Factory Hitch wiring problem - Pictures Inside

My truck: 2011 Tacoma 2wd 4cyl access cab w/ 5-speed
What's installed: OEM hitch and OEM wiring kit
Problem: the light doesn't come on when hook-up with a trailer.
The trailer's light is working properly.


Well, I brought a OEM hitch & OEM wiring kit from a guy who sold his Tacoma already as a used.
Everything appeared as excellent condition and I've my local auto shop installed it.

At yesterday, I tried to rent a trailer and when they connected the hitch wire, the light didn't work at all.
They used two different trailers just to be sure but the light didn't come on as well.

I checked the plug-in-play factory OEM hitch wring that connected inside the kick panel and it's nice and tight.
I did't see any sign or crack or bent spot on the OEM wiring...
Only thing I could think of is... when I opened up the fuse compartment from the engine bay, I've noticed a "towing Tail" fuse is missing (not sure if I even needed it, see the yellow circle area)
I even moved the heater fuse and installed it but no luck...

What seems the problem?
Any additional parts needed to make it work?
Should I just get a new hitch light kit?

 

Trailer Socket: Components, Removal, Installation
Towing Tail Relay: Inspection
Towing Converter Relay: Components
Towing Converter Relay: On-Vehicle Inspection, Removal, Installation

 

Do I need a "towing converter replay?"
I thought you just needed to plug in a OEM wiring to the kick panel and that's all I need?

 

yes, you need the towing converter relay that plugs up under the dash behind the fuse panel and the relay under the hood.

 

Hot damn... no wonder it didn't work.

BYW, the OEM wiring just plug right into the female plug at the kick panel (see first pic)

Do I still need to buy it and where to connect that new towing converter?

So, in order to install the towing converter, I've to take out the whole dashboard?

How much does it cost?

 

you'd have to call the dealer to see if they will sell just the converter. no idea how much it will be. i just installed the same kit a month ago. you take just the lower half of the dash out and drop the main fuse box to get to the converter plug. it's behind the fuse box and up against the fender taped to the support bar. converter relay in pic.

 

Dang... drop the lower half dash... sounds like a lot of work.

Should I just get the aftermarket wiring?
Sounds like I just wasted my money on this OEM wiring...

 

it only took me a lil over an hour to hook everything up under the dash. took more time to run the wires to the back.

 

I used the oem one back on my 05 so trying to remember here. I remember getting a fuse and or relay that went under the hood. I don't remember having to drop the lower dash at all. Infact heres the install from trdsparks just see what your missing.

http://www.trdsparks.com/install/PT725-35120inst.pdf

 

Thanks for the link!

I thought it was a simple plug in play, but I guess I was wrong...
Yeah, the guy who sold me the same thing not dropping the dash.
He told me that I just plug the female adapter and that's it.
Anyway I connected to a some sort of female connector (see first pic) but now I'm not even sure what I connected into.

I think I'm missing following:

1. Flasher assembly
2. Relay Fuse
3. Flash assembly sub wire harness

Not sure I just get the damn aftermarket wiring...

 

FYI, you do NOT need the converter to run a standard 4 pin plug.... as the converter gives you the brakes, along with the 7 pin providing a constant 12v and reverse lights to the trailer

you do NOT have the OEM hitch as they were all 7 pin plugs.

You will need the trailer brake fuse and relay as well as other respective fuses and relays.

 

Hmm... I think you're absolutely right.
The hitch itself has Toyota logo on it but the wiring harness doesn't have any marking and look different than my buddy's connector.

So, which relay and how many do I need?
Do I just buy the relay that's missing from the engine compartment's fuse box (see yellow circled area of pic)?
What fuses do I also need by looking at the fuse box on the pic?

 

I have a wiring diagram at home for the trailer plug, I can post it up tomorrow morning should tell you everything you need to know.

You might be better off getting one of the lil add a 4 pin connector box from the auto parts store for like 2O bucks that splices into the the rear tail lights. But I'll get you the wiring diagram

 

Oh! thank you so much!
I will wait for your diagram and go from there.

 

You have a 5 lug 2.7... it was not available with the towing package.
I'm surprised you have the connector under the kick panel... it's not wired to anything. Take a look in that "fuse holder", you'll likely not see contacts for the fuse. BTW: That is not for the towing/tail fuse.. it is for the towing/tail relay. If it were a fuse, it would look like the rest of the fuse drawings on the cover.

You need a convertor that connects to the taillight harnesses. Simple connection, everything it at the rear.

 

Great info as well.

So, my best bet is to go to a local auto part store and buy one those so called "converter" that connects between the taillight harness & the wiring that goes down to the hitch light connector?

 

That's what I have. It plugs in on both sides. No cutting or splicing... unplug the taillight harness, connect the adapter to the harness, plug the adapter into the housing... then route the 4-pin plug down to the hitch.

This type of adapter is more than $20... closer to $40... but you aren't going to have any issues with water getting into your insulation and corroding your wiring like you will with the universal kits that attach with 3M taps.

Reese Towpower 85718 T-Connector

http://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpowe...&newCar=1&s=automotive&vehicleType=automotive

 

If your trailer (or the one you are trying to rent) is wired up for a four pin plug, your efforts seem dramatically over complicated. On my 2010 4x4 Access Cab 4cyl 5sp Tacoma I bought a trailer wiring harness from etrailer.com that plugged directly into the left tail light harness. it was a simple install.

1 Remove the left rear light lens,
2 thread the harness up through alongside existing wiring.
3 Unplug the existing light fixture from the existing harness.
4 Plug in the double ended trailer harness between the fixture and existing harness
5 Reinstall the lens

All finished. I think I might have used a zip tie to secure the new trailer harness to something under the back. I spent less than half an hour including hydration breaks.

I've been pulling my 3/4 ton utility trailer with firewood, atv, garden tractor, mulch, ... for several years now. Harness cost about $27, shipping was prompt. Couldn't have been easier. No long wiring run, no dash removal, no fishing wiring from inside cab to outside. The harness did come with a small (about the size of a pack of Marlboro) box that had double sided tape on the back. I attached it under the truck to an available surface behind the bumper.

Take a look at this page: 2011 Tacoma Wiring Harness

 

That's a excellent advice as well advises from other members.
The dealer quoted me whooping $270 for labor & parts to just make the light work...

I will just order a "no cut" plug-n-play tail light wire harness from Amazon.

Thank you so much for you guys awesome help and info.
Learned a lot as always!

 

My 4-ping kit required running up into both sides. The control box mounted on the left side, but the harness had a connector on the right to pick up the other turn signal.