Replacing a 6-Way Trailer Connector with a 7-Way Trailer Connector on a 2000 Chevy Silverado

Question:

This is for a chev. 2000 3/4 ton pickup. Ive removed to pollack 6 wire connector. When getting into this, I now have two wires left a white and a yellow. I have three spots on the hopkins connector left: a red, a white, and the middle. Im not sure what to do from here. The other spots were wired according to color.

asked by: Dan L

Expert Reply:

First, you can almost never wire by color because there is no standard for wire color/function. You have to test the wires using a circuit tester like # PTW2993 if needed. Also, there are 2 different ways to wire a 6-Way: either the 12-volt hot lead will be in the center, or the electric brake output will be in the center.

I have included a link to our FAQ article on wiring that shows how the various connectors should be wired. Ignore the colors listed and wire the connector by function.

On a 7-Way, the 12-volt circuit is most always in the 11:00 position if looking at the back where the wires attach. The function that a 7-Way has that is not present on a 6-Way will either be reverse lights or an auxiliary 12-volt circuit. If the trailer does not require either of these then you do not have to wire it in. Either way it will be the center pin.

expert reply by: Michael H