Relays conforming to the ISO specifications have
common physical dimensions, current capacities, ter-
minal patterns, and terminal functions. The relay is
contained within a small, rectangular, molded plastic
housing and is connected to all of the required inputs
and outputs by five integral male spade-type termi-
nals that extend from the bottom of the relay base.
The trailer tow relays cannot be adjusted or
repaired and, if faulty or damaged, the inoperative
relay must be replaced.
OPERATION
The trailer tow relays are electromechanical
switches. The relays each use an input from the cir-
cuit that they isolate from the trailer wiring to con-
trol a high current output to the trailer. The movable
common feed contact point is held against the fixed
normally closed contact point by spring pressure.
When the relay coil is energized, an electromagnetic
field is produced by the coil windings. This electro-
magnetic field draws the movable relay contact point
away from the fixed normally closed contact point,
and holds it against the fixed normally open contact
point. When the relay coil is de-energized, spring
pressure returns the movable contact point back
against the fixed normally closed contact point. A
resistor is connected in parallel with the relay coil in
the relay, and helps to dissipate voltage spikes and
electromagnetic interference that can be generated as
the electromagnetic field of the relay coil collapses.
The terminals of each trailer tow relay are con-
nected to the vehicle electrical system through a con-nector bank in the rear lighting wire harness above
the right rear wheelhouse. Refer to the appropriate
wiring information. The wiring information includes
wiring diagrams, proper wire and connector repair
procedures, details of wire harness routing and
retention, connector pin-out information and location
views for the various wire harness connectors, splices
and grounds. The trailer tow relays can be diagnosed
using conventional diagnostic tools and methods.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - TRAILER TOW
RELAY
The trailer tow relays (Fig. 65) are located in a
connector bank above the right rear wheelhouse.
Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wir-
ing information includes wiring diagrams, proper
wire and connector repair procedures, details of wire
harness routing and retention, connector pin-out
information and location views for the various wire
harness connectors, splices and grounds.
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING
WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER AIRBAG,
PASSENGER AIRBAG, SEAT BELT TENSIONER,
FRONT IMPACT SENSORS, SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG,
OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS
OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE
BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN
WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACI-
TOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FUR-
THER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY
SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE
PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCI-
DENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE
PERSONAL INJURY.
(1) Remove the trailer tow relay from the connec-
tor bank. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/LAMPS/LIGHT-
ING - EXTERIOR/TRAILER TOW RELAY -
REMOVAL).
(2) A relay in the de-energized position should
have continuity between terminals 87A and 30, and
no continuity between terminals 87 and 30. If OK, go
to Step 3. If not OK, replace the faulty relay.
(3) Resistance between terminals 85 and 86 (elec-
tromagnet) should be 75 8 ohms. If OK, go to Step
4. If not OK, replace the faulty relay.
(4) Connect a battery to terminals 85 and 86.
There should now be continuity between terminals
30 and 87, and no continuity between terminals 87A
and 30. If OK, test the input and output circuits of
the relay. Refer to the appropriate wiring informa-
tion.
Fig. 64 Trailer Tow Relays
1 - RELAY CONNECTOR BANK
2 - REAR BODY WIRE HARNESS
3 - LEFT TURN RELAY
4 - RIGHT TURN RELAY
5 - BRAKE LAMP RELAY
6 - FUSED IGNITION SWITCH OUTPUT (RUN) RELAY
8L - 62 LAMPS/LIGHTING - EXTERIORKJ
TRAILER TOW RELAY (Continued)
INSTALLATION
The trailer tow relay bank contains four relays.
The service procedures for each relay are the same.
Be certain any removed relay is replaced with the
same relay size and type that was removed.
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING
WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER AIRBAG,
PASSENGER AIRBAG, SEAT BELT TENSIONER,
FRONT IMPACT SENSORS, SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG,
OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS
OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE
BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN
WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACI-
TOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FUR-
THER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY
SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE
PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCI-
DENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE
PERSONAL INJURY.
(1) Position the trailer tow relay to the proper con-
nector in the connector bank (Fig. 67).
