Looking for Electric Brake Controller Wiring Harness

[Motts461]

I have a 2018 Minnie Winnie 31G and I am looking for the Electric Brake Controller Wiring Harness Plug. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[luvlabs]

Look in and around the steering column. Since you have a Ford, there might even be a connector in place.

[jhedges]

What tow vehicle do you have?

[Motts461]

I am towing a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. I may have found the harness. It has a connector plugged into it with a bunch of wires dead ended and one with a fuse inline going someplace. I am trying to use these wires for a light coming from the Jeep brakes like this: https://youtu.be/RCBsJZLU2rY

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Motts461-

Ford moved the controller connector to behind a panel in the upper dash. See this video, starting around the 1:32 mark.

If the connector harness in this link matches what's behind that panel, then you can buy one, plug it into the connector, and wire your brake activation light directly to it. Plug and play!

[Motts461]

Mark, Winnebago uses a different panel there and it is a bear to get off to look behind it. I have pried it away enough to see that the plug is not attached to the back of the panel. I am afraid of breaking the panel if I pry anymore. I have read that it is easier to take the whole front panel off but I am hesitant to do this yet. I already have the tekonsha connector that plugs into the plug i am looking for. Thanks for your help.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Motts461-

The owner's manual (link here, page 12-4) says "The trailer brake controller connector is located to the left of the steering column." That is the "traditional" location for the connector. Perhaps Winnebago moved it there.

The brochure (link here, sheet 7) and the wiring installation diagram (link here, sheet 2, view BE-BE) imply that their replacement for the factory panel is held on with a couple of screws, and should not require prying to remove it.

If your coach is different that that, could you please post a couple pictures of the panel: one from further away, showing the steering wheel and nearby dash, and a second showing the panel?

You might also look below the dash on the right side of the steering wheel, in case Winnebago secured the connector there.

For a coach this new, it would also be worthwhile to call Winnebago and ask them where the connector might be. Note: I have read of cases where a manufacturer's technical support team has told owners that connectors or wires don't exist, when they do.

The connector is there, so don't give up looking for it!

[Motts461]

Thanks Mark,
I have the two screws and they are out. It seems like the battery boost switch is holding the whole panel in. I can pry the right side out far enough to look behind the panel a little. I plan on working on it this weekend I will update then.

[Motts461]

I believe I have found the elusive connector. The first picture is a connector behind the parking brake. I am not sure what it is for but looks like the connector for the brake controller. I removed the engine cover and was able to reach up above the radio and found the connector laying up there. I will have another update when I connect the light to confirm that my set up works.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Motts461-

Looks like the correct connector. Per sheet 13 of this Ford Body Builder Layout Book extract, the pinouts are:

YELLOW-RED 12V+ input (30A fused)
VIOLET-WHITE Brake signal input
BLACK-VIOLET Ground
BLUE Brake controller output

The correct Tekonsha adapter is the 3034-P (link here).

Put an LED on the blue and black-violet leads for your toad brake activation light and you'll be in Fat City!

[luvlabs]

If you are towing a Jeep, you really don't need to do anything with that connector. Everything you need is at the 7 pin connector by the hitch. That would include all the needed connections for lights, supplemental 12V power to keep the battery charged. A braking unit (depends on what you get) will use the 12V, maybe the stop light, and is controlled by inertial sensors. No controller required.

[Motts461]

Luvlabs, I am not using a brake controller to control brakes on Jeep. I am trying to use existing wiring for the brake controller for something else.

Mark, first thank you so much for your help. I have that Tekonsha harness and plugged it in. It has a blue, red, black and white wire coming out. I tried a test light on the blue and white, then the blue and black without success. I was able to get power through my 7 to 6 cord on the brake controller lead when pressing jeep brake peddle. But I got nothing at the wire harness and gave up for tonight. I will check how the wires line up tomorrow.

I did get the plate off where the coin holder is on other models to make sure I had the right harness. I thought I would post some pictures to help the next guy out. The top picture shows the back of the plate. I had to remove the battery boost switch to re-install the plate. The middle picture shows the backing plate that the screws go into to hold the plate in.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Mott461-

On the Tekonsha harness, blue is the feed to the trailer electric brake signal pin on the coach hitch connector. White is a ground, which you'll need to for the activation LED.

For testing, you can send 12V from the dash to the hitch connector on the blue lead by jumping the black (12V+) and blue wires in the black 4-pin Tekonsha connector on the harness. Then, measure for that 12V+ at the hitch. Make sure the coach and toad are disconnected for this test! Then, plug the umbilical into the coach ONLY (i.e., NOT the toad). Test for 12V+ on the correct pin at the toad end of the umbilical, This should ring out any wiring issues on the coach side.

[Motts461]

Well Mark we figured it out. Using your troubleshooting guide I was able to figure out that my Blue Ox 7 to 6 pin connector was wired incorrectly. Once I reconfigured the connector everything works correctly. Here is the finished product thanks again Mark.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Motts461-

Pretty spiffy! I especially like the label. You won't have the problem of a future owner saying "What's that light in the dash for? It never goes off."

Happy to have helped you.