Aftermarket Brake Control Wiring for 07-13 GM Full-Size Truck with Factory-Integrated Brake Control
Technical Bulletin
2007-2014 Cadillac Escalade Models 2007-2013 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 2007-2014 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 2007-2013 GMC Sierra 2007-2014 Yukon Models 2014 GMC Sierra 2500/3500 2008-2010 Hummer H2 with Integrated Trailer Brake Controller
GM Wire to Brake Control Wire Function Red/Black to Black Battery Power White to White Ground Light Blue/White to Red Brake Light Signal Dark Blue N/A Brake Control Output to Trailer Orange N/A Center High Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL)
Daniel
5/6/2025
Hi, I just purchased a Hopkins InSight brake controller. I followed the instructions of the brake controller. It doesn't mention anything about routing the blue wire all the way to the rear of the truck, so I left it out for now. I plugged in my 7-way connector tester and everything seems to work good, with one exception. The green indicator light for testing the brakes just stays on for a split second even though I keep the brake pedal pressed down. Is that related to me not running the blue wire to the back? If so, does the blue wire, running from the 7 way connector from the rear to the front, connect just to the brake controller or to the blue wire of my truck as well? (I have a 2013 chevrolet 2500) any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!
Kate F.
5/14/2025
@Daniel Did your 2013 Chevy 2500 come with the factory tow package, of was the 7 way put on by someone else?
The reason why I ask is because if it is the factory tow package then it should already have the blue brake wire running to the back of the truck's 7 way. Even it it does have the factory tow package, it sounds like there is something going on with the brake wire along the way.
To fix this, check behind your 7-way plug at the back of the truck. If there’s no blue wire there, you’ll need to run one from your brake controller (under the dash) all the way to the back and hook it to the 7-way plug. Use a 10- or 12-gauge wire thick enough to carry power safely.
Once the blue wire is connected properly, the controller will see the trailer when you press the brakes, and the green light will stay on like it should.
Let me know what you find out.
Kate F.
5/14/2025
@Daniel Glad you got things figured out Daniel. Sorry for the delay in getting an answer, we got quite the spike in questions as we roll into our busy season and are currently getting caught up.
Alec
3/17/2025
Hi I’m confused by the directions, what is the “GM” wire? It says to connect the GM wire to the brake control wire function? Do you have any link directly to the bulletin for this or is this the complete install to bypass? Thanks
Jameson C.
3/17/2025
@Alec That's really odd that color was left off in that part of the instructions. They should have included a color there but didn't. I would use process of elimination and wire up everything else with exception of the orange CHMSL wire and then what's left goes to the black on the controller.
Jeff H.
9/17/2023
After hooking up a prodigy 3 on my 07.5 2500hd I still get a service trailer brake system. Am I supposed to remove the it's fuse or unplug the in dash brake controller????
Mike L.
9/19/2023
@JeffH Really the only thing that would cause what you're experiencing is not bypassing the brake controller output circuit as described above. Don't connect the blue wire exiting the rear of the controller to the tow package wiring under the dash. You'll need to attach that to a length of wire long enough to pass through the firewall and under the vehicle to the trailer connector at the rear bumper. Once you get the wire ran, You'll want to locate the blue wire behind the 7-way connector. Sever that wire about 8 inches rearward of the 7-way and attach it to the wire you ran from the front. You shouldn't need to remove a fuse, and if you unplug the OEM brake controller, it'll throw an error code.
Taylor
8/14/2023
Do I need to hook these cables up to the separate battery posts if my truck chevy Silverado has an OEM Brake controller? I noticed mine were hooked up already but doesn’t have an after market brake controller.
Mike L.
8/15/2023
@Taylor Are you speaking of the connections at the fuse box in the engine compartment? If they're already connected, you'll just install the controller as described in the article.
Mike L.
8/15/2023
@Taylor What's the OEM controller doing? If the engine compartment connections are already made, and the controller is plugged into the factory connector you'll need to get with a GM dealer to get that taken care of, unless you want to replace the OEM with an aftermarket option. If you want to go that route, let me know and I'd be happy to make a recommendation. The fact that Tekonsha had to publish that tech bulletin speaks volumes about the reliability of the GM OEM brake controllers.
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Wade S.
9/23/2025
On my 2011 GMC Sierra, it has the blue wire under the dash, I'm confused why you have to run another wire too the rear plug and cut the blue wire back there to connect the one you just ran.?Another video online showed a person using this blue wire under the dash to do the install. Also, does a fuse need installed for the red/black charge wire under the hood to be hot?