I just spent a couple of nerve wracking hours getting my Prodigy brake controller hooked up in my new Silverado diesel LTZ. My truck doesn't have the built-in brake controller. GM no longer includes the handy pigtail to make the connection. Trouble is, the owner's manual tells only half the story.
The manual describes finding the taped-off wires under the dashboard, but the wires were still hard to find since they were taped on top of a big cable and couldn't be seen and barely felt. There wasn't enough of a bulge to be obvious. I found a GM service bulletin on the net that solved the color coding problem.
The next problem was 2 wires under the hood that must be connected, This information was not in the manual! One wire is taped to the big cable between the under hood fuse box and the fender. The other wire is coiled up way down below the brake servo. Both wires have ring terminals and they attach to 2 studs sticking out of the front of the fuse box. The studs and rings are of different sizes and can't be accidentally reversed.
The next problem is that there are no nuts for the metric studs. Fortunately, I had salvaged a crashed European glider a few years ago and had a box of metric parts from that. I had correct fits for both studs and both were self-locking nuts.
My diesel had both fuses, but I understand that non-diesels require addition of one 30 or 40 amp square fuse. Not supplied,
Even the dealer didn't know this drill and this is a big dealer. If anyone on the forum comes up against this problem, let me know and I may be able to help.
BTW: I purely love the new diesel. It is quiet and so powerful that it is scary. The 6-speed Allison is simply great; smooth and at towing speed, the engine only runs at 1500 RPM. First tank around town was 15.6 MPG.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
These are ever evolving situations. Thanks John! On my '06 I had to have my GM mechanic find the under-dash plugin for the pigtail -- and he had trouble! I didn't have the wires under the hood that had to be connected. That's interesting. I'm going to double check some things. I only had one fuse on the pigtail and installed it here.
It wasn't that long ago you got your last truck. So is this one 2WD or 4WD?
It wasn't that long ago you got your last truck. So is this one 2WD or 4WD?
Thos one is 4WD. It is nearly impossible to find the combination of 2WD and extended cab around here. This one is extended cab, short box, 4WD, probably the last one in Austin. The 4WD is nice in getting out of bad spots without peppering the trailer with gravel. I need the shorter truck because of limited space in my driveway and in the storage yad where I keep the trailer.
Nothing was wrong with the 2004, I just wanted a nicer (read leather) interior and some perks. I got the perks in spades: OnStar, AM radio, garage door opener, backup sensors, adjustable pedals, remote start, Bose radio with subwoofer under the console, heated seats, seat memory, etc, The extra 140# of torque doesn't hurt either.
The remote start is neat. It automatically turns on the AC if it is hot ir the heater and heated seats if it is cold. Since I have to park it outside, both options are nice.
My next problem is where I mount the Firestick antenna for my CB. My neat stainless mount I saved from the 2004 doesn't fit the new body.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
These are ever evolving situations. Thanks John! On my '06 I had to have my GM mechanic find the under-dash plugin for the pigtail -- and he had trouble! I didn't have the wires under the hood that had to be connected.
The pigtail and plugin spot under the dash went away in 2007 when the new models came out. GM is saving pennies and losing dollars of good will.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
Your are making me envious. Did you have the 2004 broken in?
Don't mean to be nosey but, are the dealers giving any deals on new diesel trucks? I have read the contractor crowd is not trading right now due to the downturn in housing and thought I might start looking.
Enjoy. I am sure it will really pull that 28 footer around.
Pahaska - I just bought a P3 and was scanning the instructions. Note that they say not to mount the controller closer than 12 inches from a 2-way radio.
Your are making me envious. Did you have the 2004 broken in?
Don't mean to be nosey but, are the dealers giving any deals on new diesel trucks? I have read the contractor crowd is not trading right now due to the downturn in housing and thought I might start looking.
Enjoy. I am sure it will really pull that 28 footer around.
They gave me a pretty good deal. They started with $6500 off sticker and went down significantly from there. Fair, but not exceptional, trade for the 2004.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
Pahaska - I just bought a P3 and was scanning the instructions. Note that they say not to mount the controller closer than 12 inches from a 2-way radio.
My Prodegy is just a bit over a foot from where I mounted the little silver transmitter box for my Cobra. The Cobra has everything contained in the microphone except for that little box. I pop-rivited the box to the cover of the connector panel forward of the parking brake. I tapped power off the hot wire to the brake controller
Now, the question is where to put the FireStick antenna and how to route the cable to it.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
Bt the way, I bought spare 30 and 40 amp square fuses. If one of these ever blows on the road, they can be hard to find. I figure it is $7 worth of insurance.
I wrapped friction tape around the fuse bases and inserted them into unused holes in the fuse panel that had no pins. The tape insures a tight fit so that they will stay there. I put a bit of masking tape on each one with "spare" written onit.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
The pigtail and plugin spot under the dash went away in 2007 when the new models came out. GM is saving pennies and losing dollars of good will.
I bought an '07 GMC a little over a month ago, and it was equipped with the pig tail for the brake controller. Maybe because the truck has the towing package option?
I bought an '07 GMC a little over a month ago, and it was equipped with the pig tail for the brake controller. Maybe because the truck has the towing package option?
OK. Your truck must be the "Classic" model. That model still uses the old type dashboard and old wiring as did '07s made up to about the middle of the model year according to the dealer.
My truck is the LTZ which is a completely new layout with the dash moved forward and down 5". No pigtail on these trucks.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
Bad decision for GM. This is the type of penney wise and dollar foolish decisions that they are famous for. Our 08 f150 had the pig tail in the drivers door panel and the dealer had the prodigy hooked up in 5 minutes.Why GM wants anyone pulling wires through the dash is beyond me.
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