Will Wiring Colors for Older Tekonsha 3020 Brake Controller Match Tekonsha Pigtail Harness # 7894

Question:

I have a 1996 4 wheel drive Suburban 2500 with an old Tekonsha 3020 brake controller which works intermittently. It is hard wired into vehicle using a pigtail from unit with black, white, red and blue wires. Will the wire colors from Pigtail Wiring Harness, # 7894 match up to wire colors on 3020 unit? If so for install all that is needed is to match colors from #7894 to colors on 3020 - disconnect 3020 wires and connect 7894 wires, would that be correct?

asked by: Frederick C

Expert Reply:

The wire colors from your original Tekonsha Brake Controller Wiring Harness (black, red, white and blue) will match up color for color with the leads on the Tekonsha Replacement Pigtail Wiring Harness # 7894.

The functions for each wire are as follows: black wire carries 12V power from the vehicle to the brake controller (via a circuit breaker); red wire carries brake light signal to the brake controller; white wire is ground; blue wire carries the controller output signal for the trailer brakes. For reference I have linked an article concerning brake controller installation.

Once wired in to your Suburban the black plug on the other end of the pigtail harness will plug in to the back of your Tekonsha or Draw-Tite brake controller.

If your intermittent malfunction is caused by the original brake controller wiring then installation of # 7894 should correct the fault. If not you may need to replace the controller unit itself. We suggest the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Proportional Controller, part # 90885, for its ease of set-up and operation.

I have linked the instructions for the P2 as well as a video of a typical installation.