2021 Subaru Ascent Trailer Brake controller install

Рет қаралды 9,170

2 жыл бұрын

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.

Пікірлер: 29

@jackad.3259 Жыл бұрын

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.

@C2ItMultimedia Жыл бұрын

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.

@jhughes2515 2 жыл бұрын

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.

@dandxzdb9518 10 ай бұрын

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!

@gatortim1986 2 жыл бұрын

Nice job, Sir!

@jeffherald8542 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, and well done.

@TFitz 5 ай бұрын

What's the charge for that...labor only, not parts

@joshsautoandcustoms9840 5 ай бұрын

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.

@TFitz 5 ай бұрын

@@joshsautoandcustoms9840 right on...thanks much

@terjegjertsen712 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@DanPrescott Жыл бұрын

Were the LEDs on the control knob working? Mine don't work. Trailer plug tester you use?

@joshsautoandcustoms9840 Жыл бұрын

With the tester plugged in they did not work on the know. I connected my trailer to it then the lights worked.

@DanPrescott Жыл бұрын

@@joshsautoandcustoms9840 I found I had a bad LED. Etrailer replaced.

@matt_b... Күн бұрын

You could have read the manual and realized you'd taken apart far too much to do this installation.

@rogermoots Жыл бұрын

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! 😀

@rogermoots Жыл бұрын

Sorry if I sounded like a smarta$$! Truly found your video informative!!!

@goodtimeson2wheels Жыл бұрын

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.

@rogermoots Жыл бұрын

@@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!!!

@savannahkillinger5406 Жыл бұрын

How does your ascent handle towing ?@roger moots

@ryanwaters2223 Жыл бұрын

@@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.

@C2ItMultimedia Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

I used the adapter to plug directly into the factory pre wired connector under the dash.

@C2ItMultimedia Жыл бұрын

@@joshsautoandcustoms9840 By ‘adapter’ do you means the connector with 4wire pigtail that Subaru provided in the plastic bag?

@joshsautoandcustoms9840 Жыл бұрын

Yes I do

@C2ItMultimedia Жыл бұрын

@@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?

@joshsautoandcustoms9840 Жыл бұрын

The car is prewired to fuses specifically designed to support the added on brake controller. The fuse should be in the fuse box under the hood.