Hi Guys,
After reading the many great posts on brake controller installs, I decided to fit a Tekonsha P3 prodigy brake controller into the ashtray position on my 2013 SR Hilux dual-cab. Thought I would share a few photos of the install.
The first photo shows the removal of the front fascia. Note on the 2013 hilux that the knobs do not come off. The whole unit just pulls away.
Unplug the three cable looms from the fascia and let it hang down so you can remove the stereo. Also, you need to remove the two screws that secure the ashtray bracket to the dashboard so that the bracket can be removed. This took a while as the screws are partly obscured by the dash. I put a 90degree bend in the shaft of a small Philips screw driver and was able to remove the screws with some patience.
Undo the four screws that secure the stereo and remove it. Here is the model number for those that are interested:
And the connectors on the rear of the stereo:
Attach the Tekonsha mounting bracket into position as shown in the photo. Make sure that the screws are mounted as far apart as possible so you have clearance for the centre cable loom that attaches to the rear of the fascia.
The installed unit:
Put all your cable in some split tubing so it's nice and neat:
I bought the brake controller from autoelecau on ebay. For $195 you get the controller, a 30amp resettable fuse, connectors and 8m of twin core cable which I ran to the battery.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ELECTRIC-TRAILER-BRAKE-CONTROLLER-TEKONSHA-P3-HEAVY-DUTY-WIRING-KIT-NEW-/400347335508?pt=Caravan_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d368f8b54
I used a diode between the brake sensing wire on the controller and the brake light wire that comes off the brake peddle. The diode was a 1N5404 type from Jaycar. As others have mentioned, it's easier to tap into the wire where it feeds into the instrument panel junction box under the steering wheel rather than off the brake light switch itself.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=ZR1014
I bought the split tubing from Supercheap and I bought some additional single core cable from Springers.
Running the brake wire from the controller to the 7-pin plug at the rear of the car was the only thing that caused some hassles. I wanted to run it down the passenger side chassis rail but I could only feed the wire part-way before it became stuck. The solution was to feed some 13mm poly pipe down the rail first. It's strong enough that it doesn't kink. I fed it in from the back of the car up to the engine bay, poked it out through a side hole on the rail, and then attached the brake wire to it and pulled it back through.
Everything works well and the controller is in a good position and doesn't obstruct anything. The only negative with having the controller in the ash tray position is that it's not easy to remove. If you like to take the controllers out of the vehicle when it's not in use then the ashtray position may not be a good idea.
Hope this post is of some use.posting.php?mode=post&f=11#