Installation of the Tekonsha Prodigy # 90885 On a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado

Question

Question:

I bought my 1/2 ton Silverado in 2001 new, with tow package. I installed the 90185 brake controller per your great instructions. I bought the correct plug to plug connector cable and found where to install it into the module box under the dash. No power to the 90185?! -with key on. Now back at the trailer plug 7 way there is only a White ground, green, brown and yellow installed. But I did find the light blue wire above the spare tire -stowed. Back to the fuse panel under the hood, I removed the covers and found the stowed red wire with terminal and a dark blue with the oem connector. There is a green 30 amp fuse on the panel like in your pictures towards the fire wall and when I connected the red wire to the pole I got power to the 90185 -with no key on? On the other end of the big fuse strip there is a open fuse spot. So I dont know what to do with these two wires and how to finish the installation? Im stuck...

asked by: Jon C

0

Expert Reply:

It sounds like you have things going in the right direction. The power distribution post, that has the 30 amp fuse installed closest to it, will provide power to the brake controller at all times. The brake controller is designed to only draw a few milliamps when not in use. A vehicle battery drains faster just sitting than the few milliamp draw of the brake controller so there is no reason to worry about constant power to the brake controller discharging the battery.

The blue wire you found with the OEM connector on the end will be ran to the 7-Way connectors brake feed terminal at the back of the vehicle. We recommend 10 gauge wire for this connection. You will cut the OEM connector off of this wire and splice it to the wire that you run back to the rear of the vehicle. This wire runs from the port the brake controller is plugged into and is terminated at the connector.

The second power post is used for power to the 7-Way connector at the rear of the vehicle. This wire is also ran with 10 gauge wire and a 40 amp (orange) fuse is needed in the location closest to the power post in the power distribution box. Once the fuse is installed the post will have power.

We offer a Brake Controller 7 & 4 Way Installation Kit, item # ETBC7, which includes the connector and wiring needed to install the brake controller but since you have a 7-way at the rear of the vehicle you should just need to use an appropriate length of the Jacketed 2 Wire, 10 Gauge, Brake Wire, item # 10-2-1. Connect the white wire to the blue wire you clipped the connector off of and connect the black wire to the power post that the 40 amp fuse will go in to. You will then connect the black wire to the number four post inside your 7-Way and the blue wire to the # 2 post (see wiring diagram link).

The blue wire you found at the rear of the vehicle above the spare is most likely a reverse light wire and can be connected to the center pole on the 7-Way connector for boat trailer hydraulic brake reverse lockout or for reverse lights on a trailer. If you do not need the reverse light circuit you do not have to attach it and/or you could use the center pole as an auxiliary power connection by wiring a 10 gauge wire, item # 10-1-1, to the vehicle battery through a 40 amp circuit breaker, item # PK54540.

We also have the nuts to secure the power wires at the power distribution box. For the 1999 to 2006 GM vehicles two M8 X 1.25 nuts, item # 185917, are needed.