Hi Y'all.
There are tons of threads around these parts about brake controllers and installs, but here is mine
Items Needed:
Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller
Tekonsha Wire Harness For Toyota P/N: 3040-P (
Linky)
Size 10 Socket
String
2x Zip Tie
Self Adhesive Velcro (2 inch x 3 inch rectangle should do)
Time Needed:
30 minutes to 1 hour depending on how careful you are and if you know how you want to place the controller
I disconnected my battery during the install. This was a precautionary measure to ensure I didn't short anything out.
Directions:
1. Figure out where you want to put the controller. I decided to put mine in the pocket between the ciggy lighter and the power outlet.
2. Remove the driver's side kick panel. This is where the pigtail is located from the factory.
The plug has a blank connector on the end. Make sure to take this off as your adapter won't fit on the end of this
(I must have tried for 5 minutes......
)
There it is!
3. Remove the ciggy lighter / power port unit from the truck. This is all once piece. In order to remove this, I just put my thumbs inside the lighter hole and power hole and wiggled the unit out. It should just snap out.
4. Now it is time to string the wire harness from the kick panel to the dash area where we are doing the install. You will notice that there isn't a whole lot of room back there, or obvious holes to get the adapter through. I found a space around a vent tube that went through. It was deep in the dash area and not easy to get to, so I tied some string to the end of a couple zip ties hooked together. I did this so I could tie the string to the plug on the adapter and help pull it through the dash.
Through the other side.
5. I then tied the string to the plug and pulled it through. Keep in mind it isn't as easy as pull as hard as you can. I pulled the string with one hand and guided the wire bundle with the other. This produced positive results.
6. I don't have any pictures of this, but I dremeled out a hole in the back of the pocket to get the plug through.
7. I then placed the controller in the hole and sat in the truck until I could find a spot that I liked. I then removed the two pieces of wax paper from the velcro and stuck one piece inside of the pocket and one on top of the controller. I realize this will make a sticky mess if I ever want to take it off of the controller, but a little go-gone will take care of that.
8. Once you get the controller where you want it, you are almost set.
9. The wire harness comes with a white ground wire. For some reason, mine wasn't long enough to make it to the grounding post by the driver's side kick panel, so I cut the end off and added a few inches of white wire so it would make it. Here is where the grounding post is...it should be pretty obvious.
10. Finished product. I zip tied the wires under the dash so they wouldn't hang down. That is up to you of course.
I used velcro b/c I wanted to be able to easily remove the controller for use in someone else's vehicle if needed. As well, I did drill some holes in the pocket, but I wasn't happy with the position that the mounting hardware put the controller in when it was all installed. It stuck too far out with the quick dis-connect harness installed. The velco is easy and if you get a sizable piece, you will be set as the controller won't move around.
Good luck with your installs. Let me know if you have any questions.
PS...here's a picture of the wire harness you get when you order it online. This was a nice piece and was happy with it. Much better than having to crimp / solder all of those wires.
