Brake controller wiring 2000 XJ

[pajeepman]

Does anybody KNOW what wire and were to tap into for the brake signal going into the controller is. I have looked at the wires coming out of the switch. PITA to try and figure out what I need under the dash. I read it is white and tan. There are 2 white with tan tracers. One is already spliced into I assume for the alarm that was installed before I bought the Jeep. I wanted to solder the wire and this point I just need to scotch lock it for this weekend. It does not have factory tow package.

Thanks

 

[Johnnie Walker]

There are a few companies that make vehicle specific brake controllers. Both with and without factory tow package, some require an adapter. But, should be plug n pray.

 

[shelbyluvv]

Be careful with the 00 XJ and brake controller wiring. I tried to hook one up in my old Jeep and somehow ended up killing all 4 o2 sensors in the process. I never did figure it out as I was worried about smoking the o2 sensors again.

There should be a baby blue wire (above, near) around the drivers side kick panel under the dash. That should be the wire for the brake lights.

 

[pajeepman]

I will look this week. Just manually applied brakes on long down hills. VERY dissappointed with the towing of the Jeep. Went down roads great, went up hills horriblely. Planned on towing camper to Maine with it from Philadelphia area but pretty much cancelled those plans after towing camper 1.25 hours vs 12 to Bar Harbor.
Trailer is a 17 foot single axle hybrid camper with a max gvw of 3250. I was not 3000#. Pretty bummed.

 

[GSequoia]

Were you downshifting it? Never climb in 4th and don't be afraid of climbing steep grades at 4500 rpm. Personally I don't try to climb more than an ant hill south of 3000 rpm.

 

[GSequoia]

As for wiring the brake controller not sure what issue Bo had. Blue wire under kick panel (if you have factory towing), you give it power (30A protected by automatic circuit breaker was the spec my Prodigy called for), ground, and a feed from the stop lamp. I'd guess Bo's setup backfed on the stoplamp feed, if so you can protect that by putting a diode in place on that tap.

 

[shelbyluvv]

Yes, power feed. Not brake lights. I'm not sure what happened to kill the o2s. It was the night before Goatfest and I caught hell finding replacement sensors the next day.

 

[GSequoia]

Yes, power feed. Not brake lights.

Interesting. Do you recall where you picked power up from?

 

[shelbyluvv]

The battery with a circuit breaker inline.

 

[GSequoia]

Odd. Isolated chassis ground, as well?

 

[shelbyluvv]

Correct sir. I think it had something to do with the connection in the rear drivers side panel.

 

[pajeepman]

Were you downshifting it? Never climb in 4th and don't be afraid of climbing steep grades at 4500 rpm. Personally I don't try to climb more than an ant hill south of 3000 rpm.

I was downshifting. One long not real steep hill it was to the floor and would not go over 52, very disappointing. I will have to try again revving it higher hoping not to grenade the engine.

 

[donthelegend]

Were you downshifting it? Never climb in 4th and don't be afraid of climbing steep grades at 4500 rpm. Personally I don't try to climb more than an ant hill south of 3000 rpm.

This. I've pulled a pop up a few times with my XJ on 33s with stock gears and in the hills in the Ozarks the 4.0 is spinning at 4k+ but it climbs them without full throttle and doesn't seem to mind the revs. Anything below red line doesn't bother me, that's what the rev limiter is for.