98 Trailer Brakes 4 PIN

[danhaddock]

Hello all,

Just picked up a 98 LC yesterday. Drove it home - 9 1/2 hours. I am really happy. I will do a full write up as how I feel about it coming from a 04 Porsche Cayenne S.

But my more immediate need is for trailer brakes. I have searched many times here for my answer but cannot seem to find it.

My LC has the factory hitch with the 4 PIN connector. See attached pic. My trailer is a 2500 lb. horse trailer with the round 7 PIN. I want the Proportional brake controller

Where I am lost is the brake wiring. Most of the posts I read are for newer LCs with 7 PIN and the brakes are plug 'n play with the connector by the steering column. Is there a connection there for the 98? Where is the connection at the back of the LC for the output to the brakes connection?

I looked on Etrailer.com and everything there refers to the LC "without factory trailer connector". Its that the 7 PIN they are referring too?

I called a local RV/Trailer place and they said they would have to run a wire from the controller at the front of the car to the connector at the back. Labour was quoted at about $400.

I am just wondering if they are correct. So to summarize. My questions are:
Is my 98 LC plug and play?
Is there stock wiring I can use from front to back?
Where are both ends for the above?
If it is not Plug 'n Play is the labour quoted way high?

Thanks everyone. Happy to be a 100 owner

 

[danhaddock]

PIC

And here is the PIC

 

[Sandroad]

This is in the FAQs. Maybe it will help?

https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series...ler-brake-controller-late-100-series-tlc.html

 

[marques]

The 4-pin connector has signals for: 1) marker/taillights, 2) left brake/turn light, 3) right brake/turn light, and 4) ground return. The brake signal is an analog 0-12V (not on/off) completely separate from everything else in the truck and comes from an aftermarket brake controller. You need to wire one in; there are no shortcuts around it. That loaded horse trailer will be about 5,000 lbs. I would not even attempt to pull that without functional trailer brakes.

 

[hoser]

Like marques said, 98-02 100's have a plug in harness that has 4-poles. You have to add the other 3-pole to make the 7-pole harness.

-Blue is brake from your brake controller
-Red is + power to trailer (this is usually on a circuit breaker and suggested it is switched on via ignition otherwise has the potential of discharging your car battery)
-Purple is reverse/back-up lights

I would also consider getting a powered converter. This isolates your trailer lighting from your vehicle. You can just tap into that red power lead you are about to run.

http://www.drawtite.com/inonmo.html

For what you mentioned (not including the powered converter) , around here it would probably be about $250. But I don't think it would be the best job using the best materials. In fact, I think I'd have a hard time finding somebody who would do it the way I wanted. It would probably take the average joe about 3-5 hrs to do this the first time. 1/2 that for the 2nd time.

 

[danhaddock]

Hoser, I agree on DYI to my standards. If i understand the I need to run the wires from the controller to the Hitch as there are none (like a spare) that are available to me correct?

 

[Marshmallow]

I was quoted about the same for an RV place in Calgary to install wiring for the brake controller I had left over from my last vehicle so ended up doing it myself. I ran power and brake to the front of the vehicle tucked up near the brake/fuel lines underneath the vehicle, for the brake controller signal, there was a post on here that showed a wire in the driver's kick panel that was way easier to get to than the brake pedal switch (you'll curse that switch, the wires are very short on any Toyota!).

As for the controller, my prodigy 2 with its bracket installed slips nicely into the ashtray slot. When done for the season, I just unplugged and put the ashtray back in.

John