Installing a Trailer Brake Controller on a 1997 Toyota T100 with Tow Package Wiring Under the Dash

Updated 03/25/2014 | Published 03/22/2014

Question:

i have a 1997 Toyota t-100 and i need to hook up a brake controller under the dash, the Toyota wires are brown, purple, white, and white/black stripe. i have a standard blue, red, black, and white Tekonsha controller. which goes where?

asked by: Cody B

Expert Reply:

You will need to test the wires on your 1997 Toyota T100 to determine the functions since they are not the common wire colors we are familiar with for Toyota brake controller wiring harnesses.

Use a circuit tester such as # 3808 to test the wires. The wire that has constant 12 volt power will connect to the controller black wire. The wire that only has power when you step on the brake pedal will connect to the controller red wire.

The last 2 connections are tricky. To determine which one is the brake output wire you can apply 12 volt power to the brake output pin on the trailer connector at the back of the truck while testing the remaining wires under the dash with the circuit tester. The one that shows the power is the brake output wire and will connect to the brake controller blue wire.

That just leaves the ground wire, white on the brake controller.

expert reply by: Michael H