a Customer brought me a RedArc brake controller to install. The install was pretty easy. All the connections were simple to make. The hardest part was making it fit under the dash.
I found that you do not need to remove the switch panel if you are planning to install the brake controller head (knob) into one of the lower row blanks. Remove the fuse cover below the switch panel. Feel for a lower tab holding one of the bottom row blanks and with your nail pull the tab down while pushing the blank into the dashboard. The blank will simply come out inside the dasboard and can be removed with the same hand that was pushing the retainer tab down (through the fuse panel opening). I'm sure this will save many of you the headache of disassembling the dashboard.
Thank you for that. I had seen various forum posts also advising to pop out the panel with all 8 buttons. But it seems incredibly difficult to release the clips that hold it in place. Finding that lower tab on the button itself was a huge help.
Thank you for this video! It took me a little more than an hour and a half to install on my Ascent. Modifying the blank accessory plate was the hardest part. It fits okay in the blank spot, but not great.
Wow - that "quite a bit of work" to get the switch into that spot is an understatement. I would call it more like freeform sculpture - you're going to need a few hours. I tried to do this without pulling all the plugs - and getting that dummy plug out while balancing the dashboard piece on your lap without really yanking on the wires is tough. After you get done with the knob holder creation it's a lot easier to snap in there with it removed, than back at the car - for me it didn't fit the first try and I had to shave more plastic off. The orientation shown for the controller means it moves every time you telescope or tilt the steering wheel. I put it in the other orientation with the brake controller up which it move a lot less. Also if you are building the wire and trying to decide how long it is - do NOT plug into the white connector and wave that around - you have live 12V and if you touch anything you've got sparks! The car side harness did come from the dealer when they installed the hitch. Have fun!
So, maybe I’m not understanding here but isn’t that pigtail a four pin? How does that wiring control the brakes on a trailer? Wanting to upgrade to electric brake control on my Ascent and already have the four pin connector in at the hitch of the car? Thanks for any advice! 😀
It has been a little while since I did the install. If I remember correctly the one I did the installation on it had a 7 pin connector on the back of the car.
@@goodtimeson2wheels Oh, ok so it already was equipped with the 7 pin and you simply added the brake controller? Maybe not so simply but you know what I mean…. Thanks again for your video! It truly was informative!!!
@@rogermoots how does your ascent do towing? What weight are you towing as well?? Thinking of getting an RV and want to make sure the 5000lb limit is accurate.
You can expect 2 to 3 hours worth of labor. I charge $100 per hour for labor. This one was three hours with installing the switch into a factory panel.
I’m about to install the same unit. In the redarc instructions it says that you need a fuse or breaker on the black wire before the battery. The Subaru harness has some kind of inline fuse on the blue wire. Not sure what that is for. How did you address this? Thanks.
@@joshsautoandcustoms9840 ok, so you spliced that harness to the Redarc one color for color I would assume. But no concern about their stated need for a fuse or breaker on the line to the battery?
