How do I get the big side panel off so I can get at the chubby hole to install in a 2010?

I found the torx screw on the front by dropping the front dash under the steering wheel, but I cant figure out how to get at the left side.

 

I am wondering the same thing. With a 4 pin connector, there is no electric trailer brake connection at all, right? So if the dealer is telling you that you can use any brake controller with a 4 pin connector, they are taking you for a ride, so to speak. In the US, you need a 7 pin connector at the bumper (mine is like gwizpro's, above the bumper) to even use any electric brake controller, right? I have 2 plugs hanging under the dash and a class IV hitch too and am just waiting on the dealer to call with the controller.

Incidently, I was at the dealer today with the Charger for service and the parts guy showed me a "Service Repair Tip" (I think it was called that) that said not to install the controller in a vehicle unless it came from the factory with one installed, or else it will cause complications and that Chrysler, or MOPAR, was preparing a kit for release in the fall of 2010 for installing the factory controller. Sounds like an attempt to slow down orders from the field for these things maybe, or a way to charge more for a "kit" than the components cost by themselves.

 

You are confusing 4-way trailer wiring (which you are correct, doesn't supply brake wiring) with the 4-pin harness connection used on most, if not all, modern conventional trailer brake controllers. See http://www.accessconnect.com/trailer_wiring_diagram.htm and http://www.etrailer.com/faq-brakecontroller.aspx. My truck is wired at the back for both 4-way and 7-way trailers. I have finally figured out that the term "trailer tow wiring w/ 4-pin connector" on my build sheet is Chrysler's sneaky way of saying the truck was not wired for the factory controller, but was wired for use with any conventional, aftermarket controller. At some point last winter, it appears Chrysler decided not to wire every Ram 1500 for the factory controller if the controller wasn't ordered with the vehicle. Why? I thinks guys figured out it was pretty easy to buy the controller at the parts counter for ~$150 and install it themselves rather than pay the dealership ~$250 as a dealer-added option.

The larger of the two connectors (aka, main or "A" connector) hanging under your dash (and the only one hanging under mine) is simply a conventional 4-pin trailer brake controller harness. If you chosse to ignore the second connector, you could wire an aftermarket controller to your truck using only this main harness. The factory controller is non-conventional in that the second harness (aka, canbus or "B" connector) provides connectivity to the vehicles computer to provide some extra bells and whistles mostly dealing with infomation displays on the EVIC. Even though the factory controller is functionally just a proportional controller, Chrysler built in circuitry that requires the detection of both harnesses in order for the controller to activate.

Hmmm, too late for me. I've already succesfully wired the factory controller from scratch. I may retrofit the kit once it is made available.

 

No, some are now coming with only the 4-pin controller plug.

 

Here is a link to a DIY trailer brake install using the 2010 ram factory trailer brake

http://www.ramforumz.com/showthread....=trailer+brake

Includes part number.

Later in the thread it discusses about taking the truck to the dealer to get the truck flashed so that the trailer brake displays in the EVIC.

 

Thanks, Ken, for the explanation. I was assuming the 4 pin connector you were referring to was at the bumper and not under the dash. The 2010s though have a different 4 pin connector than Dodge was using; I had a 2005 Durango that had a blue, 4 inline pin connector block while my 2010 1500 has the 2x2 4 pin connector block, as well as the 2x2 4 pin CANBUS connector. In fact, today the dealer called with the controller and I installed it in about 30 minutes this evening. Everything was plug and play as I had both connectors. Sorry you had to work at figuring yours out.

 

Thanks for your concern. I don't mind a challenge, and I suppose I should write up what I did. Yes, I've wired up more than few controllers off of the blue inline connector in older Dodge trucks. If fact, all those trucks had an adapter pigtail in the glovebox with the OM. The lack of feedback from the dealership and Dodge regarding this matter is what upset me the most after spending $30+K.

Ken

 

I have a 04 dodge ram with 4way flat to the rear. Trailer brake fuses and quick connect under the dash. I bought a teknosha p3 pluged it in. then hooked up the trailer. Ignorantly enough no brakes and no blue brake wire. Because I have a facory4 way plugged into an aftermarket hopkins 7way .Yet the brake controller works turns on, functions work? I then bought a facory 7way wire harness went to install it and as stubborn as iam. Decided not to. Why do I have all these accessable trailer tow functions? Yet so miserable to hook up. Where do the wires under the dash go the blue brake wire ,red power feed reverse and emergency. I called dodge dealership friends mechanics , no one knows anything. This is not the first time someone ran into this problem. Someone please help? Where do these wires go, and why do Ihave them if they are useless. Also If I have to ru a whole new harness the blue wire will power unit and brake. Instructions say to only run the blue wire through the fire wall.