How to Install a Brake Controller on Chevrolet / GMC 1999-2006 Pickups
1999-2006 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra models
2007 Silverado Classic and Sierra Classic models
Vehicles with Factory Installed 7-Way
If you are attempting to install a brake controller on a Chevy/GMC truck (~1999- 2006, inc. 2007 classic) and your vehicle is equipped with the factory installed 7-Way trailer connector, the only part needed to install the brake controller is the unit itself. The manufacturer provides a brake control adapter that connects to the brake controller and plugs into the vehicle's electrical junction box. This junction box (show below) is located on the driver's side below the dash, left of the brake pedal. If the factory brake control adapter cannot be found, we offer a replacement (for model years 1999-2002 use 20263, for years 2003-2006, including 2007 Classic models use 20264). After mounting the brake controller in a place that is easily accessible, your installation is complete.
The brake control adapter plug is located in the electrical junction box on the driver's side of the cab, left of the brake pedal.
This close-up of the electrical junction box with the lid off shows several different available slots. The brake control adapter is plugged into the second slot from the left on the top row.
Vehicles without Factory Installed 7-way
Step 1 - Install Brake Controller:
Parts Needed:
- The Brake Controller
- The Brake Control Adapter.
- The Brake Control 7-Way or 6-Way Installation Kit
Hardwire the open wires of the brake control adapter to the wires on the brake controller. Plug the other end of the adapter into the electrical junction box (see above). Mount the brake controller in a place that is easily accessible.
Step 2 - Under the Hood:
A: Remove the bracket in the corner closest to the driver.
B: Remove the top cover of the "Accessory Fuse Block".
C: Remove the lower cover to the fuses.
D: Locate the Blue and Red Wire. These are normally located next to the fuse block on the cab side. The Blue Wire has a plug on it, the Red Wire has a ring terminal on it.
E: After locating the Blue and Red Wires, place the Red Wire over the closest positive post (B). A Green 30 amp Fuse is needed in the location nearest the positive post to power the brake controller. If a smaller brake controller is used, such as the Draw-Tite Act I (5100), a 20 amp Fuse may be required. Consult the brake controller installation instructions and the vehicle's owner's manual. Next, clip off the connector on the Blue Wire (A).
F: The installation kit provides a gray "double bonded" wire which is really two wires in one. Connect the white wire in the gray housing to the blue wire under the hood. If a hot lead is also needed connect the black wire, (shown in red for clarity), to the other auxiliary positive post. A 40 amp fuse needs to be placed in the last spot, closest to the post, to power the hot lead (see picture). If this post is already in use, you may connect the hot lead directly to the positive side of the battery via a 40 amp circuit breaker (provided in kit). After the connections are made, route the remaining length of the double bonded wire to the back of the vehicle, where it will be attached to the 6 or 7-way adapter (provided). Usually the wire is run either inside or above the frame on the driver's side of the truck. Once run, connect the white (brake) and black (hot) to the blue (brake) and black (hot) respectively on the back of the 6 or 7-way adapter.
Step 3 - The Trailer Connector:
A: If the vehicle is already set-up with a flat 4-pole trailer connector, then plug it into the 4-pole on the back of the 6 or 7 way adapter that comes with the installation kit. The white wire (ground) coming out of the back of the adapter needs to be attached to a substantial grounding point on the frame. After mounting the new 7-way or 6-way connector, installation would be complete.
B: If no trailer connector has been provided, the necessary wires can found above the spare tire. The Yellow Wire is the left turn and brakes, Dark Green Wire is the right turn and brakes, Brown Wire is for the taillights, and White is the ground. Often if the loom is cut back, two more wires will be found. The Light Blue wire provides a lead for a camper shell brake light. The other, a Light Green wire, is for the reverse lights.
C: Connecting the Wires. First cut off the 4-pole on the provided 7-way or 6-way adapter in the installation kit. Scotch locks are provided to connect to the wires above the spare. The green wire is connected to the dark green wire on the vehicle; the yellow to the yellow, brown to brown. The white (ground) on the adapter can either be connected to the white (ground) wire above the spare, or it can be grounded directly to the frame.
After installing the mounting bracket with your 7-way or 6-way trailer connector the installation is complete.
