Can 2007 Chevy Silverado Battery be Charged Through the 7-Way Trailer Connector

Question:

Is it true that you can charge your truck battery back through a trailer plug on the rear of the truck ? The door lock on my truck since there is no battery power will not unlock. There is no resistance when I turn the key. I heard that if you back charge to the battery for about 10 to 20 minutes the door lock will accept the charge an reactivate. Please advise

asked by: Nate

Expert Reply:

I have not heard of this before but in order for that to work the wiring from the vehicle battery to the 7-Way would have to be a direct connection with no fuses, relays or circuit breakers which may or may not be designed for electricity to flow both ways. Also, if the 7-Way 12 volt circuit is wired through the power distribution box and then the battery you run the risk of damaging other electrical components.

The other issue is on Chevy and GMC trucks the 12 volt circuit is not always connected from the factory and if that is the case with your model then the electricity would never get to the battery at all.

What I recommend is to have a locksmith open up the truck so you can pop the hood and replace or charge the battery. That way you will not have to worry about doing something that could potentially cause damage to the vehicle electrical system.

If you are interested in an AC powered battery charger that will not over charge the battery and that will help recondition a battery I recommend # CTEK56353. I use this charger and it works beautifully.

expert reply by: Michael H