Installed Brake Controller is Causing 2010 GMC Yukon XL to Lose Power

Question:

hi I have a 2010 GMC Yukon XL. my husband hard wired an electronic brake controller and it causes my car to lose power but will start after a while. seems as though the car needs to reset itself. we bought a new controller and still having the same problem. please help!

asked by: Kelley C

Expert Reply:

On your 2010 GMC Yukon there are tow package wires located under the dash to the left of the steering column and held together with a white tag. If those are the wires your husband used then they are the correct ones. But sometimes it is possible to accidently connect a brake controller wire to the wrong tow package wire.

On your Yukon the red/black tow package wire goes to the controller black wire for 12 volt power. The white wire goes to the controller white wire for ground. The Yukon light blue/white wire goes to the controller red wire for input from the brake switch. And the dark blue Yukon wire goes to the controller blue wire for output to the trailer brakes. If you see an orange wire do not use it.

I have included a link to a help article that covers all of this and more for you.

It is hard to say what the controller could have been hooked up to that would cause the problem you are describing. The controller does not draw enough power to drain the vehicle battery unless there is a short. You may just have to disconnect the negative battery cable for about 15 seconds and then reattach it. that might fix the problem. Or if the controller is not connected as described above then that could also be the issue.

expert reply by: Michael H