Installing Brake Controller or 2008 Chevrolet Silverado with Integrated Brake Controller

Question:

I foolishly decided to wash my trailer and truck while the trailer plug was hooked, and got water in the trailer plug. Once started and brake applied, it caused an engine fire. Lucky, it was put out quickly, but not before it destroyed 3 brake lines and melted a battery hot lead to frame. Thats all been repaired, however, everything in my trailer plug works except the brakes. I have the factory installed controller, but now willing to buy an external controller. I dont have the second wire on the fuse box terminal for the brakes like Ive seen in some of the photos. All fuses/relays test ok. I also cant trace the heavy, light blue line brake wire from the trailer plug to the front of the truck well, as its hidden behind the fuel tank and joined into another harness. Once opened up, that harness dont have that same color wire in it. The rear of my controller in the dash has small 20ga 6 wires - 2 yellows, black, blue, green, and brown. Am I still able to install an external controller? Attached is some photos. - Thank you.

asked by: Steve N

Expert Reply:

You can certainly install an aftermarket brake controller on your 2008 Chevrolet Silverado. I highly recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller # 90885. This brake controller offers a digital display, 3 boost levels, battery protection, and continuous diagnostics. The P2 is a proportional brake controller that will activate immediately and tailor the trailer's braking to that of the tow vehicle.

To start, you will want to find the bundle of 4 or 5 blunt-cut wires under the left side of the instrument panel, located above your left shin as you are seated in the driver's seat. I have attached a photo highlighting where the wire bundle is located. The bundle of wires will have a white label and should include a red/black wire, white wire, light blue/white wire, dark blue wire, and possibly an orange wire.

The blunt-cut wires on the vehicle will connect to the aftermarket brake controller's pigtail wiring harness. The red/black wire from the vehicle will connect to the black battery power wire on the pigtail harness. The white wire from the vehicle with connect to the white pigtail wire. The light blue/white vehicle wire will connect to the red brake light signal wire on the pigtail. The dark blue and orange wires from the vehicle will not be used. To make these connections, I recommend using heat shrink butt connectors to better seal the connection, like # 05731-5 and # DW05745-5.

To connect the blue pigtail wire, you will want to use 12 gauge wire # 12-1-1 (sold by the foot) ran from the brake controller pigtail back to the blue wire behind the factory 7-Way at the rear of the vehicle. You will need enough # 12-1-1 wire to reach from the brake controller in the cab to the rear of the vehicle.

The last connection you will need to make is at the fuse box. The wire you referenced in your photo should be bundled together and taped between the fuse box and the driver's side fender. This is the brake control power wire. It is common for this wire to not be connected already, since it is only needed for an aftermarket brake controller.

I have attached a help article that will walk you through this installation process for your 2008 Silverado with integrated brake controller.

If you do not have the bundle of blunt-cut wires or the brake controller power wire between the fuse box and fender, you can use the Wiring Kit # 5506 to hardwire install the brake controller on your Silverado.