7 pin wire harness and brake controller on 2020 Kia Telluride | How to

[@JohnForTheWin]

It was really nice of you to make this video. Extremely helpful!

[@timlaw71]

Thank you very much.

[@kennyroody]

Huge thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be doing this to my new 21 Telluride in a couple of weeks, I am using your video as my walkthrough. Seriously, thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!!!!!!

[@timlaw71]

Glad it helped! You are very welcome.

[@JohnForTheWin]

I would love to see the path you took to run the blue brake wire from the front to the back

[@timlaw71]

Unfortunately I sold the vehicle a few years ago.

[@SweetDewMe]

And thank you very much for making this video. Saved me so much time!

[@timlaw71]

Glad it helped!

[@howtobeatadrum]

That was hardcore. Thanks for doing this video. After all that effort, I am wondering if you would do it over again...ha ha. I would never do it! Obviously you are a good mechanic and have the right tools. For a $750 towing package, Kia should give you a 7-pin connector. It would probably cost them an extra five bucks!

[@timlaw71]

Thank you. I’d would do this vehicle all over again... I know the right wire now 😀. I agree that Kia should put a 7 pin in as well.

[@ksmiles5333]

Hey there . Subscribed from Washington State. Great video I'm looking to adding a 7 pen to mine as well why was it 2020 SX Prestige Moss Green. I have thought about doing the echo but I like how you did this... Also aside question I have not been able to locate or find any answers for recovery points on our vehicle I know it's not a true rock crawler for Wheeler but my concern is if I ever need to use them I would rather have them than need them leave them and not have them. 👍

[@timlaw71]

Thank you. I don’t have any clue on recovery points though.

[@BIGGELATO]

Thats a lot of work! Your a champ for taking your time to do it. It’s a very detailed video showing it all. I can’t wait to get started! Love this kinda stuff. Thanks bud! - Alex from instagram

[@timlaw71]

Thanks. I'm just glad people found it useful.

[@kc8ncr]

Nice video. You probably saved me a bunch of time. Thanks.

[@timlaw71]

Awesome. I’m glad it helped.

[@wilsmith6578]

Great video. Thank you. I do have a question, instead of pulling the brake harness off under the dash and taping into it for the power to break light, could you have tapped into the wire at the rear of the vehicle at the break light itself?

[@timlaw71]

Thank you. You could have but I didn’t want any extra wire length adding to equation. When dealing with brakes I wanted to make sure I was in spec.

[@ksmiles5333]

Have you thought about adding recovery hooks/points since there are none which is odd 🤔?

[@timlaw71]

I never thought about it.

[@ksmiles5333]

@@timlaw71 It truly is something that should have been included in this vehicle over here.

[@ksmiles5333]

Here’s a question, in the commercial where the Telluride is drifting through a muddy field, if they got stuck what would be the connection point for a 4x4 vehicle to pull it out? It was marketed as a very capable off-road vehicle but the manual instructs that a tow truck should pick up by the wheels to avoid damaging the AWD system. Have we forgotten the “Give it Everything” campaign already?

[@dalex7777]

Timlaw Thanks for the great video. Have you done any towing with your Telluride yet? If so what was your load? My understanding is that the towing package adds a higher capacity ventilation fan for the engine as well as the auto leveling rear suspension. You make a good point, this is considered a Korean car but is actually more American than many Chevys, GMCs and Cadillacs because they are built in Mexico. The Kia Telluride is built in the good ole’ US of A, in Georgia! Designed in California for the US market.

[@timlaw71]

Thank you. I have only dropped my trailer onto the Telluride so far. My trailer weighs 4100 lbs. From my understanding the factory tow package is only the hitch, 4 pin harness, and the auto leveling suspension. Ya, the Telluride is made a few hours from my house. I drive by westpoint before the Telluride release and saw them parked outside ready to go to the dealers. 😀.

[@dalex7777]

Wow. That’s cool. If you ever need parts you can just pick them up. 😂 If I hadn’t just got my Sorento last year I would be looking to upgrade to the Telluride. I’m trying to wait, but I test drove one and they are awesome. Here is a great Telluride build video you may have already come across. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWWUpH-Ei69ogbM

[@timlaw71]

Primal Outdoors build is pretty awesome. I’ve been following him.

[@evz1244]

@@timlaw71 How was your experience towing your trailer? Did it every feel like you needed more power? How much did you "feel" the trailer behind you?

[@timlaw71]

@@evz1244 It pulls really good. I went through the north ga mountains without any issues.

[@ltfirefighter772]

Great video!! Thank you for posting. I'm curious, could you just splice the power to a constant power in the fuse box to avoid going through the firewall? Many thanks.

[@timlaw71]

Thank you. You could but I always like going straight to the battery for anything brake controller related. Call me over cautious 😃.

[@jeninebrown6385]

I know this video is old, but the wire you tapped into for the brake controller- did you use the brake pedal switch or the centre rear brake light wire?

