Hi I am new to your Message board, actually just stumbled onto it. I have a '97 F-150 XLT , 2wd that I bought used recently without manuals. I need to hook up an electronic trailer brake control to it, and my truck appears to been equipped with a tow package. Trailer lights have been pre-wired to a 4 prong flat connector on bumper, and there is a connector under dash for a wire harness for the trailer brake control, my question is this: In the connector for the brake control harness are all the proper color wires white for ground, black for power, red for the cold side of the brake switch, and blue for the trailer brakes. However I cannont find the blue wire coming out the back end of the truck to wire into the 7 pin trailer connector to operate the trailer brakes. Has anyone ever done this, and can you share some help.



Thanks
Drew from Georgia.

 

I just checked my '99, but I'm not sure it's the same config. My Tow pkg came with the 7 pin connector. It is plugged into another connector mounted up into the frame next to the spare on the driver's side. if you have that connector, the blue brake wire should be there.
Good luck.

[This message has been edited by Jimb (edited 02-11-2001).]

 

Thanks for your reply Jimbo, but my truck only has the 4-wire flat connector on the bumper, it appears to be factory equipped. Like I said the trailer brake connector is under the dash, but I can't find where the brake control wire(blue one) exits the cab to the rear of the truck, anyone else know?

[This message has been edited by Jimb (edited 02-11-2001).][/B][/QUOTE]

 

your truck actually doesnt have the towing package. The towing package means it has a factory hitch and 7 pin plug, the non tow package just has the 4 pin. But the blue brake wire, orange charging wire, and black/grn reverse wire are at the connector where the tail light harness plugs in to the chassis harness. I work at a dealership, and what i do is make the people buy the harness that would be on it if it were tow. package. It will replace the tail harness you currently have, and plug in fine.

 

Thanks for the information, will any ford dealership have this harness? Is there a certain part no. etc.

Thanks again.
Drew

 

yea, any dealer that has enough sense to look up the harness correctly can get it for you. What the above post said is true, the 3 wires that arent in the 4 pin plug are at the end of the chassis harness, but youd have to cut them off the plug and extend the wires out to the bumper, and them change your plug to the 7 pin, or little 6 pin style. Since i do this at work, and have to be sure its going to hold up, i prefer to use the harness that plugs in and makes it be just like factory, even though it is a little more expensive.

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2001 Supercab F150 Lariat 4WD offroad

 

I hafta agree with jefflaws. Most light problems start with bad connections. Also when wiring always HOOK UP THE GROUND don't rely on the ball & hitch to make the ground.

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SEE YA, DOINIT 2001 F-150 4X2 SuperCrew XLT, Exterior Island Blue, Interior Medium Parchment, 5.4L, 3.55 Limited Slip, Sliding Rear Window, Remote Entry, 6-Disc CD Changer, Captains Chairs, Towing Package

 

depotdru, i understood that you only have the 4-way flat connector. That 4-way flat connector harness should be pluggeed into the main harness up in the frame next to the spare. that's where the brake control wire may end on your truck.

 

Jefflaws,

I would really like the part number for that harness. I thought that is all I had to do, there were too many wires coming into that harness in the frame rail, and too few coming out into the 4 way flat plug. A part number would be great if you could look it up for us! My dealer couldn't seem to find it!

 

Jefflaws,

I would really like the part number for that harness. I thought that is all I had to do, there were too many wires coming into that harness in the frame rail, and too few coming out into the 4 way flat plug. A part number would be great if you could look it up for us! My dealer couldn't seem to find it!

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MY TRUCK:

99 F-150 4x4, 5.4 Triton, 3.55 gears, Amazon Green-Harvest Gold two-tone.

MY MODIFICATIONS:

Lund bug shield

Window vent visors

17" Chrome ORP wheels

Clarion in-dash CD

Connex 3300HP CB radio, K-40 antenna

Husky floor liners

Custom dual exhaust w/Flowmster muffler and dual 3" chrome tips

Hidden hitch

K&N Filter

SUPERCHIP FLIP CHIP....ordered

Extang tonneu cover

Rancho RSX Shocks

 

Like they said above... you will need the harness to get the 7-pin connector at the bumper, as well as the wiring harness for the controller that plugs in under the dash. I'm not positive, but I think all the relays and fuses were included on the 97. On the 200, you have to install the relays and fuses in their proper spots before the lights will work.

-Joe-

 

I already have the harness from under the dash. My Father-in-law has the tow package, and he will never use it. That harness came in a bag with the truck.

The part number I need the for the harness from under the frame rail to the bumper with the 7 pin plug.

Thanks!

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MY TRUCK:

99 F-150 4x4, 5.4 Triton, 3.55 gears, Amazon Green-Harvest Gold two-tone.

MY MODIFICATIONS:

Lund bug shield

Window vent visors

17" Chrome ORP wheels

Clarion in-dash CD

Connex 3300HP CB radio, K-40 antenna

Husky floor liners

Custom dual exhaust w/Flowmster muffler and dual 3" chrome tips

Hidden hitch

K&N Filter

SUPERCHIP FLIP CHIP....ordered

Extang tonneu cover

Rancho RSX Shocks

 

 

I have the same year and model F150 as you.
Just completed modifying the trailer plug from factory installed 4-pin flat to 7-pin RV. Get the 7-pin RV plug that has about 18" of harness, containg the mating 4-pin flat connector and 4 separate wires: red, blue (or black), white and yellow.
Lower and remove your spare tire. Look from under the truck to the driver side chassis frame and adjacent to spare tire mounting.
Two factory connectors are visible, one is used with a 4-pin plug going to the 4-pin flat connector. The second one is capped with a plastic sleeve and contains red and blue wires for the brakes and brake switch.
They told me that they discontinued making the connector harness for the blue/red connector, so I cut it off and spliced #10 gauge blue/red wires. So, just remove the 4-pin flat connector and plug into the 7-pin RV plug. Ground the white wire. Yellow is for backup lights and I taped this up as unused. Then blue to blue, red to red using butt crimp connectors. Tape the harness crimp connectors with electrical tape and use plastic straps to support the cabling along its route. I drilled and tapped into my Drawtite hitch to fasten the RV connector with 10-32 bolts, plus one more for the ground (white terminal)
Good luck, Jon.