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Old 01-26-2016, 10:41 AM   #1
Bill Scott
 
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Never Cut the Red Wire

Trading my 2014 GMC 3500HD for a 2016 GMC 3500HD Denali. This truck is amazing. I drove the other truck for over two years and never realized I had an electric brake controller. Always thought the trailer breaks were synchronized with the truck brakes automatically. After all, there is a button on the end of a stick that when you push it, a light comes on the dashboard that says “Trailering””. Then another light comes on that says, “Trailer Connected”. Makes me wonder now whether I have had trailer brakes or they have to be activated somehow. Come to think of it, it never said “Brakes Connected”.

Car salesmen (and saleswomen) do not generally know how the product they are selling works. It’s like when I bought one of those cell phone chargers from AT&T, you know the ones you can put in your pocket and recharge your cell phone if you need to. Well, to make a long story short, when I opened the box, there was not one shred of evidence that told me what it was, or what it was used for. I can imagine some junk picker (500 years from today) trying to figure out what the damn thing is.

We have engineered ourselves straight into stupidity. Everybody is an expert and no one is an expert… do you know what I mean? The damn thing is black, has a USB port and whatever they call that little port the AC power cable goes into, and there are some lights that come on sometimes, but there is nothing to indicate why.

What the hell have we done to ourselves? **WARNING** Be highly suspect of anyone that gives you advice. You really can’t tell right off whether they are experts, intelligent, terrorists, or harmless idiots.

Here’s how the Internet works. You ask a question, get 100 responses, and then pick one. The only thing I am sure of is you should never cut the red wire... or is it the blue wire?
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Old 01-26-2016, 10:59 AM   #2
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You funny

Here's the first of your 100 responses.

You had trailer brakes, well at least you had power when you mashed the pedal to pin 2 at the rear bumper from the factory controller, even if something was amiss on the trailer. Now they probably were not adjusted worth a crap because the truck won't do that for you, hence the +/- buttons. I believe it defaults to 5 on the power setting so you had something, I think, maybe.

Green wire w/ yellow stripe.
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Old 01-26-2016, 11:00 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by BillScott View Post
Trading my 2014 GMC 3500HD for a 2016 GMC 3500HD Denali. This truck is amazing. I drove the other truck for over two years and never realized I had an electric brake controller. Always thought the trailer breaks were synchronized with the truck brakes automatically. After all, there is a button on the end of a stick that when you push it, a light comes on the dashboard that says “Trailering””. Then another light comes on that says, “Trailer Connected”. Makes me wonder now whether I have had trailer brakes or they have to be activated somehow. Come to think of it, it never said “Brakes Connected”.

Car salesmen (and saleswomen) do not generally know how the product they are selling works. It’s like when I bought one of those cell phone chargers from AT&T, you know the ones you can put in your pocket and recharge your cell phone if you need to. Well, to make a long story short, when I opened the box, there was not one shred of evidence that told me what it was, or what it was used for. I can imagine some junk picker (500 years from today) trying to figure out what the damn thing is.

We have engineered ourselves straight into stupidity. Everybody is an expert and no one is an expert… do you know what I mean? The damn thing is black, has a USB port and whatever they call that little port the AC power cable goes into, and there are some lights that come on sometimes, but there is nothing to indicate why.

What the hell have we done to ourselves? **WARNING** Be highly suspect of anyone that gives you advice. You really can’t tell right off whether they are experts, intelligent, terrorists, or harmless idiots.

Here’s how the Internet works. You ask a question, get 100 responses, and then pick one. The only thing I am sure of is you should never cut the red wire... or is it the blue wire?
Didn't you ever wonder what the + & - buttons were next to the slide button on the lower left hand side of the dash? That was your brake controller.
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Old 01-26-2016, 11:12 AM   #4
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Didn't you ever wonder what the + & - buttons were next to the slide button on the lower left hand side of the dash? That was your brake controller.
Was it still lower left in 14? I know it was on my 13, but its upper left on my 15 where it should of been all along. I think it even has a picture of a trailer and a brake shoe?

