Blue Ox BX8811 - Manual (Page 2)

292-0808 10/99 2 of 4
This completes wiring of the towed vehicle. Check to
make sure the vehicle’s tail, brake, and turn signal lights
operate the same as they did prior to installation of the
tail light connector and the 4-conductor cable. Electrical
tape can be used to keep the diode block from shorting
against part of the car.
Connecting Two Vehicles Together
1. If the towing vehicle is already wired for towing check to
see what type of existing socket it has, a mating plug
will need to be purchased. Use the 12 volt lamp tester to
identify each pin in the socket, and connect the 4-wire
cable according to the wiring diagram color scheme.
2. If the towing vehicle is not wired for towing, a pigtail will
need to be purchased and wired into the existing wiring
of the towing vehicle as is described below. NOTE: Be
sure there is sufficient length to reach the plug on the
towed vehicle. NOTE: Self stripping wire tap connectors
will also have to be purchased to “tap into” the existing
wiring of the towing vehicle.
3. Connect the white wire from the new pigtail to a suitable
ground. To connect the other three wires extending from
the new pigtail to the existing towing vehicle wiring, it is
necessary to identify the appropriate wires at the rear of
the Towing vehicle. Use a 12 volt D.C. continuity lamp to
identify the appropriate “hot” wires. The vehicles lights,
and turn signals will have to be activated in order for
there to be current traveling through the wires.
NOTE: If the towing vehicle is equipped with separate
amber turn signals and red brake lights, use the same
procedure to identify the brake light wire. A tail light
converter (not included) is needed to convert the amber/
red 4-wire system to the standard “red only” 3-wire
system.
NOTE: A heavy duty flasher unit may be required in
the towing vehicle to power the added circuit load of a
towed vehicle.
This completes installation of the Tail Light Wiring Kit.
To test system, simply plug towed vehicles pigtail into
the towing vehicles socket, and turn on the towing
vehicles lights. Test each turn signal and the brake
lights. If lights do not work properly, there must be a
loose connection, or a wiring error. Recheck to assure
all connections were made correctly, especially the
ground connections. If your third brake light blinks with a
turn signal continue reading.
Wiring Third Brake Light (Optional)
On some vehicles with separate amber turn signals,
the third brake light or the light in the back window may
blink with one of the turn signals while in the towing
mode only. To prevent the third brake light from blinking,
complete the following steps. NOTE: After completing
these steps the third brake light will not function at all
when in the towing mode and will function normally when
driving the vehicle.
1. While applying power to the brake lights, Use a 12 Volt
D.C. continuity tester to locate the "hot" wire feeding
power to the positive side of the third brake light.
2. Relieve power to the brake lights and cut the "hot" wire
located in step 1. NOTE: Be sure to leave enough wire
extending from the positive side of the third brake light to
allow for splicing. (About 6-12 inches) Use electrical tape
to cover the other exposed end of the cut wire.
4. Obtain a piece of 16 gage stranded wire (available at
most automotive stores) long enough to reach from the
9-screw diode block to the "hot" wire extending from the
positive side of the third brake light.
5. Using a butt connector (available at most automotive
stores) splice one end of the length of wire acquired to
the wire extending from the positive side of the third
brake light.
6. Place the other end of the wire under either the "L" or "R"
wire piercing screw on the "from front of towed car" side
of the diode block. NOTE: There is already a wire under
both of these screws so this new wire must be placed on
the opposite side of the screw as the existing wire. Do
not stack the wires on top of each other under the wire
piercing screw.
7. Be sure to test the entire system before towing.
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