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EVERYTHING Trailer Brake Controllers

I read in a previous thread that for the 2003's with trailer tow package they have a 30A fuse in the engine fuse block Stud #2 which the owners manual says is for the trailor brake. I haven't looked at mine yet, too cold. I will instal my trailer break in the spring.
Traz
 
I just installed a Prodigy brake controller on my '03 Z66 (with Z-82 package) and without installing a fuse of any kind there is power to the brake controller.

Is this different than the circuit feeding the trailer plug?

Do I need to install a MaxiFuse? If so, what is a MaxiFuse and where does it go?

Not too technical ah, Juan
 
Does anyone know the way to change a 02 harness so it works with the 03's? I couldnt find the info on here. Or you could just tell me not to be such a cheapskate and buy the correct one! Thanks

John
 
Medicboot,
I got this from another post, I haven't tried it yet. "If you use a 2002 harness it is OK but, YOU MUST MOVE THE RED WIRE FROM THE LOWER LEFT SOCKET TO THE UPPER RIGHT SOCKET IN THE WIRING PLUG. Otherwise the trailer brakes come on when you turn on the running lights and not when you push the brake."
Traz
 
The harness for the 03 is GM #15085418. It comes with a "PAL" type 40A fuse and the 7to4 adapter. The harness plugs into the block under the steering wheel. The ones I have done have all plugged into the port to the right on the top row.
On the 03 all you need to do is install the supplied fuse in the port with the red plug marked "B+"
That will supply the 12v to your tariler for the breakaway and your battery.
hope that helps
 
Cookie, I have a 2002 Z71 and want to add the trailer brake controller. I read something about switching the red wire on the harness...or does the 2002 factory harness plug match up. Also, is there one controller that works better than others from your experience?

thanks
 
wolverine said:
Cookie, I have a 2002 Z71 and want to add the trailer brake controller. ?I read something about switching the red wire on the harness...or does the 2002 factory harness plug match up.
Click to expand...
If you have a 2002, it should have come with the harness standard. That harness will just plug straight in, and there should be no need to make any modifications. Simply follow the color code on the harness tag, splice wires to your controller as required, and plug it in.

The only time that the red wire in the harness should need to be moved is if you are trying to use a 2002 harness in a 2003 truck.

As for controllers, I'll defer that to someone with more experience with them. However, while I have no experience with it, the Prodigy seems to be a favorite (there is a link to it in the first post of this thread.)

-- SS
 
Four day proud owner of a 2003 1500 2WD WHB. Really glad I joined the club. Your support has anwsered a lot of questions.
By the way, the peanut butter did remove the wax I got on the trim. Learned that on the site.
Thanks
 
Ok, so I got the Prodigy and it kept going out of adjustment. Would work to premature, then not activate. I took it back to camping world and they asked me if I have a Cell phone that was near it. I have my Cell in a Hands-Free system very near to the brake controller. Dealer told me to go one step down to the next controller, tried that and it works like a charm. Is this common or just my truck being "Unique" as always? :rolleyes:
 
Never even heard of this among the camper owners that have one. The Prodigy has been great for my needs. I take it you went with the Voyager? If so its a good setup as well. Either beat the DrawTite Activator I started out with.
 
Yes, I believe it is the Voyager. Seems very good. Much better than the 20 year old disaster I used in my old Suburban.
 
I just bought a new 2003 3/4 ton with the 8.1 liter engine, my trailer weighs over 6000 lbs loaded. I had the dealer install a brake controller. Out of ignorance and blind faith, I assumed they would install a state of the art high tech model. What I got was a Reese Brakeman. It seems to me there is a severe saftey issue with that model. It has a little thumb wheel where you can dial up the amount of brake you want to apply. My concern is that if I had to make an emergency stop on the highway, I wont have the luxury of time to dial the mickey mouse little dial up to 10! I shudder to think what would happen if I locked up the wheels on the Avalance but had a three ton trailer pushing my back bumper with it's brakes barely on. Am I overreacting here or is my concern legitimate? I think I may throw out the Reese and replace it with the Prodigy.
 
Hey welcome to the club kevinl33.

