Relay - 4 Terminal 12 Volt
(118 reviews)
Price: $12.17
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Tow Ready Accessories and Parts - TR38665
- Wiring
- Relays
- Tow Ready
Tow Ready 12 Volt, 4 Terminal Relay for Factory Tow Package
12 volt, 4 terminal relay to complete the factory tow package for the following vehicle applications:
- 2007 and newer Chevrolet Equinox
- 2007 and newer Pontiac Torrent
- 2007 and newer Suzuki XL7
- 2008 and newer Ford Escape
- 2008 and newer Mercury Mariner
- 2008 and newer Mazda Tribute
Relay is rated for 15 amp at 12 volts
38665 - Tow Ready 12 Volt 4 Terminal Relay - Qty 1
Video of Relay - 4 Terminal 12 Volt
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Video Transcript for Tow Ready 4 Terminal Relay Installation - 2008 Ford Escape
Today in our 2008 Ford Escape, we'll be installing the tow ready relay 4-terminal for 12-volt systems, part number TR38665. Here's what our relay looks like. As you can see, just small square, 4-pin relay. Now, the reason we need this relay, we actually need three of these, is to enable the factory tow package wiring so the wiring that we just installed in our vehicle will be able to function properly. Right here in our fuse compartment, off to the driver's side of our engine bay, that's where our relay box is. We'll just release the tabs here.
Pull up, set it aside. Now, the three places that we need to put our three relays is to the back driver side of it, see this one here Then these two right here. We'll take our relays. We'll just insert them fully into place. We can reinstall our cover here now.
Right now we have these reinstalled, it's a good idea to test the wiring and make sure it works before we hook up to our trailer. All right, we'll start out by turning our headlights on, and make sure our tail light circuit's working. Our left turn signal's working. Our right turn signal's working. Our brake lights are working. If you want to purchase one of these 4-pull flat trailer testers, we have them available at our website as part number I26.
That completes our installation of the tow ready relay 4-terminal for 12-volt systems, part number TR38665 on our 2008 Ford Escape.
Customer Satisfaction Score:
87% were satisfied with this product
13% of customers were not satisfied
- Wrong item was ordered
- etrailer mistake
- Did not fit
Customer Reviews
Relay - 4 Terminal 12 Volt - TR38665
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (118 Customer Reviews)
by: Kevin B.03/14/2014
I don't normally write reviews so here goes: I searched for this part for my 2008 Ford Escape at Auto Zone, OReilly's Auto, Advance Auto, and Napa Auto with no luck. Ford wanted $30 according to their Ford parts website, but I needed three (Tail Lights, Right Turn and Left Turn for my Cargo carrier lights) and spending almost $100 was out of the question. A simple google search lead me here and I was able to get four at etrailer for the price of one from Ford. With three day shipping, they shipped on Sunday and arrived on Wednesday. I popped them right in and everything worked great (and I have a spare).
Kevin B. <---Satisfied Customer
Comments
After a year, the relays and wiring harness I bought are still going strong.
Kevin B - 03/28/2015by: CJ_Himself05/31/2021
Exactly what was needed in order for my 2009 Ford Escape to have woking trailer lights!!!
by: Robert 01/08/2022
Just what the doctored ordered. I bought 1 from a Ford dealer while I was In rapid City. xx each. I got three from you for the same price. Thanks. These are for trailer light control for what is pulled behind a F150.
by: Joshua M07/25/2016
Great product and saved me tons of money. I have an 08 Escape. I installed a wiring kit that matched the already existing wire harness. It didn't work. After research I found that I needed these relays to complete the process. After installing them everything works fine. Also they were significantly less than any auto part store.
Comments
Relays still work fine. I have has no misses after one year with this product. Very happy with my purchase. Saved a significant amount of money by using etrailer.
Joshua M - 07/25/2017by: Chris04/30/2022
Installed easily with the video and worked exactly how I need them to.
by: John G09/03/2017
The relays needed to energize the factory trailer harness for my 2009 Ford Escape were unknown at my local Ford dealership. Not only did etrailer have exactly the relays needed, they also provided an easy to follow instructional video on installation! Great product and excellent service. Fast delivery. Couldn't be happier with my purchase.
