09 CX9 GT AWD trailer wiring ???

[kmmon1]

I installed a class 3 hidden hitch and also purcahsed the quick connect wiring harness that is plug and play to the stock tailights.. I have done these wiring before and has been simple, just plug into the taillight wiring harness and done. For some reason the CX9 kit states I need to run a Power wire all the way to the battery.... I have never seen this before.
My question is:
The 09 GT is from the factory set for the trailer kit, It is not an option. (Only option is the hitch and wiring) Is there a power wire already in the rear of this car so I do not need to run the wire all the way to the battery?? maybe pre wired from the factory so dealers or the factory do not have to run this wire.

Thanks
Kevin

 

[kmmon1]

I will try to see if it is pre wired, if not did you run it under car or through interior?

 

[ceric]

I have read an aftermarket T-connector instruction on eBay (made by Curt). The instruction also included running a wire from battery.
My guess is that all the tap point at the rear hatch area cannot supply enough current to drive several stop lights (75W - 3 stop lights, 25W each + 2 tail lights 10W each - together you are looking at nearly 100W - that is 100W/13V = 8A!).
It is probably safer to run its own power from the battery.
Again, my theory only.

 

[kmmon1]

I went to install my quick connect kit today and found an empty connector underneith the passenger side rear. The 09 GT AWD is pre wired for a trailer light connector. I will be selling the New quick connect i just bought because I dont want to run the power wire all the way up front, the connector in the back has no constant power or I would have just wired to that and been done. I tested the connector there are 6 wires, 2 blinkers, 1 brake, 1 driving lights, and I assume 1 ground and not sure of the other 1. I will be buying the generic 4 pole wire with converter and splicing right into that connector. I wish I knew before i paid $50 for the T-one connector. I am not sure what the other models and years have.

 

[ceric]

Tow prep is standard on 09 AWD.
Here is the news release at that time.

....
New or enhanced for 2009:

* Trip computer standard on all models
* Bluetooth phone capability added to Sport model
* Sirius satellite radio added to Moonroof, BOSE Audio Package and Rear Seat Entertainment System Package
* Auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink added to Grand Touring model
* Heated seats and heated outside mirrors added to Sport Power Seat Package
>>> * Trailer tow preparation standard on AWD

 

[kmmon1]

I did not check with mazda. It is a factory style 6 pin connector female, it had separate blinkers, brake light and running lights

 

[brightwhite]

OK. I just bought a tent trailer and am going through the wiring disaster Mazda has created.

I have an 08 Canadian GT with towing package. This comes with the upgraded transmission cooler and all that, but no hitch and no wiring.

I bought a Reese hitch and installed it last night. I also bought the wiring harness from Mazda. This harness only hooks up to the wiring in the Mazda, but not the trailer. That wiring harness only comes if you buy the hitch from Mazda which costs twice as much as the Reese/hidden hitch model.

Anyway, the problem is that the Mazda wiring harness is a 6 wire harness:
- power
- ground
- tails
- brake lights
- left turn
- right turn

It's missing the trailer brake wiring. So, I had to buy a module from Parts for Trucks to run from power, negative, ground and brakes. This cost an additional $120.

Anyone else hook up a 7 wire system to the their CX-9? Any tips?

 

[brightwhite]

oh really? OK, cool. When I get in there tonight, I'll check it out. What wire did you connect to the brake connector on teh 7 plug pigtail?

 

[U4IA]

I bought a Reese hitch and installed it last night. I also bought the wiring harness from Mazda. This harness only hooks up to the wiring in the Mazda, but not the trailer. That wiring harness only comes if you buy the hitch from Mazda which costs twice as much as the Reese/hidden hitch model.

Hi there,

I'll be doing the same in a few weeks. But mine will be an 09 GT so it's supposed to have the pre-wiring....and I'm a bit confused too.

Doesnt that harness you bought go from the pre-wire under the passenger seat, to the hitch? I guess what you're saying is that in 08, that pre-wiring doesnt exist? (And you need the hitch to get that wiring?)

If the brake wire is included in that that harness thats a bonus - I havent seen a photo of the mazda harness to see whats involved, but theres only 6/7 wires on the hitch connector.. (http://www.marksrv.com/wiring.htm)

If you have to go from scratch, then I think what you need is one of those t-connector trailer kits that plug into the lights, and run those wires to a new 7 pin connector on the hitch...

