Does the Red Wire on a Brake Controller Have to be Installed on a Chevy Silverado 1500

Question:

I purchased and installed the 90885 on my 1500 Silverado that came factory equipped with the Tow package. I ran a hot wire with the circuit beaker link from the battery hooked the white ground wire tot he white in the harness.and the blue to the blue in the harness. I could not get continuity in the harness brake light wire, so I left it off. the system works fine when manually operating the slide for the tailer brakes. I can not tell that the tailer breaks are actuating when I simply step on the pedal. Does the signal for the trailer brakes come from the stop light lead, These lights work fine on the trailer both before the installation of the brake controller and after. If I hook up that brake light wire what will be different?

asked by: Hal G

Expert Reply:

The trailer brake lights/turn signals are independent of the brake controller output so having a brake controller installed or not does not affect the trailer brake lights.

That red wire on the controller needs to be connected in order for the controller to work with the truck brake pedal. It connects to a dedicated brake light circuit (brake light only) and tells the controller that you are stepping on the brakes.

If you have a 2009 Chevy Silverado you actually installed the brake controller the hard way, though it will work. There is a tow package wire bundle up under the dash that has all the wires you need to install the brake controller. The wire bundle is to the left of the steering column held together with a white tag.

Since all you need at this point is the stop light circuit it will be the light blue or orange wire in the wire bundle. The tag should list the functions of those wires. I have linked an article that should help.

If you have 1999 to 2006 Chevy Silverado let me know because the installation is different on those years.

expert reply by: Michael H