Hardwiring a Brake Controller to a 2016 Ford Explorer

Updated 08/21/2018 | Published 08/20/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Tekonsha Plug-In Wiring Adapter for Electric Brake Controllers - Ford, Lincoln, Mercury

(1799)

$22.00

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(66)

$14.86

Question:

The plug in my vehicle has 2 fat wires 1st blue and 2nd yellow/orange and 2 smaller gage wires 1st black/white and 2nd purple. The purple is +12v when brake is applied. The yellow/orange is +12v all the time. May you please tell me what the other two are? Tring to connect a controller by splicing while I get the appropriate patch cable. Controller wires are labeled Battery black, Ground white, Brake blue, and Stop red.

asked by: Zen

Expert Reply:

To install a brake controller, like the Prodigy P3 # 90195, on your 2016 Ford Explorer you will need to connect the following wires to the following functions:

Blue - 7-Way Output to Trailer
Black - 12V Power
White - Ground
Red - COLD Side of Stop Light Switch (only gets hot when brake pedal is pressed)

It sounds like the wires on your Explorer will connect as follows:

Blue - 7-Way Output to Trailer - Blue on Explorer
Black - 12V Power - Yellow/Orange on Explorer
White - Ground - White on Explorer
Red - COLD Side of Stop Light Switch - Purple on Explorer

I would verify that the blue wire on your explorer is for your brakes by applying 12V power to it and checking the pin in the 5 o'clock position (see photo) with a circuit tester # PTW2993 to ensure that you are getting 12V power at the 7-Way.

If your Explorer came with a 7-Way, you would be able to use the adapter # 3035-P to avoid hardwiring it. This adapter is for Tekonsha, Draw-Tite, and Tow ready brake controllers.