Bill

The Tow-package electrical conections on my '92 4Runner arn't really there, and I'll be needing to tow a trailer in about a month. I currently have 5 wires hanging from the rear of my truck(just taped up): red, white, yellow, green and black.

Now, I'm working under an assumption that the connections are universal. So I hoping to find 2 things:
a) what type of connection is used(part # if possible) and;
b) does anyone have a wiring diagram on how to hook up that connector?

Thanks

tc

Lots of places sell a pigtail plug. Just match up the wire colors and off you go. Super easy. (Wire colors are universal)

Flamedx4

Yes and no.
Wire color suggestions are kind of universal. Does not mean that whoever put your wires in will have connected them in the generally accepted manner. Doesn't mean whoever wired up the trailer you tow did either. You always have to check. Get a test light and double check as you connect each one.

tc

True - good point flamed...you know what assuming does...

Rick F.

Although trailer wiring is supposed to be universal, I've found it best to verify the wiriing on the vehicle and trailer first.

Expose the leads hanging from your vehicle and check them with a voltmeter 1-by-1, turning on the turn signals, 4 ways, running lights, brakes, etc., until you've identified and labeled each one. There should be 1 for left turn, 1 for right turn, 1 for brake light, 1 for running lights and 1 for ground. Then, on the trailer wiring, use a 12v battery to figure out which lead is which (again, there is a typical convention for color coding, but I never trust it) and label them. Then match the wires. If the trailer has a 4-wire plug, then you'll need to get a 5-wire to 4-wire converter. They're available at most auto parts stores for about $10-$15 or less.

celica

Do the test above, but here are the colours:

White - ground
Black (should be brown) - stop lights
Yellow & Green - turn lights
Red - electric trailer brakes

Before you hook it up this way you should test them to ensure that the prior person didn't screw it up. If you follow the wires back there should also be a tail/signal conversion box. This combines the signal light and tail lifgt from the truck into one lead for the trailer as they are only one light on the trailer (red) compared to our 2 light system (amber & red). These are about $40 to buy. You can find tons of them at pick your part. I think I paid 2.99 for it there. Hope this helps.

Flamedx4

There is really no "standard"
Consider:

Generally accepted color code 4 wire connector:
White - ground
Yellow - Left turn/brake
Brown - Tail lights
Green - Right turn/brake


Bargman or Pollak-style 7 wire plug (color code molded in):
White - ground
Blue - Electric trailer brakes
Green - Tail lights
Black - Battery charge line +
Red - Left turn/stop
Brown - Right turn/stop
Yellow - Aux/backup lights

But I have seen (in the same order as above) White, Blue, Brown, Orange, Yellow, Green and Extra molded into the plugs too.

How about a 9-wire plug?
White - Ground
Green - Tail
Red - Left turn/brake
Black - Battery charge +
Yellow - Aux
Orange - Aux
Brown - Right turn/brake
Blue - Electric brakes
Gray - Aux

Bill

hmm...seems as if there'sa tad more to this than originally thought. But it was brought up to check the trailer, I can't really do this before hand, and I'm going to be pulling a U-Haul, so should I really need to worry about not having a "universal" plug?

rugerm44

They sell one for the newer trucks that lugs into the plugs that your tail lights plug into. No exposed wiring crimp connectors to corrode and its a no brainer to install.You might try for one of those.

yamarocket630

Uhaul trailers will have surge, not electric brakes, and will use the "standard" 4 wire method. Make sure you get and wire in the basic 4 wire flat plug.

Bill

Alrighty, I went down to NAPA today and picked up a trailer connection. I picked up a "standard" 4 prong connector. The connector has 4 wires, white, green, yellow and brown.

Now the part I'm kinda confused about is that my 4Runner has 5 wires, same as listed, but with an additional black. Now I've always seen black as ground, but the connector has brown listed as ground.

I've consulted my Haynes manual, but it doesn't have anything about it. So what to do with the black? don't worry about it, and hook up the matching wires?

Flamedx4

Yep, 5 wires. You did notice you have separate turn and brake lights?...
This is Toyota taillight colors from the FSM:
Ground = White/Black
Tail = Green
Brake = Green/White
Left turn = Green/Black
Right turn = Green/Yellow

But as mentioned above - get a meter or test light and CHECK! In the time it took to go to your computer and ask here, you could have tested your 5 wires and you'd know for certain what is what.

If you have a trailer wiring pigtail hanging down with white,yellow,brown,green and a black, I would say it's *probably*
the way Celica above listed it. But do check first.

hill

Bill, how did you make out with the trailer connection.....

Bill

I got it sorted out. Turns out the 5th wire was because the runner has red brake lights, and amber corners. There's a little conversion box hidden up in the quarter pannel that allows you to go from the 5 wire, to the 4 wire universal hook up.

hill

i just finished my trailer hook up.. just curious if you got her all working. Cheers.