(2) Align the trailer tow relay terminals with the
terminal cavities in the connector.
(3) Push firmly and evenly on the top of the trailer
tow relay until the terminals are fully seated in the
terminal cavities in the connector.
(4) Carefully restore the foam wrap around the
trailer tow relay connector bank (Fig. 66).
(5) Reach through the access hole in the quarter
inner panel behind the right rear wheelhouse to
place the trailer tow relay connector bank on the top
of the right rear wheelhouse between the quarter
inner and outer panels.
(6) Reinstall the trim onto the right side quarter
inner panel. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INTERIOR/QUAR-
TER TRIM PANEL - INSTALLATION).
(7) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
TRAILER TOW WIRING
DESCRIPTION
Vehicles equipped with an optional factory-in-
stalled (not dealer-installed or port-installed) trailer
towing package have a rear body wire harness that
includes an integral trailer tow wiring take out that
connects to a heavy duty, sealed, 7-pin trailer tow
connector located on a bracket on the trailer hitch
receiver (Fig. 68). This harness includes a second
take out with a trailer tow relay connector bank and
four trailer tow relays that isolate the right turn sig-
nal, left turn signal, and brake lamp circuits of the
vehicle from the electrical system of the trailer. The
fourth relay in the connector bank provides a fused
ignition switch output (run) source of battery current
to the trailer tow connector through a trailer tow
relay output circuit. The package also includes an
adapter harness (stored beneath the left rear seat
cushion of the vehicle when it is shipped from the
factory) that adapts the 7-pin trailer tow connector to
a standard, light-duty, 4-pin trailer tow connector.
Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wir-
ing information includes wiring diagrams, proper
wire and connector repair procedures, further details
on wire harness routing and retention, as well as
pin-out and location views for the various wire har-
ness connectors, splices and grounds.
Fig. 68 Trailer Tow Wiring
1 - RETAINER CLIP (4)
2 - REAR BODY HARNESS (TRAILER TOW TAKE OUT)
3 - RETAINER CLIP (2)
4 - WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR
8L - 64 LAMPS/LIGHTING - EXTERIORKJ
TRAILER TOW RELAY (Continued)
TRAILER TOW RELAY
DESCRIPTION
The trailer tow relays are located in a connector
bank above the right rear wheelhouse and behind the
quarter trim panel on vehicles equipped with the
optional factory-installed trailer towing package.
Four individual relays are used, one each for fused
ignition switch output (run), brake lamps, right turn
signal, and left turn signal outputs to a trailer
through the rear body wiring and connectors. The
trailer tow relays are conventional International
Standards Organization (ISO) micro relays (Fig. 64).
Relays conforming to the ISO specifications have
common physical dimensions, current capacities, ter-
minal patterns, and terminal functions. The relay is
contained within a small, rectangular, molded plastic
housing and is connected to all of the required inputs
and outputs by five integral male spade-type termi-
nals that extend from the bottom of the relay base.
The trailer tow relays cannot be adjusted or
repaired and, if faulty or damaged, the inoperative
relay must be replaced.
OPERATION
The trailer tow relays are electromechanical
switches. The relays each use an input from the cir-
cuit that they isolate from the trailer wiring to con-
trol a high current output to the trailer. The movable
common feed contact point is held against the fixed
normally closed contact point by spring pressure.When the relay coil is energized, an electromagnetic
field is produced by the coil windings. This electro-
magnetic field draws the movable relay contact point
away from the fixed normally closed contact point,
and holds it against the fixed normally open contact
point. When the relay coil is de-energized, spring
pressure returns the movable contact point back
against the fixed normally closed contact point. A
resistor is connected in parallel with the relay coil in
the relay, and helps to dissipate voltage spikes and
electromagnetic interference that can be generated as
the electromagnetic field of the relay coil collapses.
