No Power to Trailer Brakes with Brake Pedal on a 2006 Chevy Silverado 2500HD

Updated 09/29/2014 | Published 09/27/2014

Question:

I have a 2006 Chevy 2500HD. I bought the brake controller box from OReileys and it was what the computer called for for this model year truck. I hooked up the wiring harness that came with the truck and replaced the dummy fuse with the one provided. Then wired the ends of the harness to the brake controller box the way the instructions said to. When I hit the the brakes the box lights up but does not send power to the trailer brakes. I have tried adjusting the gain wheel, even used the manual slider and still nothing. Also all the running lights on the trailer come on but only the left side will show brake, turn signal, hazard flashers, etc. Right side only shows running lights. I have checked fuses and all is good.

asked by: Dylan

Expert Reply:

I believe I know what is going on with your brake controller on your 2006 Chevy Silverado 2500HD. But first a note on brake controllers. Brake controllers are not vehicle specific. Some trucks do have an option to plug a brake controller in directly and the harnesses used are vehicle specific. But the brake controllers themselves are not.

Your 2006 Chevy Silverado is a model that can have a brake controller plugged directly into it. I do not know which brand brake controller it is that you have but regardless you can use harness # 3015-P and cut off the end that would normally plug into a Tekonsha brake controller. The wire functions are white for ground, black for 12 volt power in, red for input from the brake switch, and blue for output to the trailer brakes.

The harness plugs into a junction box under the dash like in the pictures I have provided and in the video I have linked to the right.

The issue you are having though sounds like the typical GM truck wiring connections that need to be made under the hood. We have a lovely help article that, in part, covers those connections. I have linked it for you as well.

expert reply by: Michael H