Its awesome if it detects sway. When you start to feel it alternate the brake applications to stop it, it will scare the hell out of you.
I had mine go off once when I hit ice, it works but had me ready to bail. Its a weird feeling. Trailer was going sideways, and the truck took over, brought it right back into line.
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Old 01-26-2016, 11:13 AM   #5
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Old 01-26-2016, 11:22 AM   #6
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You may or may not have had total trailer brakes as the gain needs to be set in order to get full trailer response. Remember not to add to much gain or you will use up the TT brakes. One should always read there manuals and brochure for info on vehicle Later RJD
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Old 01-26-2016, 11:23 AM   #7
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Didn't you ever wonder what the + & - buttons were next to the slide button on the lower left hand side of the dash? That was your brake controller.
Funny thing. On the 2014 the controller is on the lower left, kind of under the dash. When I saw the one on the new truck I asked, "What's this?" Then when I got it my 2014 truck I saw it. I think that's why they moved it to the top on the 2016.
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Old 01-26-2016, 12:59 PM   #8
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Funny thing. On the 2014 the controller is on the lower left, kind of under the dash. When I saw the one on the new truck I asked, "What's this?" Then when I got it my 2014 truck I saw it. I think that's why they moved it to the top on the 2016.
My '13 3500 Denali and my wife's '14 Yukon XL Denali had the exact same dash with controller in lower left corner. I found it funny that her Yukon had a brake controller, but no hitch.
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Old 01-26-2016, 01:05 PM   #9
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I found it funny that her Yukon had a brake controller, but no hitch.
Me too, did you ever pull the plastic insert out of the rear lower bumper pan? It might have had a 2" receiver behind it. I thought they were standard on all the Yukons / Tahoes / Burbs.
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Old 01-26-2016, 01:37 PM   #10
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There's a book in the glove box. Might have the information your looking for, but who looks at those things anyway. Wonder why they call it a glove box? Never seen gloves in mine.
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Old 01-26-2016, 01:38 PM   #11
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Me too, did you ever pull the plastic insert out of the rear lower bumper pan? It might have had a 2" receiver behind it. I thought they were standard on all the Yukons / Tahoes / Burbs.

I looked up under the bumper when we got it, no hitch. I was thinking it was an option on all, but could be because of the Denali and AWD. That 400hp 6.2 is a beast though.


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Old 01-26-2016, 01:48 PM   #12
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For the "did I even have brakes" question.....
Yes. Yes you had brakes on your trailer from the day it was built.....noooooow they may have not been "utilized" BUT you they were there!!!
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Old 01-26-2016, 02:51 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BillScott View Post
Funny thing. On the 2014 the controller is on the lower left, kind of under the dash. When I saw the one on the new truck I asked, "What's this?" Then when I got it my 2014 truck I saw it. I think that's why they moved it to the top on the 2016.

I don't know why I feel compelled to post this pic but I just took it in my 2014 Sierra SLT. Is my controller upper left or lower left? You're right, Mr. H - some funny stuff herein.
Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByTapatalk1453837866.772542.jpg
Views:	157
Size:	260.0 KB
ID:	98421


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Old 01-26-2016, 02:57 PM   #14
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I don't know why I feel compelled to post this pic but I just took it in my 2014 Sierra SLT. Is my controller upper left or lower left? You're right, Mr. H - some funny stuff herein.
Attachment 98421


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That's a 14 1500 Correct? New body/interior in the 1500 for 14, and that's upper left.
The 14 HD's had old body and dash with controller lower left. They didn't get the body and interior the 14 1500's had until 15.
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Old 01-26-2016, 03:01 PM   #15
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That's a 14 1500 Correct? New body/interior in the 1500 for 14, and that's upper left.
The 14 HD's had old body and dash with controller lower left. They didn't get the body and interior the 14 1500's had until 15.

Yes...
and ah, yes. Now I remember the '15 HDs were on the lot when I was ordering my '14 1500. I could find the factory brake controller on either. Ha!


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