way Trailer Connector # C56278 connects to the factory tow package connector on your 2014 Ford Explorer you will need to start by checking the fuses and relays in your fuse engine compartment fuse panel. The relay is slot 77 and fuse in slot 84 are for the running lights on the trailer.

If that does not fix the issue be sure to inspect the wiring on the connectors to ensure no pins have broken or pushed out of either connector on your Ford or the Curt harness.

expert reply by: Bud M

1

Answer 1

The Tekonsha P-3, part #90195, will go into a sleep mode after several minutes of no activity. The power draw while in this sleep mode is so small that it is really not worth worrying about, certainly not enough to discharge your battery. If it would…

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Answer 2

Which Prodigy do you have, the original or the P2? My contact at Tekonsha tells me that if the power to controller is interrupted and re-established in rapid succession, like when you are replacing your battery, the processor of the original Prodigy…

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Answer 3

For a trailer weighing 1200kg (2640 pounds) you would most likely only need boost setting 1 if at all when using the P3, #90195. But before setting the boost you will need to set the gain properly on the P3. To do this, follow these steps: First take…

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Answer 4

The brake controller connector is located directly behind the hood release handle on your 2014 Explorer. Ford typically uses a gray plug, but it might also be a light brown in color. I have confirmed this for certain w/ my Tekonsha representative. If…

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Answer 5

There are often two different harnesses at the back of the 2015 Ford Explorer and it looks like you just have the incorrect one; occasionally they're in slightly different spots but there will only be 1 plug to install trailer wiring on a 2015…

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Answer 6

Even though it doesn't have the tow package, the 2014 Ford Explorer will still have the rectangular connector located under the vehicle behind the passenger side rear wheel as shown in the linked install video for the Curt #C56278. On some…

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Answer 7

You are correct that the plug in your picture is not the right one. The one that you want to use will have a connection looking like the female side of the Curt T-Connector #C56278 that you referenced. We installed a similar harness, the Tekonsha…

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Answer 8

Sometime auto makers include certain features, like tow wiring connectors, even on vehicles that do not have the tow package. The term's exact meaning varies by auto maker, car model and even by year. If your Explorer has the mating rectangular…

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Answer 9

Your dealer would be able to confirm if your Explorer is equipped with the tow package by running the VIN, the online VIN decoders I have access to aren't detailed enough to indicate whether your Explorer was equipped with the factory tow…

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Answer 10

If you use a circuit tester like our part #PTW2993 to test the pins of the plug you found and they are active when you apply taillight functions the #C56172 would work. If none of the circuits are activated when the taillight functions are applied…

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Answer 11

We have everything that you need. First off will be the Vehicle Wiring Harness with 7-Way #C56278. This will give you the 7-way plug the travel trailer requires. Secondly I recommend the Curt Echo Wireless Trailer Brake Controller #C51180. This brake…

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Answer 12

Trailer wiring harness #C56278 is designed to fit models of the 2015 Ford Explorer that came with the factory connectors under the vehicle to plug in a wiring harness. If your model did not come with them then it cannot be installed. With or without…

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Troubleshooting No Taillights or Side Markers On Trailer After Installing Curt 7-Way 2014 Explorer

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