Installing a Brake Controller on a 2013 Chrysler Town and Country

Question:

I want to install a brake controller and trailer wiring harness on my 2013 Chrysler Town and Country. Will any existing wiring need to be cut to do the install?

asked by: Ron

Expert Reply:

There will have to bee some cutting and splicing to install a brake controller on your 2013 Chrysler Town and Country. Chrysler did not add a factory brake controller harness to the Town and Country, so the brake controller will need to be hardwired. The good news is that you will likely only have to splice one wire into your vehicle wiring. To install a brake controller like the Curt TriFlex, # C24VV, that you referenced, you will want the Curt Universal Brake Controller Wiring Adapter, # C51515, and the Brake Controller Wiring Kit, # 5506.

There will be 4 wires coming from the brake controller. The black wire is the power wire for the brake controller and it will need to be routed to the positive terminal of the vehicle battery via the 30-amp circuit breaker included in the wiring kit. The white wire is ground and can either be grounded to a metal surface under the dash or the negative terminal of the vehicle battery.

The red wire splices into the brake light wire from the vehicles stop light switch. The stop light switch is located at the top of the brake pedal. You will see 4 or 5 wires coming off of the switch and the red wire will splice into the wire that only has power when the brake pedal is pressed. Traditionally, Chrysler used a green wire for this on the Town and Country, but I recommend using a circuit tester, like part # 40376, to test the wire before making the connection.

Finally, you will be left with the blue wire. This is the electric brake output wire and will need to be ran to the trailer connector at the back of the van.

If your van does not have a trailer connector, then you will first want to install the Curt T-Connector Wiring Harness, # C56331, and the Universal 7-Way and 4-Way Installation Kit, # ETBC7. This will give you everything you need to install a 7-way trailer connector and a brake controller.

I have attached an installation video of a brake controller and the # ETBC7 kit on a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan for you to check out. The vehicle is different from your van, but the installation process will be very similar. I have also attached an installation video of the Curt Wiring Harness, # C56331, on a 2013 Chrysler Town and Country and a few help articles on brake controllers and wiring installations for you to check out.