Aftermarket Brake Control Wiring for 07-13 GM Full-Size Truck with Factory-Integrated Brake Control

Technical Bulletin

Wiring an aftermarket brake control to the following models:

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

Problem: Installer needs new instructions (following).

Solution: When installing an aftermarket brake control into a truck that is equipped with a factory Integrated Trailer Brake Control (ITBC), you will have to make the following connections. The 2007-2013 models have four or five blunt-cut wires under the left side of the instrument panel. These wires are located above your left shin as you are seated in the driver's seat. The wires can be identified by a white label and the color of the wires. The wire colors are (1) Red/Black wire, (1) White wire, (1) Light Blue/White wire and (1) Dark Blue wire, and possibly (1) Orange wire. See Fig. 1.

Custom Fit Brake Controller

Select your vehicle to confirm the Brake Controller fit

Connect the brake control to these wires as follows:

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)

Using enough 12-gauge Blue wire to reach the rear of the truck, connect one end to the Blue wire on the aftermarket brake control. Run the other end of the Blue wire in conduit or loom to the 7-way trailer connector. At the 7-way trailer connector you will have to remove some tape and pull back the plastic loom to access the factory-installed Blue wire. Cut the factory Blue wire approximately 4 to 6 inches from the trailer connector. See Fig. 2.

Connect remaining end of Blue wire from aftermarket brake control to the Blue wire going to the trailer connector. After connection is made, heat shrink, reinstall plastic loom and re-tape loom.

To complete the installation, two wires under the hood have to be connected. One is the power supply wire to the aftermarket brake control. The other is the battery charge line to the 7-way connector. These wires are both Red/Black with eyelets connected to them. They are coiled up under the hood and must be connected to the under-hood fuse box. The brake control power wire is located between the fuse box and the left (driver's side) fender. The battery charge wire is located under the master cylinder/brake booster assembly. See Fig. 3

The battery charge wire will go on the smaller Black stud, and an M6X1.0 metric nut is required to attach the wire to the stud. Larger posts require an M8 nut. The brake control wire will go on the larger Silver stud along with the existing Red wire. The existing Red wire is the power wire for the factory brake control and does not need to be removed.

Important: Raising the Gray handle above the studs more than 3/8 of an inch will result in the fuse box becoming disconnected from the electrical connector.

If disconnection occurs, you may have to consult your local GM dealership for repairs.

Note: According to GM Corporate Document Number 07-08-45-001, this will not result in any trailer brake display message showing on the driver information center.

Product Number:

Manufacturer: Draw-Tite, Hidden Hitch, Reese,Tow-Ready

Bulletin Date: 02/16/08

Bulletin Number: 08-0100

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.

Jeff H.

9/20/2023

@MikeL I did run a new blue wire to the rear

Mike L.

9/20/2023

@JeffH Is the OEM controller still plugged in?

See All (5) Replies to Jeff H. ∨

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.

Taylor

8/15/2023

@MikeL.. I have the oem brake controller built into my dash from Chevy, not an aftermarket controller.

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.

Dom F.

8/9/2023

Good day so I have attached my brake controller on my 2013 gmc I followed all the directions and hooked up my power wire under the hood. So when I went to use the brake controller the light only came on when i pressed on the brakes but the brakes on the trailer did not work. Is there a fuse that has to be installed? I am not sure. Thks

Mike L.

8/9/2023

@DomF Which brake controller are you using? If you have a proportional-type controller, the brake controller won't put out any voltage unless the vehicle is moving. Will the trailer brakes come on using the manual braking switch on the brake controller?

Dom F.

8/9/2023

@MikeL no mike. But it seems like I must of got a couple of the wires mixed up. When the trailer is plugged in the back of the truck there’s no light on but I press the brake down red light comes on. There is no green light when the trailer is plugged in the truck. Might have crossed some wires when I install it , the controller works on my other truck I tested it out when I got home. Will let you know what come up with. Thks for the reply ????

Mike L.

8/10/2023

@DomF Which brake controller do you have?

See All (5) Replies to Dom F. ∨

Chad

6/27/2023

I have no power coming from my fuse box where I connected my battery charge and brake controller wires

Heather A.

7/17/2023

@Chad There should be fuses that correspond to the power studs. You may need to replace or install one or both fuses. If the location of these fuses are not easily located with the legend under the power distribution box lid, it is a good idea to check the owner's manual for the location. The locations are normally labeled something like trailer tow or trailer charge.

Margie

3/26/2023

I installed my tekonsha control following your video to the letter. Got everything finished. Turned on the truck and the controller won’t come on. Any suggestions?

Mike L.

3/29/2023

@Margie What year GM truck do you have? You'll want to check the fuse box under the hood on the inside of the driver-side fender to make sure the 30A fuse is installed in the correct location. Just check the fuse box diagram in your owners manual, or let us know the model year, and we can provide the fuse location for you.

Jason

12/7/2022

It would of been nice if in the video of the 2008 chev Silverado break controller install if you would of shower the red battery charging wire connection. Is there anything else one needs to finish the wiring for the 08 Silverado? I notice a relay for sale it that supposed to install above the spare tire? Is that something I would need to install?

Mike L.

12/15/2022

Which brake controller are you installing? If you're just replacing the factory in-dash controller for an aftermarket model, the 12V feed should already be ran. If it's not ran already, the battery charge wire is installed as shown in the help article I've linked for you. Which relay are you speaking of?

Helpful Links

faq-tb-0007-2007-2009-gm-full-size-truck-brake-control.aspx

Daniel

2/8/2021

Do you HAVE to run a new wire to the rear of the truck or can you just use the one under the dash and have a "service trailer brake" message?

Jon G.

2/8/2021

You need to run that 12-gauge wire to the rear of your vehicle.

Daniel

2/8/2021

@JonG I wonder why they would include a blue wire in the bundle under the dash if you couldnt use it?

Jon G.

2/9/2021

@Daniel From my understanding that will work if your pickup doesn't already have the factory-integrated brake controller. If you do have the factory-integrated brake controller then you need to bypass it using 12 gauge wire like the article mentions.

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