Moving a Tekonsha Voyager Electric Brake Controller From a 2004 Chevy Silverado to a 2009 GMC Sierra

Updated 03/10/2018 | Published 03/09/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Tekonsha Voyager Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

(755)

$77.71

Replacement Brake Control Plug-In Harness for Tekonsha and Draw-Tite Brake Controller 12" Long

(725)

$16.33

Replacement Custom Multi-Tow 7-Way and 4-Way Trailer Connectors

(411)

$44.25

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(60)

$12.27

Question:

2009 GMC extended cab truck control wire colors are blue, black, red,white .the truck wires are blue,red, white, blue with white stripe i know blue to blue red to black white to white dose the red go to the blue with white stripe

asked by: Jack F

Expert Reply:

Your 2004 Chevy included a connector under the dashboard to plug in an electric brake controller. Unfortunately, GM went away with this feature in all of their trucks for the 2007 to 2014 generation. So there isn't an easy plug and play harness available and you need to hardwire in the Tekonsha Voyager, part # 39510.

Luckily, the wires to connect the controller to are all run to the cab of the truck. If you need wiring you can use part # 20127 for a harness to hardwire in. The wires to connect are tucked up under the dash just to the left of the brake pedal arm. The wires are likely all taped together. I've linked a video showing the install and if you check it out around the 1:45 mark you can see the installed point out the location.

Also, if you need to install a 7-way trailer connector at the rear of your GMC use part # 30955 that just plugs in.

expert reply by: Charles S

Jack

3/9/2018

Charles S.

3/10/2018

Wiring by color is unreliable at best. Vehicle manufacturers are inconsistent when it comes to using the same wire color especially from one model year to the next. I definitely recommend testing the wires on the truck instead of trying to match them up by color. The wires on the brake controller we know black is 12-volt power, white is ground, blue is the brake output going to the truck's 7-way connector, and red connects to the cold side of the stop light switch. Use a circuit tester, like # PTW2993, to test the wires on your truck by function. Make sure the red wire on the truck has constant 12-volt power and the blue with white stripe wire has power only when the brake pedal is pressed. From what I researched and found you're probably correct so far; however, most of it doesn't show the truck as having a white wire but having a black instead for the ground wire. Just one more example as to why you should test for the functions.