Installing Aftermarket Brake Controller On 2013 Silverado With Factory Brake Controller

Question:

Have 2013 Chevy 2500HD with factory brake Controller which will not work with one of my trailers which has a Dexter electric/hydraulic system. I was thinking about adding a P3 -90195 controller and running a separate blue brake wire to a 2nd 7way plug added using pigtail 54701-003 for this trailer only or any other elec/hyd trailer My new blue wire from the P3 would go straight to this new 7 way plug after cutting the blue wire connection from the 54701-003 harness. Does this sound correct. The reason I am considering doing it this way is I dont want to deal with factory error codes etc if I just disable the factory controller completely. Thanks

asked by: Lynn M

Expert Reply:

You can install a new brake controller without having to deal with the codes on your 2013 Silverado.

The # 90195 would be a great brake controller for your trailers with electric-over-hydraulic brakes. And then just switch it to electric brakes mode when towing the other trailers. Since there is no plug-in harness under your dash you will need to hardwire the # 90195.

I have attached a helpful article that explains in detail how to install an aftermarket controller on yoru truck. I do recommend following the instructions in the article to make sure you have no issues. As the helpful article states, there will be 4 or 5 blunt cut wires under the dash to the left of the instrument panel. You will find a white label and the following colors of the wires. Red/Black wire, (1) White wire, (1) Light Blue/White wire and (1) Dark Blue wire, and possibly (1) Orange wire.

Connect the brake controller 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
Drk Blue N/A Brake Control Output to Trailer
Orange N/A Center High Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL).

The helpful article says use 12-gauge wire but I recommend you use wire like # 10-1-1 and connect one end to the blue wire coming from the brake controller and the other end will need to be run to the back of the 7-way connector on your truck. You will then need to remove the wire that is installed in the 7-oclock position. Just tape it up and stow it out of the way. Then install the wire you just ran from the brake controller.

You will want to make sure you pay attention to the note in Bold of the article that deals with the gray handle on the top of the fuse box under the hood.