How to Get Blue Brake Output Wire to 7-Way on a 2015 Ford F-150 with Factory 4-Way Connector

Updated 08/16/2016 | Published 08/15/2016

Question:

On a Ford F150 XLT, 2015, that only has a 4-way factory install, if the blue wire for the brake controller is exposed, do I have to cut that wire in order to tap into it with part #37185 Adapter 4-Pole to 7-Pole and 4-Pole as shown on installation video? Or, can I follow that wire all the way inside the wire loom, and use the end-tip of it? Im not sure I understand this correctly, but if a 4-way factory installed connection as installed on my truck does not have the capability of supporting a brake controller Blue Wire, why is it there in the first place, and where is it going to? Thank you.

asked by: Norm

Expert Reply:

On a 2015 Ford F-150 that has the factory 4-Way flat connector you can either cut the blue wire back from the brake controller and run a wire from it to the blue wire on the # 37185 adapter like you said or access the wire were it terminates further back under the truck. I recommend the second method because it is less work and you can still just plug in the brake controller using harness # 22292 (for Tekonsha controllers) or the specific harness to match the brake controller you have.

Both the factory 7-Way and 4-Way plug into a the same harness a little further forward on the truck. Rather than use 2 different harnesses Ford uses the same for models with the factory 7-Way or factory 4-Way. The factory 4-Way doesn't need the additional functions the 7-Way does so where it plugs into that harness it does not have any pins that utilize the additional wiring like the 7-Way does.

I have linked a video that will also help.

expert reply by: Michael H