Wire Color for Brake Stop Lamp Switch Cold Side on 2006 Chevy Silverado

Updated 05/23/2020 | Published 05/21/2020

Products Featured in This Question

Pollak Heavy-Duty, 7-Pole, Round Pin Trailer Wiring Socket - Vehicle End

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Tekonsha Plug-In Wiring Adapter for Electric Brake Controllers - GM

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$22.46

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

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$13.72

Question:

I have a 2006 Chevy Silverado looking to hook up trailer brake control need to know cold side of switch

asked by: Randy E

Expert Reply:

You'll be looking for a white wire coming off the brake stoplight switch located at the top of the brake pedal. However, you don't actually need to do that, the 2006 Silverado actually has a connector under the dash in the junction box behind the emergency brake pedal as shown in the provided photo that lets you directly plug in the controller. Once the black cover of the junction box is removed, plug the harness into the second from the left slot in the top row.

For a Tekonsha brake controller, you'd just need # 3015-P, and plug one end into the connector, the other into the brake controller. If it's a controller from a different manufacturer use # 3015-S and just wire it directly to the controller, color for color.

If you do connect it to the brake switch, be sure to use a circuit tester like # PTW2993 as you should always wire by function, not color. The wire you're looking for should only show current when the brake pedal is pressed.

I've also linked to a help article that explains how to install a brake controller on a 1999-2006 Silverado.

expert reply by: Mike L