Installing a Trailer Brake Controller on a 2004 Toyota Highlander with Tow Package

Updated 03/02/2016 | Published 03/01/2016

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Wiring Kit for 2, 4, 6, and 8 Brake Electric Trailer Brake Controllers

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Question:

I have a 2004 Toyota Highlander LTD, AWD V-6 w/Tow Pkg and am wanting to know if either the Tekonsha P2 or P3 brake controller will work with my vehicle? Are either of these overkill for towing a small TT with a GVWR of 2350 lbs? Would some other Proportional controller be just as good such as a less expensive or sophisticated model of Tekonsha or Hopkins? I would prefer to go with a model that is proportional and digital. What other wiring will I need? Im not sure whether a 2004, 1st Generation Highlander with the 3500# tow rating will have a connector up underneath the dash. If it doesnt, will this have to be hard wired all the way from underneath the hood at the battery through the firewall to a controller and then to the rear into the round 7 receiver pigtail and then back up to the front again and somehow connected to the brake pedal for brake lights? I may have this sequence incorrect, but in the end, do I have to do a manual wiring setup without the benefit of a factory plug-n-play setup? I have also read that people who have connected their wiring for brake lights through their brake pedal with the blue wire ? have suddenly discovered and experienced a malfunction with their ABS system? Do you know anything about this?

asked by: Peter S

Expert Reply:

Brake controllers are not vehicle specific so you can install the P2 # 90885 or P3 # 90195 or any controller in your 2004 Toyota Highlander.

Brake controller power output can be adjusted to as long as you do not set the controller too aggressively it will work great with your small travel trailer.

The P2 and P3 are the controllers I recommend the most because they are easy to set up and use and they are reliable. But if you wanted to go with a good controller that costs a little less I recommend the Primus # TK90160. It has similar guts as the P2 (actually uses the same circuitry as the original Prodigy brake controller) but it lacks some of the features like electric over hydraulic braking compatibility and a smaller mounting range.

There isn't a wiring harness that will allow you to plug a brake controller directly into the Highlander so it will need to be hardwired in. For this I recommend wiring kit # 5506 which comes with the parts you will need.

When installing the controller the white wire will ground to the negative battery terminal. The black wire will connect to the positive battery terminal via the 30 amp circuit breaker included with 5506. The blue wire will ultimately connect to the back of the 7-Way trailer connector in the 7 o'clock position.

That leaves the red wire and this is where that ABS thing comes in. The brake switch (located above the brake pedal) will have several wires going in and out of it. More than one will have power on it. You need the one that has power only when the brake pedal is pressed. If it has power at any other time, like when the head lights or turn signals are on, it is not the correct wire.

This is probably what causes the ABS issue. Connecting the controller to the wrong brake switch wire could have unintended results. But the way you describe it almost sounds like people have connected more than just the brake controller to that brake switch which could overload it depending on the amount of amperage draw on that circuit.

I have included a couple of links that will help. It won't be 100 percent the same but you can still follow the relevant parts that pertain more to your installation.