Electric brake controller

[brown3]

2003 ford expedition 5.4 v8 EB

I want to put a brake controller on my vehicle. I believe I see where I can just bolt on a controller and plug right Into underneath the dash. I'm confused because I have a 2013 ford e-series 1 ton work van that needed one and the people who installed it said it needed to be "hardwired". My expedition and my work van both look like they have the same connector. They both already came with the tow package. So wondering why my expedition I can just buy the controller and harness for mine but had to do it different for my work van. Or am I going to have to so that to my expedition too.

 

[bedrck46]

Your 03 has a connector under the dash that the brake controller plugs into also check to see if all the relays are plugged in for the brake control circuit My 01 had the wiring harness in a package along with the needed relay it was in a bag in the compartment for the jack

 

[brown3]

Tow package. So it's as easy as putting two screws in and connecting the controller to the connector underneath the dash with a harness? Why would they hardwire my work van one instead of using a harness if I have the same connector underneath?

 

[bedrck46]

I would bet that they charged you to hardwire it or they had no idea what they were doing or they didn't have the correct adaptor harness

 

[brown3]

I had two people look at it and both said that. Paid 100 for the controller and 20 for them to put it in. I see napa sells that same one for 154 just for the controller.

 

[bedrck46]

which controller did you get I got one from e-bay the Primus IQ was hardly used just needed the harness for it

 

[brown3]

It was the primus also. Can't remember the model number. I like it so I'll prolly get the same on for my expedition too. Just through me in a loop why they had to hard wire my work van but I can use a harness for the expedition

 

[bedrck46]

when they come new and not ordered for a specific model the harness normally has just pig tails then it could be necessary to do some hard wiring
Or you would need to get the correct adaptor harness for the expy or any other model that you are installing the controller in.