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? Junction Box - how to disconnect 5 connectors?

MikeL77

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Joined
July 16, 2025
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City, State
Fort Collins, CO
Year, Model & Trim Level
2007 Explorer
2007 Ford Explorer Junction Box swap. A bear of a job getting to it. Had to remove emergency brake pedal assembly, etc. How do I unplug the 5 connectors from it without breaking them? Can barely reach them even when junction box pulled down some. Is there extra wire on the 5 junction box connections so it can be pulled down farther for easy access? Don't want to break anything.
 



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The only easy way i know is to pull the whole dashboard out
 






2007 Ford Explorer Junction Box swap. A bear of a job getting to it. Had to remove emergency brake pedal assembly, etc. How do I unplug the 5 connectors from it without breaking them? Can barely reach them even when junction box pulled down some. Is there extra wire on the 5 junction box connections so it can be pulled down farther for easy access? Don't want to break anything.
any luck, will probably attempt on weekend
did find this ford instruction
 






any luck, will probably attempt on weekend
did find this ford instruction
Yes, I had found the instructions. There are little yellow tabs on the larger plugs that lift up. Lift up far enough, without breaking them, they pry the connector out a bit. We got all five connectors out, cannot get any back in. No leverage. May have to take entire emergency brake out . . . maybe some or all of dash too. Horrible job on our 2007 Explorer. Some explorers have them sitting right under the lower dash panel . . . easy job then.
 






Yes, I had found the instructions. There are little yellow tabs on the larger plugs that lift up. Lift up far enough, without breaking them, they pry the connector out a bit. We got all five connectors out, cannot get any back in. No leverage. May have to take entire emergency brake out . . . maybe some or all of dash too. Horrible job on our 2007 Explorer. Some explorers have them sitting right under the lower dash panel . . . easy job then.
yes, the instructions say to pull off the emergency brake stuff and put assembly under brake pedal (I guess without disconnecting the park brake cable)
 






yes, the instructions say to Well pull off the emergency brake stuff and put assembly under brake pedal (I guess without disconnecting the park brake cable)
Well I went to the wreckers to grab a SJB
tools: 7mm socket, 10mm socket, 10mm combo wrench

(weatherstripping, kick panel plastic cover removed)

removed plastic under tray - dash (2x 7mm screws)
removed drivers side air vent, pops out with convincing
pulled off headlight switch - panel snaps in, and removed electrical connectors from headlight switch

removed hood latch (1 screw 8mm?)(moved out of way - it stops the park brake assembly a little)

removed 2 - 7mm park brake release handle bolts

removed 3 10mm bolts for park brake - two are accessible with ratchet, extension, and one with 10mm combo wrench - closest to door)
remove electrical connector for park brake

wrestled park brake out of way and underneath brake pedal

remove the three 7mm screws holding SJB in place (2 through opening where headlight switch , and one from behind - you will see the back of the screw by the lower screw on front side.

At this point pull down the SJB, it will come down a lot,
I rotated the SJB so the fender side was facing forward.
the huge connector with white tab - rotate tab all the way back then it will unplug
there was some tape stuck in there that wouldn't allow the tab to fully rotate (had to cut it out)
the smaller ones - you need to press the back end and rotate the latch mechanism open all the way it unplugs as the latch rotates

repeated for the other side (connectors facing center of truck when mounted)

When plugging in connectors - I would reverse the order- last out, first in, and make sure the locking latches are in the fully open positions or connectors will not seat - the rotation of the locking latches will seat/lock the connectors in place
 






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