Then, if you need a brake controller you have to run the power/ground wires from the battery through the firewall, to the brake controller.

Run the blue brake controller output to the 7-pin (once you figure out how to snake it through the vehcile)

Then, find the 12V power lead on the brake switch and attach it to the brake controller input.... I don't have the wiring for the CX-9 but I do have it for the CX-7 so hopefully its the same. (red/white wire) http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp~TID~85374

I havent taken delivery yet, but I'm hoping to just get the mazda harness and it will magically plug into the pre-wire and tada..

Can anyone confirm the mazda part # on that harness, or any other insight into this? (0000-8E-M03)

 

[brightwhite]

I will take some pix tonight of my experience.

 

[brightwhite]

OK, the install of the Mazda wiring harness was trouble free for the most part. Tomorrow night, I'll be installing the brake line adapter. I found the brake wire (heavy red wire coming off the brake pedal. Now I just need to get through the firewall to connect to the Reese box.

If you have a 7 wire trailer harness you need this piece. The 4 line Mazda harness does not offer trailer brake connections from what I understand and cannot be connected to the 7 wire trailer harness.

 

[brightwhite]

It doesn't plug in anywhere. You have to tap 5 wires and ground the sixth. I took pix. Will post those once I get the braking adaptor installed.

 

[U4IA]

Has anyone else with a 09GT figured this out. We got our CX-9 today but I cant see anywhere that a wire harness connects to.

We had the dealer order the hitch cable ($120?) but I'm still not seeing anything under the rear passenger seat to connect it to....

The dealer wasnt too sure about this either..argh.

 

[brightwhite]

OK, I posted a set to my Flickr account. I still need to get some shots of the completed wiring, but this should give you a good idea of where it's going.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffandsam/sets/72157619136141070/

 

[brightwhite]

I thought they had a prewired plug that the harness plugged into. That's the same thing I did, minus the additional brake control.

They do. But, you have to buy the Mazda hitch which costs $200 more than the Reese one I bought and it's not as strong. The wiring harness only comes with that (in Canada anyway).

Plus, it's not wired for a 7 prong, only a 4, and therefore doesn't have trailer brakes or a direct link to the battery which you'd need to do anyway.

 

[brightwhite]

It wires directly into the white Mazda connector you can see in my hand. It's then got a splitter/joiner for the brake lights and turn signals. I bought a Modulite and used that instead.

All told, wiring the trailer hitch setup cost me:
- $220 for Reese hitch
- $25 for Mazda harness
- $65 for Modulite brake/turn adapter
- $12 for 2 inline fuse holders
- $50 for wire/connectors
- $120 for Reese braking module
- $15 for 7 prong trailer plug adapter

So, about $500 or so and a few skinned knuckles.

Pretty happy with how it came out though.

 

[vikefan7]

So how much did you really save by doing it all yourself? Sounds like a lot to me, but I've only had to put a hidden hitch in and never got around to adding the connectors for the trailer. Are you going to get the transmission cooler as well?

 

[brightwhite]

So they sell the pigtailed connector that has to be tapped, THEN the harness to the socket plugs into that.

And you have to buy the hitch with the harness?

Exactly. Total rip off. Especially since the Mazda hitch is only a Class 2, and the aftermarket hitches I found were all Class 3. Not really a big deal since even Class 2 can do the 3500lbs, but still.

I saved about $500 in total over getting Mazda to do the install using Mazda parts.

My dealer quoted me $800 to install the complete package, which did NOT include the brake adapter and would have left me with a 4 flat wiring harness, not the 7 pin round harness I needed.So after getting them to do it, I'd still have required the brake package and a 7 pin adapter and have needed to still run wires through the firewall which was a total pain in the ass.

I'll try to snag a few pix of the completed setup in the next few days. I'm pretty proud of how it all turned out.

 

[brightwhite]

Are you going to get the transmission cooler as well?

My GT has the cooler already. All 2008 AWD CX-9s sold in Canada have the towing package, but no hitch or wiring.

I towed the 2,900 lb trailer for 3 hours on Sunday from where I bought it and the CX-9 barely broke a sweat. It was pretty awesome.

 

[U4IA]

Just for information, I pulled out the entire back storage compartment on my 09 CX-9 and the pre-wire cable is taped against another wiring harness on the right hand side kinda below the tail light..

So whats the part # of the pigtail mazda connection in your picture? Its exactly what I need but I've phoned a few dealers and they can't find it...?