Comments
Relays have operated flawlessly for a year now. No problems
John G - 09/03/2018by: Greg, Wally s Wrenchmen LLC10/06/2016
Our customer brought to us his own hitch kit for us to install into his 2008 Escape, not knowing that they don't usually come with these relays. Local Ford garage had only one, at nearly 5 times the cost. Ordered 3 of your relays, plugged them in, and now your happy customer has a happy customer.
Comments
Our customer is still happy with the relays.
Greg, W - 10/06/2017by: Dale T.06/22/2016
These relays work perfectly and I received them in a timely manner. I couldn't be more pleased with them & etrailer.com if they had been free. I will place y'all in my address book for future needs for sure.
Thanks,
Dale T. ~ TN 38451
Comments
The relays are now a year old and still perform without any problems so Im still happy with etrailer.com..
Dale T - 06/22/2017by: Dave H.07/06/2015
Unbelievable is the only way I can explain how well your company takes care of orders. Fast ,and follow ups right to the delivery destination. I needed these 3 relays to get my 4way flat trailer connector working so I could then plug that into my seven blade trailer connector. Then I ordered and received the wiring kit and prodigy brake controller. I installed them with the help of your online video. Perfect! I can say that because I just returned from a camping trip towing my 1800lb Scamp to Vemont and back to RI and everything worked like it was supposed to. Thank You Etrailer!
Dave H.
by: Steve M05/06/2014
This was for a 2009 Ford Escape to complete a trailer install with harness # 118251 and other reviewer's suggestions to look in the fuse box to see if it contained the three relays required to power the trailer harness was a good tip.
Mine did not have the relays but it did have the female connectors in the sockets meaning that fuse box was wired for them.
I bought three, plugged them in the fuse box and everything worked perfectly.
The items and shipping were well priced and they were very well packaged.
by: Kevin I01/30/2017
The relays were required to get the run, turn, and brake lights working for small utility trailer rental. This was for 2009 Mazda Tribute. It was purchased used with a tow package already installed so I assumed it was ready to tow. I was surprised to find out the lights didn't work at rental facility. Gentleman working there said look at your fuses and relays. What relays? - all 3 required were missing. Next surprise was the cost of this little relay..wow. Purchased 3 of these from etrailer and a basic Curt LED tester for less than the cost of 1 at parts stores or dealers. Plugged in the 3 relays and the tester to verify all functions working now.
by: Frank G03/20/2017
I couldn't be more pleased with the results of the repair project on my utility trailer.
As a result of damaging one of the lights on the trailer, I began what turned out to be a lengthy process of troubleshooting and repair the lighting system.
I replaced the lights with etrailer's best LED lights.
Result,still no lights.
I followed etrailer's trouble shooting advice and isolated the problem to what I thought was a blown fuse in the car fuse panel.
Replaced fuse, still no lights.
Further troubleshooting lead me to the relays associated with the trailer lights.
I checked with Ford, and found the the relays were going to cost me [$$] a piece, and I needed 3 of them.
Etrailer had them for under [$] each, I order three of them shipped for less than [$$ - one from Ford]
Installed the relays, problem fixed.
I also purchased an excellent digital testing probe, great quality,to help me isolate the problem.
I couldn't be happier with etrailer's products and service.
by: John L.08/05/2016
I used three of the relays to complete the "tow package" on a 2009 Ford Escape. I'd had a hitch receiver and trailer wiring installed but the lights on my trailers would not work. The outfit that did the install obviously did not know that these relays were necessary. So after futzing with my trailer lights and ground wires, I explored the interwebs and saw that you also need to install these relays to get the trailer wiring to work. I found that helpful info at etrailer.com and then realized I could also order the relays from here as well. How convenient! I also ordered a fourth to have as a spare. I shopped around which was a waste of time since etrailer has these for about 20% of the OEM Ford price. Your standard auto parts stores don't even seem to carry this part. So... short story long, I installed the relays and BOOM the trailers lit up like the fourth of July. Problem solved.
by: Cheryl B.06/10/2016
These relays were exactly what I needed for my 2009 Ford Escape, to make my new trailer light harness work. etrailer.com seems to be the **only** store that carries this relay. Ford Parts doesn't even carry it!