Brake Controller Installation Guides and Information
Brake Controller InformationBrake Controller Installation from ScratchInstallation Guide - 2008 Chevy Silverado and GMC SierraInstallation Guide - 97-06 Ford F-150, 99-04 F-250/F-350 Super DutyInstallation Guide - 05-06 Ford Super DutyInstallation Guide - Dodge PickupsInstallation Guide - Chevrolet / GMC 1999-2006 PickupsBrake Control Wiring for 2007 and 2008 GM TruckQuestions and AnswersBrake Controller Installation Videos
Brake Controller Installation - 2008 GMC SierraBrake Controller Installation - 2004 GMC EnvoyBrake Controller Installation - 2008 GMC SierraBrake Controller Installation - 2001 GMC YukonTesting Wiring on an Electronic Brake Controller DemonstrationBrake Controller Wiring - What are the Wire Colors?Recent Brake Controller Questions and Answers
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Question:
I was looking for a plug on 2005 Ford explorer it has an RV plug in the back but I need to hook up a brake controller and I can not find any plug under the dash to plug in the brake controller harness.
asked by: Peter last update: June 11, 2009
Reply:
If your Explorer has the factory installed 7 way connector, it will have the connector to install the brake controller. It is located behind the center instrument cluster, to the right of the radio. You mihgt be able to reach it from underneath, but the easiest way to access it would be by removing the glove box tray.
reply by: Mike
Question:
I bought the 7 way trailer connector tester. The BK light flashes while pluged in to the truck. Is this correct. What is BK?
asked by: Jerry last update: June 9, 2009
Reply:
The 'BK' is the signal from the brake output circuit. Many brake controllers send a small amount of intermittent current through the circuit to determine if a trailer is attached. That is what is causing the light to blink.
reply by: Mike
Question:
where and how do I make the link between the 7way plug unit at the back of the truck, with the brake controler unit. I installed the controler and plugged into the port under the dash with a wireing kit, but dont know where to make the connection to run between the two. 2007 Dodge Dakota 4x4 V6 SLT extended cab truck.
asked by: Kevin last update: June 9, 2009
Reply:
What you are describing is a bit of an oddity. In my experience, the port under the dash is usually only present when the vehicle has the factory installed 7 way on the rear bumper. Take a look at our Dodge Truck Brake Controller Installation Guide. Under the heading "Factory installed 4 pole", you'll see a connector that is located behind the front wheel well on the driver's side of the truck. On the Dodge Ram trucks, this is where the brake output from the port under the dash terminates. If this is the case with your vehicle, you can tap into this wire, and run a 12 ga. wire back to the trailer connector. If this connector isn't present in your vehicle, you can simply cut the blue wire from the controller before the point where it plugs into the port under the dash, and connect it to a length of wire that runs back to the trailer connector.
reply by: Mike
Question:
I have a 2002 Honda CRV. Since I have a 2009 Aliner Scout 1100 lbs\electric brakes on order, I will need to install a 7 way harness. The Honda dealer can sell and install the harness, but does not install brake controllers. Our local CampingWorld says they can install the controller, but will not without a dealer installed harness and pigtail They claim these are two separate items. The Honda dealer does not know what the pigtail is and neither do I. What do I need besides the 7 way harness and brake controller for a 2002 Honda CRV? Any information and installation instructions would be appreciated.
asked by: Kevin last update: June 9, 2009
Reply:
I'm not aware of any pigtail that can be used for installing a brake controller on your vehicle. The CR-V is not equipped with the port under the dash for plugging in a controller, so it must be hardwired into the vehicle. We have a brake controller installation guide that will help you through the installation. As the guide mentions, in addition to the brake controller, you will need the hardwired brake controller installation kit and the T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness. This harness will tap into the CR-V's lighting circuits and will plug into the rear of the 7 way connector included in the installation kit.
reply by: Mike
Question:
2002 Ford Superduty. 7 way factory installed plug on the back. factory adaptor plug under the dash going to the controller. I cant get the trailer brakes to work, anymore. I have two trailers, and two trucks. The brakes work on the horse trailer,with the 07 Ford, for sure. But when I pluged my 02 into the same working trailer, the light on the tekonsha I thinks thats how its spelled controller doesnt show the green light, and does not turn red or orange when I step on the brake. When I put my volt meter on the brake termanal at the back of the truck, 7 way socket, I have about 10 volts. No foot on brake when I test this either. I also put my meter on the wires coming from the under dash plug, going to the controller There is 12v of power going to the controller. At first I thought it was the flat deck trailer that was the problem, but Now I think it the truck. Could the controller be the problem? Since there is power at the plug on the back, and power into the controller. How would I check to see if power comes out of the controller to the back of the truck? Everything use to work last fall, with the 02 and the horse trailer. I also checked fuses, as well as the wire conections from dash plug to controller. Im lost
asked by: Len last update: June 4, 2009
Reply:
In your question, you state that that you are getting output at the trailer connector without activating the brakes, is that correct? Can you test the blue output wire at the rear of the brake controller and see if you have power coming out on that wire without the brakes being applied? If you are getting output without the brakes being applied, the unit is bad, and must be replaced.