The terminals of each trailer tow relay are con-
nected to the vehicle electrical system through a con-
nector bank in the rear lighting wire harness above
the right rear wheelhouse. Refer to the appropriate
wiring information. The wiring information includes
wiring diagrams, proper wire and connector repair
procedures, details of wire harness routing and
retention, connector pin-out information and location
views for the various wire harness connectors, splices
and grounds. The trailer tow relays can be diagnosed
using conventional diagnostic tools and methods.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - TRAILER TOW
RELAY
The trailer tow relays (Fig. 65) are located in a
connector bank above the right rear wheelhouse.
Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wir-
ing information includes wiring diagrams, proper
wire and connector repair procedures, details of wire
harness routing and retention, connector pin-out
information and location views for the various wire
harness connectors, splices and grounds.
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING
WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER AIRBAG,
PASSENGER AIRBAG, SEAT BELT TENSIONER,
FRONT IMPACT SENSORS, SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG,
OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS
OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE
BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN
WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACI-
TOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FUR-
THER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY
SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE
PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCI-
DENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE
PERSONAL INJURY.
Fig. 64 Trailer Tow Relays
1 - RELAY CONNECTOR BANK
2 - REAR BODY WIRE HARNESS
3 - LEFT TURN RELAY
4 - RIGHT TURN RELAY
5 - BRAKE LAMP RELAY
6 - FUSED IGNITION SWITCH OUTPUT (RUN) RELAY
8Ls - 62 LAMPSKJ
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING
WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER AIRBAG,
PASSENGER AIRBAG, SEAT BELT TENSIONER,
FRONT IMPACT SENSORS, SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG,
OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS
OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE
BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN
WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACI-
TOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FUR-
THER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY
SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE
PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCI-
DENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE
PERSONAL INJURY.
(1) Position the trailer tow relay to the proper con-
nector in the connector bank (Fig. 67).
(2) Align the trailer tow relay terminals with the
terminal cavities in the connector.
(3) Push firmly and evenly on the top of the trailer
tow relay until the terminals are fully seated in the
terminal cavities in the connector.
(4) Carefully restore the foam wrap around the
trailer tow relay connector bank (Fig. 66).
(5) Reach through the access hole in the quarter
inner panel behind the right rear wheelhouse to
place the trailer tow relay connector bank on the top
of the right rear wheelhouse between the quarter
inner and outer panels.(6) Reinstall the trim onto the right side quarter
inner panel. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INTERIOR/QUAR-
TER TRIM PANEL - INSTALLATION).
(7) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
TRAILER TOW WIRING
DESCRIPTION
Vehicles equipped with an optional factory-in-
stalled (not dealer-installed or port-installed) trailer
towing package have a rear body wire harness that
includes an integral trailer tow wiring take out that
connects to a heavy duty, sealed, 7-pin trailer tow
connector located on a bracket on the trailer hitch
receiver (Fig. 68). This harness includes a second
take out with a trailer tow relay connector bank and
four trailer tow relays that isolate the right turn sig-
nal, left turn signal, and brake lamp circuits of the
vehicle from the electrical system of the trailer. The
fourth relay in the connector bank provides a fused
ignition switch output (run) source of battery current
to the trailer tow connector through a trailer tow
relay output circuit. The package also includes an
adapter harness (stored beneath the left rear seat
cushion of the vehicle when it is shipped from the
factory) that adapts the 7-pin trailer tow connector to
a standard, light-duty, 4-pin trailer tow connector.
Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wir-
ing information includes wiring diagrams, proper
wire and connector repair procedures, further details
on wire harness routing and retention, as well as
pin-out and location views for the various wire har-
ness connectors, splices and grounds.
Fig. 67 Trailer Tow Relay Remove/Install
1 - RELAY CONNECTOR BANK
2 - REAR BODY WIRE HARNESS
3 - LEFT TURN RELAY
4 - RIGHT TURN RELAY
5 - BRAKE LAMP RELAY
6 - FUSED IGNITION SWITCH OUTPUT (RUN) RELAY
Fig. 68 Trailer Tow Wiring
1 - RETAINER CLIP (4)
2 - REAR BODY HARNESS (TRAILER TOW TAKE OUT)
3 - RETAINER CLIP (2)
4 - WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR
8Ls - 64 LAMPSKJ
TRAILER TOW RELAY (Continued)