I have a 2004 Ram 1500 with tow package. I bought a seven blade to four pin adapter because the four pin below the bumper had been left open and is filthy (we bought the truck used). There is no power to the seven pin and I can't find a thing in the manual about whether there is a way to turn it on or off. I used a toothpick to clean the dirt out of the four pin harness under the bumper, but it isn't providing any power, either. Is there something I can do or check to get power to either tow harness?

 

I don't see why they would be turned off/on, I'd just say check fuses and look for broken wiring. Could also pull apart the connector to see if any wires got pulled apart.

Mine's all filthy and wrecked too, I'm gonna buy a whole new assembly if I keep my truck.

 

I don't think the harness can be turned on or off. I also believe it is separate segment of the front control module. Check the fuses under the hood in the power dist center (fuse/relay box).

You may find that the plug component itself is the problem, check to see if you can get voltage for the turn signals, markers

 

Apparently, the harnesses only receive power when the tow button is engaged. The manual says the tow button is for hilly terrain, and since I am only hauling a light trailer on a flat highway, I had not engaged it previously. I gave it a try this morning and the harnesses received power once the tow button was engaged.

 

Glad you got it figured out, my 2500 has the tow package, but no push button so the harnesses are active all the time----its also a stick so that may have something to do with it too.

Be careful not to short it out, the turn signals are a separate circuit driven by the front control module (computer) and is an integral part of the power dist center $$$$$$$$$$ to replace.

There should also have been a small blue plug harness that comes with the tow package for hooking up an electric brake to the system. The vehicle harness plug portion is buried somewhere up in the dash on the drivers side

 

That's ridiculous. The tow harness should receive power all the time. I've never heard of this situation on any other Ram.

 

My husband informs me I was incorrect; that the harnesses now receive power whether or not the tow button is engaged. I have no idea why there was no power to either harness last night and at least the seven slot now has power. The only thing I did this morning was engage the tow button. Perhaps the fuse is going bad but just hasn't gone completely?

It ended up not really mattering. The lights on the trailer I borrowed aren't working regardless of power in the harness. *sigh*

 

you can purchase a new 7 pin plug on Ebay for less than ten bucks. ( if you have the factory tow package.) It's four screws and a plug, that can be replaced in mere minutes. My 07's harness it "hot" regardless of tow/haul mode button.