You are right to toss the Reese. It is a time based controller. I believe the Drawtite is also. When you step on the brakes, the longer the brakes are applied, the more current is applied to the trailer. Not good in a "panic" stop. All the Tekonsha controllers are inertial controllers with the Prodigy being the most advanced. If you slam on your brakes the Prodigy will deliver max power to your trailer. (if it is properly adjusted). ?:)
 
When I bought my '02 Av, it didn't come with the harness. The dealership told me that GM did a survey and found that owners of previous models of trucks weren't using the harness, so GM decided not to include it with the AV's. I told him I needed one and he went out to the used car lot and pulled one out of the glove box of a 2000 Silverado and gave it to me. I guess it helps to have friends at the dealership, cause I sure wasn't going to pay $40.00 for 5 wires and a plastic plug. The wire harness worked perfectly. I use a Voyager electric brake box and pull a tandem axle flatbed car hauler with my '69 El Camino on it. No problems at all.
 
I will have to agree with AVid, toss the Reese. Time based controllers IMHO are garbage.

By the way, I finally got through to Tek's Tech line and they said that they have had problems with the Prodigy acting buggy with the following in the vehicle though NOT always:

1. Cell Phones
2. Amatuer Radio equipment and CBs
3. Laptop Computers

THAT was not in the brochure. But I will admit, they were very friendly and were ready to work with me if I still had the Prodigy.
 
bought an 03 avalanche with HD trailer option had to order the wireing harness $20.00 later find out G.M.just changed the part number :8: the harness I took out of my 2000 silverado #6255 is the same harness I just bought that I was told I needed #5418 does it really matter that the PA66 plug on the end is white instead of brown OH YEA!! no return on electical or special order parts Both plugs are as followes Terminal A :brown f:black
B :red E: empty
C :blue D:Lt.Blue
 
Camping season is getting close ;D, just ordered my Prodigy brake controller from Rjays online. I have a 03 2500 AV & ordered the 3015 GM harness from them also. Looks easy to use, hope it is the right one. ??? Shipping was free on both parts :).
Traz
 
This may get long, please bear with me. I hooked up a Tekonsha Sentinal brake controller (I know I know,shoulda got the prodigy). I then connected the trailer up to test the wiring and everything seemed to work. I haven't towed yet. Anyway, since then, the lights on the Tekonsha seemed to flash different when applying the brake. I looked it up in the trouble shooting guide and it says that I either have a direct short, excessive current request, or poor ground connection to tow vehicles battery. I've checked the wires to see if they came loose and they haven't.

Another thing that I noticed is that the headlight switch will not turn to the off selection. It will only go as far as auto. The other headlight selections work fine.

I'm guessing I need to check the ground. Dunno how.

Any guidance will be GREATLY appreciated.
Sincerely, lost.
 
Please skip the part in the prior note about the headlights. That's how it is supposed to work. Duh! :2: I did redo one of the wire connections but it didn't help. Also checked the fuses and they are ok. I'll do more checking tomorrow. Maybe Sat I'll try to trade the electronic brake in for a Prodigy. Who knows.

Any other ideas? ???
 
Do you have the right harness? The 03 harness is different than the 02.
Traz
 
I originally received the 02 harness from the dealer and exchanged it for the 03 harness. ?Found that out because it had the wrong fuse.

Also, the 02 harness had a brown plug in and the 03 has a white plug in. The 03 has the correct fuse, but are the wires correct?
 
I have a question on this topic. Will a harness from a '00 Silverado work with my '02 Av? I kept the harness from my '00 Silverado before I got rid of it and I'm getting ready to install the brake controller in my AV. Thanks for any help
 
The difference between the pre 2003 and 2003 is the location of the light blue and brown wires. Switch them and all is well. That is the only difference that matters, the plugs are the same except for the color. The fuses for the 2003 are "J case". ;D
 
Have you ever tried to fix something that was not broke? Well, that was what I was doing. I decided to hook up the trailor and see if I could get a clue and everything worked. ;D I guess I overread the manual.

Please don't kick me off the board. :-[ I'll add some side steps or some other mods, promise.
 
A while back, I hooked up my brake controller and all was well. I adjusted the brake sensitivity, and was off towwing without a problem. I have been towwing for 4 weeks now without a glitch. Well, now when I hit my brakes while towwing, I get nothing. The display reads that the trailer is not connected. I have all my lights, brake lights, blinkers......everything on the trailer works. I went out and bought a new controller, and the same thing is happening with it....no brakes. Does anybody have any ideas? I never installed a fuse under the hood, but I did have brakes. I could even lock up the trailer tires if I wanted to! Any help would be appreciated.

Wiki
 
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