Thank you, etrailer.com, for continuing to carry this part!! Please keep up the valuable service!
by: Mark04/30/2018
After months of racking my brain as to why my 2009 Ford Escape factory installed towing package would not work the lights on the trailer, I learned that ford does not install 3 relays that are needed to operate the left, right, and park lights. Ordered the relays through etrailer and worked like a charm!
by: Steve M07/29/2013
Relays worked perfectly and were a fraction the cost of what a dealer would charge. Be sure to install the corresponding fuses if you are using these with a vehicle that does not have the factory installed towing package.
Comments
Its been a year and a half and the relays have worked perfectly!
Steve M - 01/27/2015by: Justin02/03/2018
Trailer lights on 2008 ford escape were inop. I did have the trailer connection wiring in the back. Used the etrailer article to find that the relay landing spots did in fact have metal landing spots. Purchased the 3 relays and boom lights work. Might as well buy them from these guys. I looked around town and nothing. Thank you for the helpful article as i am sure i would have spent over a hundred with the ford dealer.
by: Brian L07/06/2014
This relay fit perfectly in our 2009 Ford Escape. I ordered three from etrailer rather than pay the over inflated prices from the Ford dealership. This completed our needs to get the tow package on the car up and running. We couldn't be happier with this purchase from etrailer.
by: Joel04/12/2018
Overall I'm extremely satisfied with etrailer. I ordered a custom hitch and wiring kit and installed it with an extra set of hands. Saved money by doing it myself with great pics and videos. Only thing was I wish I would have known from the start that I needed these relays when I ordered the hitch and wiring kit. Thanks etrailer!
by: Chuck09/15/2020
Bought these to use with a trailer light kit. Plugged them in and nothing worked; so I called etrailer. Nikki ) suggested that that the car not only came without the relays, it came without the fuses. She was right, and now everything works like a charm. Good product, great product support. Who do I contact to suggest that gets a raise?
by: Randy Beam04/02/2017
The relays arrived very timely and at a third of the price from any parts store I inquired with if they could even get them. I will be buying more from this dealer in the future. Why we didn't have these from our dealer when purchased with tow package is just crazy
Comments
Have been very pleased with the product and have recommended to some of my friends. Thanks for asking.
Randy B - 04/04/2018by: Larry01/16/2013
I have a 2009 Ford Escape and I say, yes these are a great substitute for original equipment (OE) Ford relays. I went to two local Ford dealers looking for OE ones and they really didn't know anything about them. I had to give them the Ford part number. They wanted about $30 each, but luckily neither dealer had them in stock. I ordered three TR38665s from e trailer and just plugged them in the fuse box and "let there be light". You do need to also check that the corresponding fuses are in place - see owners manual. Thanks e trailer for providing this effective and economical alternative.
by: Steve C.07/18/2017
Exactly what I needed to make the factory installed towing harness work. One year later and I have had no problems with it.
by: Steve E.11/27/2013
Just bought a 2008 Escape with a trailer towing package but discovered the relays had never been installed. Ford and Napa wanted $24 each for the three relays needed. Watched the YouTube video on how to remedy the problem and crossed the part number to etrailer.com. Ordered the three parts at 3pm on Friday and installed them on Tuesday afternoon for $25, including shipping, for all three. Couldn't be more satisfied. Will definitely place more orders with etrailer.com.
by: Steve E.08/08/2011
Very Cool!
We installed the 3 relays that are required for TOW lighting, per 2008 Ford Escape manual, into the fuse panel as described. This took less than 5 minutes. We don't have a way to test the wiring, so we went to the trailer rental office, hooked up a trailer to test the system. Everything went A-Ok.
Ford wanted $37 each for these same relay's.
Thanks "etrailer.com" and your great customer support folks.
