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89 trailer wire harness help?

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Old 10-09-2020, 12:53 PM
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Default 89 trailer wire harness help?

So my XJ had a wire harness but the connector got smashed by the previous owner, and is unusable, so trying to setup a new one. There are 7 wires coming out of the Jeep:
red
blue
blue with white line
black
grey with a black line
brown
brown with white line

what is left of the harness has blue to yellow, grey with black line to brown, and brown to green. And a white ground.

I have to wire up a new 4 pin, I assume I can match, but it also has 4 other wires: another yellow, blue, and black. For backup lights, electric brakes, and positive power. Anybody done this before and can help me make sure I wire things up correctly?

pictures:


Old 10-09-2020, 01:16 PM
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I've just had a look at the 88 and 90 wiring diagrams but am not seeing the same colours you said. Are you at the wiring connector behind the plastic panels or trying to tag off the old harness?
Old 10-09-2020, 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by boxburn
I've just had a look at the 88 and 90 wiring diagrams but am not seeing the same colours you said. Are you at the wiring connector behind the plastic panels or trying to tag off the old harness?

tag off the old harness
Old 10-09-2020, 02:20 PM
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You could either use a multimeter or test lamp and see which colours go live when you brake, indicate etc or go further in and find where it connects to the Jeep itself. The old harness could potentially just be the colours the previous installer had around at the time, or they were supplied with the kit. Either way, they don't match with the wiring diagrams. Is it a Cherokee or Wagoneer? The diagrams do specify Wagoneer and Cherokee as different with the tow wiring.
Old 10-09-2020, 04:38 PM
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Originally Posted by boxburn
You could either use a multimeter or test lamp and see which colours go live when you brake, indicate etc or go further in and find where it connects to the Jeep itself. The old harness could potentially just be the colours the previous installer had around at the time, or they were supplied with the kit. Either way, they don't match with the wiring diagrams. Is it a Cherokee or Wagoneer? The diagrams do specify Wagoneer and Cherokee as different with the tow wiring.

It's a wagoneer. I believe it was a factory kit, since my jeep was optioned from the factory with a tow package.
Old 10-09-2020, 05:21 PM
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Well here's the snippets from 88 and 90:




XJ 98 refers to the sheet number, not the year.
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Old 10-09-2020, 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by boxburn
Well here's the snippets from 88 and 90:




XJ 98 refers to the sheet number, not the year.

awesome, thank you! I'll have to dig into the panel, and see where the wires connect. I'll do that when it cools down just a bit. working a bit this afternoon, and all of my tools were scalding my hands...
Old 10-09-2020, 05:43 PM
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No problem. I've not looked at the 88 diagram before so I just learnt how they show different diagrams. By chance I did screen shot the Wag trailer wiring without realising it had both, but here's the Cherokee wiring as some colours match a bit better. It's all info that may help you out in the long run, maybe they changed it in 89 and 90.


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Old 10-10-2020, 05:14 PM
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Well, if it helps any - on my 88 the trailer wiring plugs into a Y coming off the main bundle above the fenderwell behind the inner quarter panel.
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Old 10-11-2020, 10:07 AM
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Note from DJ
I hope this diagram helps you?

88 Trailer Tow Diagram
Old 10-11-2020, 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by djgrayxj
Note from DJ
I hope this diagram helps you?

88 Trailer Tow Diagram

Yes, thank you all for the diagrams! I appreciate it. I haven't gotten back to this task, but will be taking a look at it tomorrow. This last one Has all the right wire colors labeled clearly (easy for me to read!). Thank you again!.
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Old 10-11-2020, 11:56 AM
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That diagram from DJ has all of your colours so I'd imagine that's your best place to start. I wonder why the colours don't match on the diagrams I posted of a 88 Wagoneer
Old 10-11-2020, 03:10 PM
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Note from DJ
I have a copy of Factory 88XJ 130 Page Electrical Manual that I found on for sale many years ago.
Old 10-11-2020, 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by boxburn
That diagram from DJ has all of your colours so I'd imagine that's your best place to start. I wonder why the colours don't match on the diagrams I posted of a 88 Wagoneer

not sure? I think yours is the wiring diagram for the car wires, and not the harness, and his is the harness itself maybe? Not sure.
Old 10-12-2020, 09:38 AM
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Just wanted to say thanks again! got it all wired up this morning.
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