Trailer Brake Controller No Longer Works with Brake Pedal on a 2008 Chevy Silverado

Question:

My electric brake original worked. This weekend when pulling out I noticed the brake would not work when I applied brake. Manually no problem stopping trailer. I am driving a 2008 Chevy silverado. What should I look for when trouble shooting?

asked by: Jason L

Expert Reply:

This sounds like a problem on the red wire. The red wire is the input wire from the brake switch that tells the controller when you are stepping on the brake pedal. Use a circuit tester like # PTW2993 if needed to test the wire. If there is no signal when you step on the pedal, then you know this is the culprit.

There are a couple of things you can check but since it was working before the most likely problem is a blown stop light or CHMSL fuse. Use the vehicle owner's manual to find the locations of these fuses so you can check and replace them as needed.

If the fuses are not blown then you may need to reestablish the red wire connection. On a 2008 Chevy Silverado, the wiring for a brake controller is located under the dash. Check the connection on the red wire from the brake controller. If possible, remove the connection and use the circuit tester just to test the truck wire it was attached to. If that wire shows power with the brake pedal, then you know that the issue is most likely in the brake controllers red wire, probably a break somewhere.

expert reply by: Michael H

Joe G.

12/17/2012

i have on 02 silverado 2500 hd almost the same problum no power on red wire when on brake. I pull on the lever brakes work.I checked the back of the panel at 6 way conector under the dash no power there. Can i use the conector and cut the red wire going to the controller, and jump the red wire off the brake switch? If i can should my test light be bright when i step on the brake at the red wire?

Patrick B.

12/17/2012

If it is a plug-in unit, I would check the fuses and relays in the power blocks in the engine compartment and in the cab. You may just have a fuse or relay blown which prevents proper signal to that brake control port. If you cannot get the port working, then you can cut the red wire from the connector and splice it into the brake switch at the top of the brake pedal. Just find the wire coming of that switch that only goes hot when the brake pedal is pressed. Make sure to have a circuit tester handy.