Forum Discussion

LSVLance's avatar
LSVLance
Explorer
Mar 28, 2016

Electric brake control harness in E-450

Has anyone had any luck finding a factory installed harness plug in their newer E-450 Chassis to plug an electric brake controller (like a Tekonsha P3) directly into?

eTrailer says in a couple of different places that there should be one behind the center part of the dash that this connector will plug right into.

https://www.etrailer.com/p-3034-P.html

I pulled the engine cover on my 2016 E-450 completely out last week and only found this connector up there behind the cetner of the dash, which doesn't match the 3034P plug.



Somewhere I saw that some chassis have a black plug and need a different harness, I think for a Superduty chassis...but I can not seem to find that link again for some reason and the guy at eTrailer didn't know anything about it either.

eTrailer had me look up above e-brake pedal for the grey one also, no luck. Lastly, after I left where the RV is stored they said in some instances....it's under the driver seat also.

My next step unless a better ideal is found before then is to start back at the 7 pin connector, see if there is a wire attached to the brake wire pin...then try to follow it forward. Surely there is but at this point who knows. Hopefully one of you has tried to do the same and can hold my hand to save some time.

Thanks,
Lance
Class C
  • LSVLance's avatar
    LSVLance
    Explorer
    Mar 28, 2016
    Just so I can find it again later and in case anyone else is looking for it, I found this diagram for the trailer tow wiring on the E-series Body Builders layout book.

    https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/2015/2015_Electrical_Wiring_v1-0.pdf

    Page 13 and 14 deal with the factory trailer tow wiring on the 2015
    E-Series chassis.

    I will take this with me the next time I visit our RV to see if it helps find said connectors.
  • Bobbo's avatar
    Bobbo
    Explorer II
    Mar 28, 2016
    LSVLance wrote:
    Just so I can find it again later and in case anyone else is looking for it, I found this diagram for the trailer tow wiring on the E-series Body Builders layout book.

    https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/2015/2015_Electrical_Wiring_v1-0.pdf

    Page 13 and 14 deal with the factory trailer tow wiring on the 2015
    E-Series chassis.

    I will take this with me the next time I visit our RV to see if it helps find said connectors.

    Made it a clicky.
  • Dusty_R's avatar
    Dusty_R
    Explorer
    Mar 29, 2016
    Above the camera screen is a pocket like storage. It is removable and behind it is the plug in that you are looking for.

    Dusty
  • ADOR's avatar
    ADOR
    Explorer
    Mar 29, 2016
    I am looking for the same harness. Only one I found was the one right below the steering wheel column. How do I remove that coin holder/pocket like storage? I am thinking of drilling a small hole and use a hook or something.

    Dusty R wrote:
    Above the camera screen is a pocket like storage. It is removable and behind it is the plug in that you are looking for.

    Dusty
  • LSVLance's avatar
    LSVLance
    Explorer
    Mar 31, 2016
    Okay, time to put a cap on this...

    I was able to get the coin tray out without damage and just like everyone said, the factory installed electric brake control harness was sitting right behind said tray. From then on it was about a 10 minute job to finish installing the brake controller.

    Here is a picture of the 2016 dash where Ford moved the coin tray to up above the radio.



    Here are where the tabs are on the tray that need to be released before tray will come out. Three along the top, two along the bottom. They do NOT release easily the first time.

    Top


    Bottom


    Sides have no tabs but are easiest to get putty knife or screwdriver under to get started.



    Here is where I mounted my Tekonsha.


    I used 4 long wood screws to attach the bracket to the foam behind the panel. It seems pretty secure now, time will tell if they hold tight in there. An easier fix may be to just buy the Ford brake controller and put it in place of the coin tray, but this also requires a reflash of the ECM. Personally, I like that tray as a place to keep my sunglasses and cell phone.

    Hopefully this will help others doing the same upgrade. Now, I just need to get out and test it.
  • ADOR's avatar
    ADOR
    Explorer
    Mar 31, 2016
    Thanks for the pictures. I have the same console in my 2015. What brake harness part # did you use? I also have the same brake controller. I ordered extra harness from and it did not fit the plug underneath the steering wheel. That was when I found out that the brake harness was behind the coin holder. I hope I bought the correct Part # for the harness.

    Also, did you started prying the "sides" first? Then slid down to the TOP or BOTTOM part of the holder?

    Thanks.
  • LSVLance's avatar
    LSVLance
    Explorer
    Mar 31, 2016
    I used this harness, it plugged right into the one behind the coin holder.

    https://www.etrailer.com/p-3034-P.htmlhttps://www.etrailer.com/p-3034-P.html

    I started on the right hand side, got it to pry out a bit then started working on the top, but I was working blind because I didn't know where the tabs were.

    If I were to do it again, I'd pry from the right side a bit with a putty knife and then use a screwdriver from the top to slowly start releasing the three tabs across the top. By the time you get the second one released, it gets looser and easier to get the tabs loose. Once the 3 top tabs are released it'll slide right out.

    Good luck.
  • ADOR's avatar
    ADOR
    Explorer
    Mar 31, 2016
    Thanks for the quick response LSVLanc. I did order that same exact part number from Etrailer last week. It looks like I will be able to do it today after work. Thanks again for the tips.

About Motorhome Group

38,705 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 14, 2025