25
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See what our Experts say about this Tow Ready Accessories and Parts
- Where Do Relays Install on a 2008 Ford Escape for Trailer WiringThe 4-Terminal Relays, # TR38665, will install with the flat part of the terminals facing the larger relays in spots # 30B and # 30D. Check out the video that I have attached showing where and how to install these relays. You will notice that the vehicle in the video is a 2008 Mercury Mariner, but the installation will be the exact same with your 2008 Ford Escape. You can see the relay installation starting at the 1 minute and 15 second mark. You will need three of these relays. They...
view full answer... - Could Tow Ready Relay part # TR38665 Fit 2011 Ford F-150The relay part # TR38665 is a 15 amp relay that we know fits several Ford vehicles that are within the year range of your 2011 Ford F-150. I am sure this would fit a relay slot on your truck but I can't say for certain if it's the correct one for the circuit you have in mind as I am not sure which circuit you'd use it on.
view full answer... - How to Install the Tow Ready 4-Terminal Relays # TR38665 on a 2008 Ford EscapeThe 4-Terminal Relays, # TR38665, will install with the flat part of the terminals facing the larger relays in spots # 30B and # 30D. Check out the video that I have attached showing where and how to install these relays. You will notice that the vehicle in the video is a 2008 Mercury Mariner, but the installation will be the exact same with your 2008 Ford Escape. You can see the relay installation starting at the 1 minute and 15 second mark. You will need three of these relays. They will...
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view full answer... - Does a 2009 Ford Escape Use Relays and Fuses for the Factory Tow Package WiringIf you check the owners manual for your 2009 Ford Escape, any relay or fuse that is associated with the tow package wiring will need to be present for the wiring harness to work. There are many vehicles that take both relays and fuses (Ford is one) to make the tow packages work. So it is very likely that you will need to add fuses if power is not getting back with just the relays. A relay is more or less a switch. It is doing some regulating but not really doing the same job as a fuse.
view full answer... - Correct Relay For Trailer Backup Circuit On 2016 AcadiaThe T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness for Factory Tow Package - 7-Way Trailer Connector # 118271 comes with 2 relays which are typically the only relays required for trailer lights. But in your case, you will need that 3rd relay for the trailer back up circuit. You can use Relay - 4 Terminal 12 Volt # TR38665 for your trailer back up circuit. I attached a video for reference, however, you will want to look at your fuse box diagram to verify the correct slot for this relay.
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view full answer... - Troubleshooting Trailer Wiring 2008 Ford Escape Not ActiveWe don't have any relay kits for your 2008 Ford Escape for the tow package wiring. If the 4 pole is factory wiring that isn't active that would make me think the issue is a blown fuse which you'd have to check with Ford to see where that would be. It should be in your owners manual fuse diagram as well for trailer wiring. If the trailer wiring is aftermarket like the Tekonsha kit part # 118551 I'd recommend checking the power wire of it that runs to the battery and see if the inline fuse...
view full answer... - Recommended Trailer Wiring Harness for a 2012 Ford EscapeThe trailer wiring harness I recommend for a 2012 Ford Escape without tow package is the T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat part # 118551 which plugs in behind the tail lights so you won't have to do any splicing. It will also work on models with the tow package if you aren't sure. Unfortunately, you'd need to reach out to the dealer to ask if you have the tow package if you don't know. The plug may be present for the connector but that does not mean the circuits for the tow...
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view full answer... - Wiring Harness & Brake Controller Kit Recommendation for 2008 Ford EscapeWe do offer an all inclusive kit for wiring in a trailer brake controller like the popular Prodigy P2 # 90885. Kit # ETBC7 contains a 7-way vehicle socket, and all of the wiring, connectors and other parts needed to install the P2 in your 2008 Ford Escape that does not have a factory trailer connector. All you need to add is a 4-pole harness, which is the starting point for the install. If you have the factory tow package use part # 118251 along with three of relay part # TR38665. If...
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- Recommendations for Tow Package for 2008 Ford EscapeA factory tow package can vary with different manufacturers. Based on the information you provided we would need to start by testing the connector you mentioned in the back. You will need a circuit tester like part # PTW2993. You indicated that there are fuses in the 31C, 31D, and 31E positions on your fuse panel. You might check your owner's manual and verify that these are fuses for the left turn, right turn, and park / running lights. You will need to have someone sit in the front...
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