Ford Brake Controllers (1997-04)
Factory Installed 7-Way
If you drive a newer Ford Truck or Van (Ford 97-06 Ford F-150, 99-04 F-250/F-350 SD) and your vehicle already has the factory installed 7-Way Trailer Connector the only part needed to install a brake controller is the brake controller itself. Usually the factory will already give you a brake control adapter that connects to the brake controller and plugs into the dash. The OEM plug is on the driver's side, usually on the right. If the factory brake control adapter cannot be found a replacement is offered.
First connect the Brake Control Adapter to the Brake Controller. The factory adapter uses different colors, but the wires are labeled. The wires match up: red to red, black to black, white to white, blue to blue. Then plug the adapter, which is now connected to the brake controller, into the plug under the dash. Then mount the brake controller to a place on the dash. Make sure that it is easily accessible.
Factory Installed 4-Way
If you drive a newer Ford Truck or Van (~1997-03, Including 2004 Super Duty) and your vehicle already has the factory installed 4-Way flat trailer connector then only a few extra parts are required.
- A brake controller
- A universal adapter, Tekonsha adapter,
or Valley adapter
- Unless the factory one is provided
- The universal 7-Way (30717) or 6-Way (30637) or the factory 7-Way (118242) or 6-Way (20028)
First connect the Brake Control Adapter to the Brake Controller. The factory adapter uses different colors, but the wires are labeled. The wires match up: red to red, black to black, white to white, blue to blue. Then plug the adapter which is now connected to the brake controller into the plug under the dash. Mount the brake controller to a place on the dash that is easily accessible.
In the rear of the vehicle, follow the 4-way trailer connector wires from the trailer connector to the front of the vehicle. These wires connect to a factory plug usually on the driver's side, between the back tires and the end of the truck bed.
As shown in the picture, there are more wires coming from the front of the vehicle than there are coming out of the plug because a 4-pole trailer connector does not require all those wires. A 7-way or 6-way connector does. This is also the place where a facotry 7-Way (118242) or 6-Way (20028) adapter can be installed. Simply detach the connector shown above, an connect the 7-way or 6-way adapter in place. After grounding and mounting the adapter, installation is complete.
The 7-way and 6-way adapters come with a 4-pole trailer end that connects to the vehicle's factory installed 4-pole trailer connector and four (4) or three (3) extra lead wires. The white wire is for the ground, the blue wire is for the trailer brakes, the black wire is for a "hot" lead coming back from the battery, and the orange wire (7-way adapter only) is for another auxiliary function (typically reverse lights).
To install the 7-way or 6-way adapter, first plug in the 4-pole trailer connectors (A). Next, snip the blue and orange Ford wires next to the plug and connect them to the blue and black wires on the adapter (Ford to Adapter: Blue to Blue; Orange to Black) - see picture (B). If you prefer to not cut the wires, a factory plug-in 7-Way (118242) or 6-Way (20028) adapter can be installed. After grounding and mounting the adapter, installation is complete.
