Tekonsha electric brake controller

[leogag1]

Hi gang !

I want to install my electric brake controller for towing my RV, and I try to find a place to pass the wires through the firewall. With my previous VUE, I simply passed them through the steering grommet with sharp metal wire but the new 2009 VUE is not set up the same way.

I though of passing through the hood release cable grommet, but I just can't find where it lands the other side of the firewall! Does anyone know? Did someone already do it (2008 or 2009 VUE)?

Thanks folks!

[Delor]

Let me know what you find out. I too am wanting to install a Prodigy Brake contoller and was looking into DIY-ing it to save some $$. I already have the brake lights wired, I just need to figure out how to wire a brake controller and add a "hot" wire for my 7 pin plug..

[leogag1]

As usual, I'll have to find the solution by myself.

Il will use ramps to look under the car to find out where the hood cable gets out of the firewall and then, I'll pass the wires.

I will most probable route the wires outside the vehicle, through the frame, using a plastic shield (there are plenty of them under the hood and under the car) to protect them against debris and movements that could ruin the wire sheat. The 4-way pins are already plugged, I also just need to route the brakes and the +12V wires to the 7-Way connector.

I will try to take photos and post them to this forum. I just don't know when I'll find time to do it... :hmm:

[leogag1]

I finally did it...:dizzy:

Sorry, I don't have photos for two reasons: first, I was too busy, trying to do the job, and second, there is absolutly no room under the hood to place a camera somewhere to get a picture of the job! :D

What I did:

I ran a wire from the back on the car (connector) to the front, using a black spiral plastic sheat. (I passed through almost all holes of the frame, just to make sure that the cable is hidden as much as possible.)


I tied the cable along the brake fluid lines with tie-wraps, up to the firewall.


I unscrewed the engine coolant reservoir to be able to pass my hand behind and reach the hood cable release grommet.


I passed a cut hanger wire along the hood cable (from the inside) and I attached the end of the wire to it, and I pulled the cable inside the cabin.


I repeated the same operation to bring a 12v hot wire (required by the brake controller).


Now, both wires are passed through the hood cable grommet. All I have to do know is connect the Prodigy plug to the wires and "voilà!", Job done! Wires are passed.

I decided not to route a 12v hot wire from the battery to the 7-pin connector because I don't really need it (the trailer has a deep discharge battery). I one day I need it, I will use the aux. plug in the back, instead of trying to pass a wire from the battery.

Now... Let's install the Prodigy. For this operation, I will be able to take some snapshots. I made a bracket for holding the brake controller just under the OBD-II connector without having to drill anywhere. I use the two M8 x 1.25 screws that are soldered to a plate under the dash, just above the OBD-II connector. These screws are not used by the "american edition" of the Antara (oops! the VUE). When its done, I'll post some pics!

[YourMainParadox]

You can always drill a hole... I had to do that for the 0 gauge wire I ran.

[leogag1]

Zero "0" gauge wire ???:dizzy:

Do you provide power to your local power company from your VUE ? :eek:

(For electric brakes, it only needs 12 or 10 gauge wire. Ideally, a 8 gauge for power outlet would be largely enough for standard RV needs.)

[Delor]

Sounds like the wiring went with no problems. I just received my Prodigy and supplies from Etrailer.com in the mail today (not too bad since I just ordered 3 days ago and that was a Saturday!). I never thought about running the "hot" lead to the 7 pin plug from the aux port (cig lighter, right?). Would that handle the correct amount of power? I don't think my 2004 has a port in the rear, only in the back seat, but now I am going to have to check.

[cklw873]

I don't have a brake controller, but I ran wire to the seven pin, 12V.
I have the 2007 6cyl. I used a coat hanger and poked a hole through a wire grommet located to the left and up of the steering. It comes out half way up the fire wall under the brake booster. No problems.

[leogag1]

I finally completed the installation of the Prodigy today!

I have a lot of photos. First, it was not an easy job. I had a hard time just to plug the red wire because I cut (accidentally) the violet wire plugged to the brake light switch. I had to repair it before being able to plug the harness. Once this done, it was easier.

As you will see on my pictures, I made a very sturdy support. It is made of aluminum (L shaped, 1" sides). I decided to use the two M8 screws that are soldered to the dash support. These screws are 30 mm apart.

I plugged the wire to the remote +12V of the fuse box. I used a 20 A self-reset relay, to protect the battery and the circuit.

If any question, just ask!

[cklw873]

"...As you will see on my pictures, I made a very sturdy support. It is made of aluminum (L shaped, 1" sides). ..."

Aluminum is a good ground?

[leogag1]

Aluminum is an effective conductor! Don't you remember when the electrical wires were made of aluminum many years ago? (It has been replaced by copper because aluminum was overheating, causing fire, when badly installed. Aluminum wires didn't tolerated well being twisted in Marretts!)

Conductivity of aluminum is not as good as copper's one, but it is still very good! Better than iron, in fact! See http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/electrical.html for a good chart of element conductivity.

[leogag1]

I tried my installation today and I found out that there is a problem with the new VUE when comes the time to plug an electric brake controller: the brake pedal switch is reversed. Let me explain... The switch has four poles, but only two of them are used, the "normally open" one. When the brake pedal is not depressed, the switch button is pressed by the pedal, closing the contact, leading to +12V on the purple wire. When you press on the pedal, the switch is released, leading to no signal on the purple wire (open circuit). The brake light system uses this open circuit to detect the pedal depression.

This is exactly the opposite of what the Tekonsha controller wants! :hmm:

The brake controller needs a +12V signal to indicate that the pedal is depressed. Therefore, my installation is wrong! I had to find a solution... The solution was finally quite simple: I unplugged the connector from the switch and made a harness to give me access to both the normally open and normally closed contacts. I plugged the connector to the switch with my home-made harness and I used the normally closed contacts to send the required +12V to the controller. Since I already drove the +12V to the controller, I just spliced the wire and send it to the switch, and plugged the other contact to the red wire of the brake controller. Voilà!

Now it works very well. I used tapes and wireraps to make sure that the home-made harness holds in place, and I ensure that everything was still working well. I'll post a photo soon.