Brake Controller Installation Wiring On 2016 Chevrolet Express Van

Question:

I have a 2016 Chevy Express 3500 12-passenger van. It already has the 4 prong trailer harness but I need to add brake controls for my new trailer. I found a bundle of wires that I believe to be the factory brake controller wires by the emergency brake pedal. What I cant find is where the other end is located. The wires under the dash are: red-white batt fused, blue-white FU CHMSL, blue TRL FU AUX CIR, and black GRND. They also have a tag on them that leads me to believe these are for trailer brakes. There is a wire harness and connector in the back I tried including pictures of both. But I think I had read it is no use because it was just for factory testing of some sort. SO, van I use these wires instead of running new wires and just get this controller, and a 7and4 way plug? Or do I need to run new wires from the front to the back and wire it like you show in your video? Thanks in advance.

asked by: Jerry

Expert Reply:

Some models of the 2016 Chevrolet Express Van have the brake controller connection wiring taped and tucked under the driver side floor mat up towards the firewall, which sounds like what you have especially since they are labeled as such. The brake controller bundle is pre-wired to the vehicle's battery, stop light switch and the wires should be extended to the back of van to wire in a 7-way. This bundle's wires connect to the pig tail from the brake controller part # 90195 by function.

I did not receive a photo but if your van has a round plug with a cap inside the driver's side frame rail then the wires are already extended to the back of the vehicle and no additional wiring is needed besides a 7-way plug part # 30955 which plugs into that port.

If you do not have the round plug with a cap at the rear of the vehicle there is a possibility the wires have been extended to the back of the vehicle and are bundled in the jack storage compartment. In that case you can use 4 pole to 7 pole connector part # 30717 to connect to those wires.

It is possible the Van did not come equipped with the wires extended to the back of the vehicle and in that case you would need part # ETBC7 to run the wires from the back to the front of the vehicle but it sounds like since you mention some sort of connector at the rear of the van the wires are probably already back there for you to connect to.

expert reply by: Heather A