Cal Club Autocross Forums

I've replaced harnesses, and done some emergancy hack patch jobs, but never installed one from scratch. Where does one splice into the vehicle? Right at the lamps, somewhere else?

Jay W

Jayson Woodruff wrote:I've replaced harnesses, and done some emergancy hack patch jobs, but never installed one from scratch. Where does one splice into the vehicle? Right at the lamps, somewhere else?

Jay W

What vehicle? Some (like my old ML) had a harness in the rear you could plug into. (That harness was no longer available, but it used the same plug as a VW radio, so I bought a radio install kit and made my own.) Does your vehicle have separate turn signal/brake lights? Those require a special harness to combine into a single brake/turn light. If there is no option but splicing, I would try to find a spot inside the vehicle where the wires come together in the harness out of the weather. I've seen others pull directly from each light. Are you doing a standard 4 plug? Or including brakes/power to trailer?

You can purchase a wire harness that adapts to your specific vehicle that tees off your existing connectors. Easy peasy.

It's the '07 Sienna mini van. Even though it came with a "Tow Package", there was no hitch reciever or wire harness. We got the reciever a few years back to mount a wheel chair, but didn't bother with the electrical. Now that it's looking like I'll tow a couple things this year I want to get it done.

I'll put in a flat four. No brakes or anything tricky. The sienna has the amber turn signals, but I can diode that with the brake lights (emergancy hack referanced).

I found something that I think George is talking about for only $40. I'll give that a try.

Jay W

KJ Christopher wrote:

Jayson Woodruff wrote:I've replaced harnesses, and done some emergancy hack patch jobs, but never installed one from scratch. Where does one splice into the vehicle? Right at the lamps, somewhere else?

Jay W

What vehicle? Some (like my old ML) had a harness in the rear you could plug into. (That harness was no longer available, but it used the same plug as a VW radio, so I bought a radio install kit and made my own.) Does your vehicle have separate turn signal/brake lights? Those require a special harness to combine into a single brake/turn light. If there is no option but splicing, I would try to find a spot inside the vehicle where the wires come together in the harness out of the weather. I've seen others pull directly from each light. Are you doing a standard 4 plug? Or including brakes/power to trailer?

Jayson Woodruff wrote:It's the '07 Sienna mini van.

http://www.etrailer.com/t1-2007_Toyota_Sienna.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Instructions:
http://www.etrailer.com/instructions.aspx?pn=118304" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This was cake on our Odyssey, pull an interior panel, plug it in, run the wire. No modifications to the vehicle needed.

Heck, they even have a video on that first page. I didn't see it at first until I scrolled down the page....

That's exactly the one (PN and website) I've got coming .

Jay W

Will Kalman wrote:

Jayson Woodruff wrote:It's the '07 Sienna mini van.

http://www.etrailer.com/t1-2007_Toyota_Sienna.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Instructions:
http://www.etrailer.com/instructions.aspx?pn=118304" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This was cake on our Odyssey, pull an interior panel, plug it in, run the wire. No modifications to the vehicle needed.

Heck, they even have a video on that first page. I didn't see it at first until I scrolled down the page....