• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

No Brake Harness, Or Is That Another GM $ Saver?

D

DougD

SM 2010
SM 2009
SM 2008
SM 2007
SM 2006
SM 2005
SM 2004
SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2002
Messages
20,297
Location
Bradenton, FL
My memory is failing me, it seems ;) With the 2000 and 2002 Tahoes I've had preceding the Avalanche, each ordered with Z82 (as is the Avalanche), Chevy nicely included the harness for the trailer brake controller instead of having to tap the wiring. It may have come with the 97 as well, I know it didn't come with the 95. I still have one of them, so I'm certainly not in need of one, but it dawned on me today that there wasn't one with the new truck. Just an oversight, or another way of GM saving $1.50 per vehicle?

I also have the cargo net from one of the Tahoes which I need to measure, seems like it'd work nicely on the side if the bed as an extra catch-all for small/loose items.
 
My 2002 Z71 came with the harness - it was sitting in the glove box when I picked it up...
 
I had one in my '02, but when I traded it in, and got the '03, no harness. When I asked about it, the dealer said that it was an "option" now. Luckily they said I could have the harness out of my '02.

 
I can confirm that the 03' does not come with the harness - The 02' did include the harness. You also do not get the light in the engine hood on 03' as well :(
 
My 02 came with the harness but was missing the 4 pin adapter that comes taped to it, my dealer gave me a second harness that had the adapter with it.....now will I ever need 2 trailer brake harnesses.......I prefer the "surge" hydralic brakes on trailers.
 
I had an 02 Z-71 that came with the Brake wiring pigtail and the fuse. Traded it in for my 03 Yellow Z66 WBH. I took my trailer brake controller out of the 02 including the harness that I wired to the brake controller that worked flawlessy in the 02, before making the trade. I installed the unit into the 03, but noticed my trailer brakes were not working. All of a sudden when the auto headlights came on at dusk o' clock going down the interstate at 75 mph, the trailer brakes came on and started dragging as if they were working constantly. I overrided the auto headlights and the trailer brakes went back off. I had to hurry up and get home before dark o' clock so the trailer brakes did not drag. Anyone know if the pigtail is differant for 02 and 03 or do I have an improperly wired harness? Again it worked perfectly in the 02 and I did not change a thing in the pigtail wiring to the brake controller.
 
YellowZ66WBH said:
I had an 02 Z-71 that came with the Brake wiring pigtail and the fuse. Traded it in for my 03 Yellow Z66 WBH. I took my trailer brake controller out of the 02 including the harness that I wired to the brake controller that worked flawlessy in the 02, before making the trade. I installed the unit into the 03, but noticed my trailer brakes were not working. All of a sudden when the auto headlights came on at dusk o' clock going down the interstate at 75 mph, the trailer brakes came on and started dragging as if they were working constantly. I overrided the auto headlights and the trailer brakes went back off. I had to hurry up and get home before dark o' clock so the trailer brakes did not drag. Anyone know if the pigtail is differant for 02 and 03 or do I have an improperly wired harness? Again it worked perfectly in the 02 and I did not change a thing in the pigtail wiring to the brake controller.
Click to expand...

GM changed the pinouts in the brake controller harness in '03 and later. I kept the pigtail from my 2000 Yukon. The 2000 pigtail works fine if you swap the brown and the light blue wires. Otherwise you get exactly the symptoms you report.
 
My 04 came with not only a harness, but also with the 4 pin adaptor which my 2000 Silverado did NOT come with (although the harness did). My wife's 2003 Trailblazer did not come with a harness or the adaptor.

It sounds like your dealer ripped you off, or someone who test drove it got one on the 5 finger discount.
 
It came with the towing/trailor package on my '02 1500 4x4 and on my '04 Z71. It's a good idea to check and make sure all your stuff is there. Dealers will grab it from the nearest vehicle to add to another to make a sale. For instance my Z71 owners manual was missing and my RES stuff came in a new box with Colorado crossed out and Avalanche written on it with marker, my salesman had already scrounged it up and had someone looking for a manual before I could ask.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top