Towing Wiring Harness

[Ed Hahn]

Me again, with my questions...

 

I spent time working on installing an electric brake controller on a 1500 Av, using the factory towing wiring harness connector.  I think I have it figured out:

 

1) "Fuse B+" (red, heavy gauge) = +12V (duh) (to the black wire in the Tekonsha pigtail)

2) "Brk Gnd" (black, med gauge) = ground (duh) (to the white wire on the Tekonsha pigtail)

3) "Brk Sig" (light blue, med gauge) = brake signal (goes +12V when the brake is depressed) (to the red wire on the Tekonsha pigtail)

4) "Brk Out" (blue, heavy gauge) = output from controller to brake (i.e., makes the rear brake pin active) (to the blue wire on the Tekonsha pigtail)

 

What is the "illum" (brown, med gauge) wire for?  Not that it matters, as the Tekonsha pigtail is out of wires at this point, anyways. ;)

 

Thanks in advance, again.

ed

[silverado man]

I think the illum is if the brake controller had illumination on it that would be controlled buy the trucks dimmer.  Just tape the brown wire out of the way dont really need.  Ive installed many stereos and had to do this.

[mnsilverado]

I put a controller in my truck a few month ago, the "illum" is exactly what silverado man said it is for. My brake control illuminates the manual button on the controller at night.

[Ed Hahn]

Make sense - thanks for the help!

 

ed

[Shaners]

Sounds like you got it right Ed.  Don't forget to install the Jumbo Fuse in the box under the hood on the driverside front fender.

[Ed Hahn]

Sounds like you got it right Ed.  Don't forget to install the Jumbo Fuse in the box under the hood on the driverside front fender.

That would be the one that fits in the "Stud A" slot - the one furthest to the left, hm?  At least this is the one the owner's manual said had something to do with the towing system.  The only other empty slot was for the A.I.R. system (whatever that is)...

 

ed

[Kansas Kid]

I don't know if you plan to add any aftermarket gauges to your Avalanche or not, but if you do, that illum wire makes a great source to get power for the backlighting.  Especially since it's not getting used for anything else....

[Shaners]

Ed you are right...  Top row, first empty slot from the left...

 

I'm using a Tekonsha controller also, and I find it strange that the wires aren't color coded between it and the factory pigtail.  At least they have tags hanging on them to help out a little...

[kc2aku]

here's one to make you chuckle.  I boorow a friends trailer that was evedently custom wire and +12 for the trialer battery and the reverse lights was switched.  so when ever i plugged in the trailer my back-up lights would come on even with the truck off.  That left me a little confused so Iplugged into our work trailer (this one was wired at the factory) and the electrical system worked like a champ.  So now I have to take out that big fuse out of the fuse block before I hitch to my friends trailer.  BTW the trailer is wired for a Ford so that says a little