Trailer Tow Package Does Contain 4 Wires for Aftermarket Brake Controller Install

[rangerdanger]

You can get 72 hours to Ford service manuals for about $30. Includes wiring diagrams.

Someone want to take one for the team?

https://www.motorcraftservice.com/Home/Index

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[t4thfavor]

So to tap the break signal, I'm guessing with all the wizardry going on with the collision avoidance and whatnot, it's not as easy as vampiring the signal from the top of the brake pedal?

 

[heathconder]

So to tap the break signal, I'm guessing with all the wizardry going on with the collision avoidance and whatnot, it's not as easy as vampiring the signal from the top of the brake pedal?

that's a good question ill find out when I install and test it.

 

[Geoff]

that's a good question ill find out when I install and test it.

I would think you can find the Brake ON/Off Switch mounted near the Brake pedal. That switch turns the brake lights on an off and I see no reason why tapping into it for the brake controller would screw up anything....

BTW, as an aside, that switch also fed into my cruise control on my '02 Ranger and when the switch got flaky the Cruise control didn't always engage.

Edit, it looks like Fuse 64 (owners manual pg 237) feeds the Yellow wire - did you by any chance test that?

 

[t4thfavor]

What I mean is the adaptive cruise, and the brake assist is turning on and off the brakes without input from the pedal, I'd hate to see the brake assist attempt some braking maneuver without letting the trailer know it's about to go down. I don't think the brake switch "knows" when the brakes are on unless it's the driver doing the braking via the pedal.

 

[Geoff]

What I mean is the adaptive cruise, and the brake assist is turning on and off the brakes without input from the pedal, I'd hate to see the brake assist attempt some braking maneuver without letting the trailer know it's about to go down. I don't think the brake switch "knows" when the brakes are on unless it's the driver doing the braking via the pedal.

Adaptive cruise braking turns on the brake lights so as long as you tap into the brake light signal I see no issues. The brake pedal itself may not be initiating the braking but I suspect the output of that brake pedal switch is going on and off with the brake lights regardless on what initiates braking (this would be a "wired Or" situation). If not, then the actual brake light signal needs to be tapped into.

 

[t4thfavor]

Yup, that's what I meant. I guess we won't know until someone brave taps the pedal and drives around with a test light hooked up.

 

[Geoff]

I still can't believe Ford hasn't documented this in some form or fashion that doesn't require buying the wiring diagrams.
They need to issue a TSB on this.

 

[Geoff]

Yup, that's what I meant. I guess we won't know until someone brave taps the pedal and drives around with a test light hooked up.

Yes, proving that would be a good idea.

 

[t4thfavor]

I'm going through the install guide for the Redarc for the Aussie market right now, I'm sure it will say something about it.

https://www.redarc.com.au/Images/uploads/files/TPWKIT001_Fitting_Instructions.pdf

 

[heathconder]

I would think you can find the Brake ON/Off Switch mounted near the Brake pedal. That switch turns the brake lights on an off and I see no reason why tapping into it for the brake controller would screw up anything....

BTW, as an aside, that switch also fed into my cruise control on my '02 Ranger and when the switch got flaky the Cruise control didn't always engage.

Edit, it looks like Fuse 64 (owners manual pg 237) feeds the Yellow wire - did you by any chance test that?

ill check that tomorrow and let you know what I find out.

 

[FLEngineer]

Wiring diagrams attached...

 

[rangerdanger]

 

[Geoff]

Wiring diagrams attached...

Good stuff FLEngineer.

If those are the current diagrams for the Ranger the colors are different that what heathconder found.
Page 4 shows:

• The Yellow wire going to fuse 64 which is what the manual shows for trailer brakes (pg 237) - Consistent with what heathconder found.
  
• The Brake ON/Off switch (BOO) wire which has not been found yet is Violet with a White Stripe
• The output of the brake controller feeds a Blue wire which we thought was Green with a Black stripe
• White is ground as heathcondor found.

These wires are near the left side kick panel so perhaps the BOO wire is still hidden and, perhaps, the Trailer brake wire is Green/Black instead of Blue. That is easy enough to ring out.

Progress. Slow but progress!

 

[rangerdanger]

This one says "Taped to harness near LHS (left hand side) kick panel".

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