[@dougfry9949]

Does the trailering package come with the KIA reciever cover? tks

[@timlaw71]

Yes

[@SweetDewMe]

You said you ran a dedicated power wire from the battery to the back 7 pin connector, but I didn’t see it connected to the battery. Where did you connect it? Was it going through a 20 amp circuit breaker?

[@timlaw71]

It is through the circuit breaker that is connected to the battery.

[@acacium]

I've been trying to figure out if I should get a 2021 with the tow package. I am mostly interested in having the self leveling suspension. Mostly for whenever I load it up for a road trip to prevent sagging. The biggest thing I would ever tow would be a u-haul trailer for moving. Do you think it is a worthwhile feature to have on the telluride or is it not really necessary?

[@timlaw71]

I think it's worth it to get it at purchase. I had one of the first tellurides so the tow package was available at that time.

[@acacium]

@@timlaw71 thanks for your thoughts on the topic and fast reply. There is a wolf gray, nightfall, ex with tow package coming in to our local dealer in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully we get a chance to pick it up.

[@luisrios1224]

It wouldn't be easier to add a 7 pin adapter to the 4 pin?

[@timlaw71]

Your can’t and get trailer braking abilities.

[@jmm04003]

Isn’t the red wire on the brake controller module supposed to tap into the reverse light, not the brake lights?

[@timlaw71]

no

[@jonathang5978]

What is the make/model of the brake controller you used? The link in the description doesn't take me to it. Thanks!

[@timlaw71]

It’s a Hopkins insight. Sorry the link didn’t work.

[@paullapinta6367]

I'm interested in the location of the backup connection. I'm planning on replacing the KIA 4 pin with a CURT 7 pin. I need the backup signal for the surge brakes on the boat trailer. Is the backup cable nearby under the car? Thanks, Paul

[@timlaw71]

Are you talking about the backup lights?

[@paullapinta6367]

timlaw71 yes, the backup lights. The brakes need the backup signal

[@timlaw71]

Paul LaPinta I would think that would be easy enough to pull from the tail lights. I unfortunately don’t know what wire it is.

[@travish5252]

you can pick up the reverse light signal at the rear of the vehicle, driver side where the factory 4 pin connects to the harness. I have a diagram but its a JPEG. cant post it here. try this. tellurideforum.org/threads/trailer-wiring.3196/page-2

[@travish5252]

Do I need to connect directly to the brake pedal wire, or can I hook into the wire at the rear of the vehicle to pick up the signal?

[@timlaw71]

I went under the dash.

[@travish5252]

@@timlaw71 O.K. one more question. If you or anyone here can help. I installed a Curt Spectrum on my 2020 KIA Telluride. The 7-Pin I am using has red LEDs built into it to show me if I am getting power to the connector. On the brake circuit I am getting a very small amount of power at all times (very dimly lit LED), even when the vehicle is off. when I connect the trailer, the LED goes out. All brakes on the trailer and functions of the Spectrum are working correctly. Is this just normal? I have no shorts in any of the wires and connected it exactly as instructed. All soldered all sealed and connections have heat shrink applied.

[@pigeonsolutionsllc7950]

Did you get your telluride with factory tow package or did you add that after I was told when I bought my telluride (in Arizona) towing hitch has not came out yet 🤔

[@timlaw71]

I bought it from the dealer after purchase.

[@pigeonsolutionsllc7950]

timlaw71 oh okay thank you.

[@timlaw71]

You’re welcome.

[@robmichele2004]

Thank you for the video. Just got my SXP and have to do this. Have you had any problems with your controller? etrailer said the the only one they recommend is the Curt one. But I feel it shouldn't matter as long as it is installed and wired properly like you did.

[@timlaw71]

I never had any issues.

[@heathervitale8623]

Trying to add a brake controller..see it's a Hopkins Flex Mount. Do you have the model number and have you had any trouble with this controller?

[@timlaw71]

I didn’t have any trouble but I have traded the telluride. I don’t remember the exact model...sorry

[@heathervitale8623]

@@timlaw71 no worries..hopefully it wasn't due to towing

[@ltfirefighter772]

@@timlaw71 You've traded the Telluride already???

[@timlaw71]

HEATHER VITALE the towing was fine. I just missed my truck.

[@timlaw71]

Corey I traded it after having it 4 1/2 months. I just missed the truck.

[@davidrichard6449]

How long did this exercise take you?

[@timlaw71]

About 3 hours because I couldn’t find the wire.

[@陆迪骁]

May I ask what is real life fuel economy for Telluride?

[@timlaw71]

I have only driven in town and I get 18-20 with an awd. There are people in my telluride group getting 27 on the highway.

[@陆迪骁]

timlaw71 thanks for your info. I m thinking to get one. Just not sure the reliable of the Kia.

[@timlaw71]

陆迪骁 mine has been super reliable