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S. Conner 08-15-2004 19:32:40 4.225.5.32 137569 Report to Moderator	This may be a bit off the topic for this forum but I've got a '97 Chevy 2500 truck that I'd like to install a brake controller in. The thing I'm not sure about is what wire to tap into that is hot only when the brake pedal is pushed. I think I can see the brake light switch on the pedal arm but I can't even come close to getting my hand up in there and there are a lot more wires going to the switch then two like on the old trucks I could actually work on. I've been meaning to stop at the local Chevy dealer to ask them but I'm never thinking about it when I drive by. Thanks for the advice. [Reply]   [No Email]
txblu 08-18-2004 12:53:05 199.46.199.231 137719 Report to Moderator	Re: Brake controller installation in reply to S. Conner, 08-15-2004 19:32:40   Just another example of why we "waste our time" here. Yesterday I bought a stock trailer. Was rubbernecking on the way to work and there it was; 6' x 16' internally usable, covered, side door, center door, new floor, new tires and bias ply at that, paint pretty good; looked under it and it has brakes on the rear axle. Perfect..... and the price couldn't be better. Just what I have always wanted. Sold on the spot. Seems it was too large for the current owner and he wanted a smaller one. Today I'm thinking about trailer brakes for it and was surfing this site. I had passed this post several times since incoproration (had no need for the info), but this time I stopped and got the low down on wiring including the looking for a harness in the truck for connecting the controller. What a deal. Thanks guys, Mark   [Reply]   [No Email]
Ray,IN 08-16-2004 21:36:57 66.244.73.163 137647 Report to Moderator	Re: Brake controller installation in reply to S. Conner, 08-15-2004 19:32:40   This site contains mfgrs. wiring color codes for trucks and how to wire trailer plugs. The brake wire is identified also. trailer wiring   [Reply]   [No Email]
BB 08-16-2004 10:33:22 65.216.31.130 137610 Report to Moderator	Re: Brake controller installation in reply to S. Conner, 08-15-2004 19:32:40   Don't know about Chevy. But if you are lucky and it came with a factory towing package and it is similar to my '97 F150, it will have a prewired connector under the dash already wired for the correct connections. You just need the mating harness to plug into it.   [Reply]   [No Email]
kjm 08-15-2004 20:58:17 65.255.134.220 137582 Report to Moderator	Re: Brake controller installation in reply to S. Conner, 08-15-2004 19:32:40   S.C., I tapped the wire comeing out of the fuse box under the hood and ran the wire back through the firewall to the controler.(97 1/2 ton)   [Reply]   [No Email]
Shane 08-15-2004 20:44:17 66.228.102.145 137578 Report to Moderator	Re: Brake controller installation in reply to S. Conner, 08-15-2004 19:32:40   On my '95 that wire runs in the big loom that goes around the steering colum shaft near the floor. I think it is pink but not sure, will look tomorrow for ya. My guess is it is the same wire as on your '97. Not hard to get too just had to test and make sure it was the correct one and then used one of those self tapping wire clip thingys.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Bob 08-15-2004 20:22:12 66.163.134.177 137576 Report to Moderator	Re: Brake controller installation in reply to S. Conner, 08-15-2004 19:32:40   I believe there is a stub wiring harness available at the dealer that plugs into the fuse panel by your left foot, and has pigtails to connect the brake controller to, so no access is needed to the brake switch and no existing wires need to be cut or probed.   [Reply]   [No Email]
TheRealRon 08-16-2004 03:30:04 69.179.30.24 137590 Report to Moderator	Re: Brake controller installation in reply to Bob, 08-15-2004 20:22:12   Correct. My '95 has it.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Rod (NH) 08-15-2004 20:03:40 12.148.160.138 137574 Report to Moderator	Re: Brake controller installation in reply to S. Conner, 08-15-2004 19:32:40   I had a similar problem with an '02 Toyota truck. I could barely see that switch and there was no way I was going to get anywhere near it without tearing the dash apart. I wound up using a wiring diagram of the truck and finding the correct wire in the rear wiring harness, located behind the left kick panel near the floorboard level. I teed into that wire at that location and ran from there to the controller. Lacking a diagram, you could find the color coding for the correct wire by using a voltmeter and pinpricking the wires back at the tailights to find the brakelight wire. Then, using that coding, find it again before it goes up into the dash area and use that as the source location for the controller. Rod   [Reply]   [No Email]
Wallace 08-15-2004 20:49:40 67.51.115.41 137579 Report to Moderator	Re: Brake controller installation in reply to Rod (NH), 08-15-2004 20:03:40   I believe on some of those trucks the dealer will have a small harness that consists of a plug and a couple of wires that will plug right in and provide the wires you need.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Gene Davis (Ga.) 08-16-2004 19:36:36 66.82.9.41 137642 Report to Moderator	Re: Brake controller installation in reply to Wallace, 08-15-2004 20:49:40   Thought I was going to do it your way,ordered the connection and when i opened the package I read it was for '99 or later GM products only.   [Reply]   [No Email]