Upgrading a 2002 Toyota 4 Runner from a 4-Way to a 7-Way and Installing a Brake Controller

Expert Reply:

Converting your 4-Pin to a 7/4-Pin combo would not only provide a the circuit for electric brakes and a brake controller, but it will allow more versatility in towing. Once you have a 7-Pin, you can connect just about any type of trailer connector with the right adapter.

We have put together a kit, part # ETBC7, that will convert your 4-Pin to a 7/4-Pin and set the vehicle up for a brake controller. With an ETBC7 and a brake controller, you will have everything you need to add a brake controller to your 4 Runner.

The ETBC7 adapter will plug into your current 4-Pin, then you will have 4 more loose wires to connect. The white wire will be grounded. The purple wire is for reverse lights. You simply splice it into the reverse light wire on your Toyota. If you do not need or want reverse lights, you can tape it up and out of the way. The blue and black wires need to be connected to the length of jacketed 2-wire that is included and run to the front of the vehicle. The black wire needs to be connected to the positive post of the vehicle battery with the included 40 amp circuit breaker wired in-line. The blue wire needs to be run into the cab for the brake controller. At this point, your 7/4-Pin is installed and you are ready to add the brake controller.

You can use the Tekonsha P2 you were looking at. They are both proportional controllers and perform very well. The blue wire will connect to the blue wire you ran from the 7-Pin. The black wire will go to the positive post of the battery. Again you will wire either the 20 or 30 amp breaker, included, in-line with the wire. See the brake controller manual about which breaker to use. The white wire will need to be run to the negative post of the battery. Finally, the red wire needs to be connected to a stop light circuit. You can usually find this wire by locating the switch up on the brake pedal arm. Find the wire that is only hot when you press the pedal. Use a circuit tester like part # 3808 to find this wire.

Once you have the brake controller wired, you are done. Your 7-Pin and your brake controller will be wired and ready to to adjust the controller settings.

I have added links to the parts I mentioned as well as to some videos and help pages that will explain, in more detail, how to install and wire a brake controller and ETBC7.

expert reply by: Patrick B