Brake Controller Installation - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Updated 06/18/2014 | Published 06/16/2014

Products Featured in This Question

Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector

(117)

$43.49

Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires

(3534)

$118.67

Question:

I have a 04 grand cherokee. I have wire harness C55369 already installed. I need to add electric brakes to one of my trailers. I found the light blue wire under the dash for the electric brakes for the brake controller. Which harness do I need to add a 6 or 7 way plug to the jeep?

asked by: Tim K

Expert Reply:

Usually, the blue wire you mention is only ran if the vehicle is equipped with the OEM 7-way connector. I'm assuming you've also found where that wire terminates at the rear of the vehicle, is that correct? If so, you'll need to use a multimeter with some long leads to check the continuity on that wire, to ensure its the same wire. If it isn't, you'll need to run your own brake output circuit.

Since you have a 4 pole in place, provided by the # C55369, you can use the brake controller install kit, part # ETBC7. The kit includes an adapter that would convert the existing 4-pole into a 7-way. If the blue wire you have at the rear is indeed the other end of the wire you found under the dash, you'd connect that wire to the blue lead on the adapter. The white lead with the ring terminal would ground to the vehicle, the purple wire would tap into the reverse light circuit (if needed) and the black lead would run to the positive battery terminal via the 40 amp breaker included in the kit.

If you haven't chosen a brake controller yet, I'd highly recommend you go with a proportional model like the Tekonsha Prodigy P2, part # 90885. The P2 is one of our most popular controller, because of how easy it is to use. The controller would install under the dash within easy reach of the driver, usually to the right of the steering column. The blue wire would connect to the blue wire you found earlier, or if you needed to run your own circuit, it would connect to that wire. The black wire connects to the positive battery terminal via the 30 amp breaker included in the kit and the white wire grounds to the negative battery terminal. The red wire taps into the cold side circuit on the brake stoplight switch located at the top of the brake pedal assembly. Jeep usually used a white wire with a tan stripe for the wire you're looking for, but I'd recommend using a circuit tester like part # 40376 to confirm. You're looking for the wire that only shows current when the brake pedal is pressed.

I'll link you to instructions for the ETBC7 kit, plus a video showing the kit being used on a Jeep Liberty. The procedure on your Grand Cherokee would be similar.

expert reply by: Mike L