How to Wire in a Brake Controller in a 2004 Chevy Silverado

Updated 10/20/2014 | Published 10/19/2014

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Question:

When looking under the dash at the 6 pin connector on the truck, which is second connector from the left, I see a connector with two columns of three pins. When I test all 6 pins, I get 12 volts constant at the middle pin on the RIGHT side, yet your cable is wired as though that hot pin would be on the left side of the truck. SO, when I put your cable in and hook up controller I get no power. When I remove your cable and shift the hot wire on the cable to the middle pin on the other side, the controller goes live and I get the n.c. which turns into two dots after several seconds. So, then, when I connect the trailer nothing changes. except when I push in the manual button, I get a 5 H reading The trailer brakes function fine on our other trucks. So, I returned your controller cable wiring to the original position and went underhood and found the red wire and attached it to hot and installed a 40 amp fuse in the first spot as shown in your picture. The blue wire which is underhood is terminated in what looks like half of a fuse connector which is hanging there. To What do I connect that blue wire? Another half of a fuse connector and then to HOT? I have seen some scuttlebutt on line that seems to indicate chevy switched pin configurations at some point?

asked by: Sean C

Expert Reply:

The Hopkins Plug-in Simple Brake Wiring Adapter # HM47795 should have the red wire run to the pin right next to the blue wire closest to the clip side of the connector. See the picture I attached.

The blue wire you found under the hood of your truck needs to be run with a length of 10 gauge wire like part # 10-1-1 (sold by the foot) to the rear of your truck to the brake output circuit of your 7-way. You will need to cut the connector off of the end of the blue wire to do this.

I attached an FAQ article to the right that will detail how to install a brake controller in your truck.

The pin out changed for the Chevy trucks in 2003.

expert reply by: Jameson C