reply by: Mike
Question:
i just installed a activator 11 in 94 gmc Everthing seems to work except when i apply brakes with trailer on brakes apply then release with O/L message and then apply again. connected without easy connect and only using a 20 amp reset fuse instead of a 30 amp
asked by: Jason last update: June 4, 2009
Reply:
Is sounds like there is either a pinched brake circuit wire on the trailer, or the brake magnets are worn and need replacing. Pull the wheel and drum off, and look at the magnets. If you can see the copper wire showing through the face of the magnet, it needs replacement. While replacing the magnets, examine the inside of the drums where they come into contact with the magnets. If there are grooves worn in the metal, you'll want to have the inside of the drum resurfaced.
reply by: Mike
Question:
Hello, I find nothing on any van brake wiring harness applications, I have a 05 GMC Safari cargo that came with the tow package and been told I have to cut/spice wires despite the fact I have the electrical junction box like other trucks, I dont understand?
asked by: Chris last update: June 4, 2009
Reply:
Your Safari might have the junction box under the dash, but not the provision for plugging in a brake controller. GM ran a wire from the trailer connector on the bumper up to the passenger compartment. This wire is blue, and can be found near the emergency brake pedal. This wire would connect to the output (blue wire) of the brake controller. The other connections would need to be hard wired. The black wire would need to be run to te positive battery terminal, via a 20 or 30 amp circuit breaker, depending on which your brake controller requires. The white wire would ground to the negative battery terminal, and the red wire would connect to the brake stop light switch located above the brake pedal. The switch will have several wires coming out of it, use a circuit tester to locate the wire that only shows current when the brake pedal is pressed. Once you find that wire, tap the red wire into that circuit.
reply by: Mike
Question:
I have a 99 chevy 1 ton that had a 7 pin install by the previous owns mech. shop. When I hook it up to my trailor, the elec. brakes lock up right away and dont stop until I unplug it. I switched the blue and black around in the trailor connector, the trailor is a 5 pin, with and adaptor to a 7 pinand the brakes work fine now on my fathers 99 chevy. father has a later model 99, mine is the earlier 99 My question is what is right/ Also have new brake controller and the diagram that is on the installation guide looks nothing like my truck compartment.
asked by: Brian last update: June 4, 2009
Reply:
Are you using a 6 to 7 way adapter? There are two accepted ways to wire a 6 way connector. One uses the center pin as the lead for the brake output, the other uses the center pin as the 12V power supply for trailer accessories. Since you swapped those wires, and all is well, now you have no worries. Long story short, there is no one accepted way, both are correct. GM made two pickup models that year, the C/K Series, and the Silverado. That might explain why your truck looks different than the install guide.
reply by: Mike
Question:
Where would the blue wire hook up to on a 98 toyota tacoma. Is there a 6 plus harness that snaps on to such a vech? instead of running new wires from the fuse panel area?
asked by: Jay last update: June 4, 2009
Reply:
The blue wire on the trailer connector would run back to the passenger compartment and connect to the blue wire (brake output) of your brake controller. The 1998 Tacoma has no 'plug in' option for installing a brake controller. The controller would have to be directly hardwired in to the vehicle wiring. This is a fairly straightforward installation. We have a brake controller installation guide that you might find helpful. As the guide mentions, to install a controller in your vehicle, you'll need the Brake Controller Installation Kit. This kit includes everything you will need to complete your installation, even the 6 way connector. If your Tacoma doesn't have a 4 way trailer connector, you'll need a T-1 Connector that will tap into the truck's lighting circuits for the trailer to use.
reply by: Mike
Question:
I recently aquired a 1975 camper trailer that is equiped with electric brakes, however, there is what I believe to be a variable resister That is rustedtwo springs mounted parallel to each other with a double bracketthat connects the two and is adjustable to change the braking distribution between the trailer and towing vehicle Where would I find such an item or has this been replace with something new. It is a Sure Stop system????????
asked by: Lane last update: June 4, 2009
Reply:
What you are describing is a resistor. It was used to fine tune the output from the brake controller, like a limit switch. They were used because older brake controllers were not as precise as the ones produced today. If you are using a modern brake controller, it is not needed and can be disconnected.
reply by: Mike
Question:
i have a 2004 dodge diesel ram 2500 i installed a drawtite activator brake controll unit my truck had a plug in port that i used to install now My crusie control does not work right it will set and then kick off like i hit the brakes and will not work again untill i turn the truck off and start it again this does not happen all the time this will happen with or without a trailer hooked up can you give me some idea what to do to fix this problem
asked by: Tom last update: June 4, 2009
Reply:
Is this a new brake controller, or is it several years old? It sounds as if the controller is 'feeding back' to the brake switch. The only time this is supposed to happen is when the manual override switch is activated. Is it possible that the override switch is being bumped?
reply by: Mike
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