Hi All,

I just finished moving a trailer hitch from my 2008 Ford Escape to my new 2009 model. I am now trying to hook up the trailer wiring.

Both years already came with a trailer wiring feed and small connector that is found under the rear bumper, below the left taillight. It has the four required wires (yellow, green, brown, white/black).

I would like to connect into the provided cabling harness using the correct connector instead of just cutting the connector off and splicing the wires like I did last year.

Here's a picture of the connector.

Can anyone provide a part # and where to get it?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

[IMG]local://upfiles/18258/9E65693E43594BE8A1D849128AABF843.jpg[/IMG]

 

Hi there,

I just bought the 4-pin wiring harness I believe you're looking for. It is by Tow-Ready, part #118251. It plugs right into the connector inside the rear bumber.

I have a question for you. On your '08, did you have relays and fuses in your fusebox under the hood? I do not have the trailer towing package and when I plug this wiring harness into the connector I have no power. I also don't have any connectors in the fusebox to put relays or fuses. What did you do on your '08?

Thanks,
Dave

 

Hi Dave,

That’s exactly what I’m looking for! Excellent!
When I spoke to Ford, they knew of no such connector and wanted to sell me an entire wiring harness for $150.00.

Where did you get this 4 pin harness/connector from and how much did it cost?
Did you have to order it from the US or could you get here in Canada?

As for my 2008, I didn’t have the tow package either.
Because I didn’t realize at the time that this connector was actually part of the trailer wiring harness, I ended up bringing the Escape to a local trailer shop to do the work. All I thought they did was cut the connector off and splice the flat 4 wire ribbon cable directly onto the existing cable. They didn’t mention having to add any fuses or relays. As far as know power was already going to the trailer connector.

But when you asked your question, I checked my 2009 this morning and sure enough there was no power going to the harness. I’ve figured out that you need to add three relays to the fuse panel under the hood.

Location 31C for “trailer tow left turn relay”
Location 31D for “trailer tow right turn relay”
Location 31E for “trailer tow park relay”

These spots are empty right now. Now to get the relays….

Mark

 

Hi Mark,

It looks like we're in the same boat. I looked under the hood in the fusebox too, thinking I need fuses and relays. Unfortunately, if you look closely, you can see the spots for the relays have no contacts under them to accept the relays. Thus, nothing is installed as far as towing electrics go. I think the only way to wire it is splicing into the rear tail lights, which is probably what the shop did on your '08. I checked with Ford, the relays were going to cost $130 but didn't know there is nothing to plug them into.

The wiring harness I bought was from a local hitch shop. It was @12.09, but with no power to that connector, it's useless. Tow Ready has another harness that plugs into the tail lights, etc. It is part #118430. You can find it at www.towready.com. I'm going to talk to the hitch shop tomorrow to see what they suggest.

Dave

 

Dave,

I did some more playing around and tried moving an existing relay into the connector for the trailer tow lights. I confirmed that power is actually going to the round connector under the bumper when I insert a relay. I moved it to all three locations for the left & right turn signals and park lights and confirmed that it all works, at least for my Escape.

Now I need to pick up three new relays. The number on the actual relay starts with 5L3T. The local ford dealer says that the part # is 5L3Z 14N089 AA “20 amp multi-purpose micro relay”. The problem now is that they want $35 each.

So now I need the cable connector you mentioned and 3 relays. I’m calling around to see if I can find it any cheaper.

Have you had any success at your end?

Mark

 

Well it’s all finished now.

Yesterday I went to the local trailer shop and picked up a T connector fitting and 3 relays. Be sure to shop around if you need relays, Ford wanted $35 each. I got them for $15 each. Plugged everything in and lights work great.

Mark

 

I am actually going through that process right now i installed a hidden hitch on my 08 escape and went to test the trailer lights...nothing so i looked under the hood at the fuse panel and found the three missing relays and two missing fuses.

My local Ford dealership wants 44.75 for each relay !!!

Anyways i wrote an email to Ford and told them that even though i didn't purchase the towing package the vehicle still comes equipped with a trailer wiring plug so why wouldn't they provide the nesecary relays for it to operate... seems cheap to me.
anyways i have yet to install the relays and am hoping that will solve the problem...

 

I forgot to ask i have an 08 escape with the 2.3 i4 engine is capable of pulling 1500 lbs can anyone give me some feed back on how it does with pulling a 1500 lb trailer. i find the escape a little underpowered obviously but i am wondering how it will make out with a trailer ????

 

Hi Mark,

I am looking to purchase the Relays for my Ford Escape 2009. I live in Canada and I have called multiple car parts dealers and couldn't find any that have the relays in stock. You indicated that you found some for $15. Do you have the name of the company you got them from?

Thanks.

 

crap i have a 09 and bought the harness to plug into the bumber. So u are telling me that no power is going to that harness?