How To Find Cold Side Of Stop Light Switch On Vehicle For Brake Controller Installation

Question

Question:

Hi, where can I find the the cold side of brake switch to attach to the brake controller, what color is the wire and where is it located. Thanks

asked by: Alessandro

0

Expert Reply:

Normally you can find the brake light switch under the dashboard at the top of the brake pedal. There could be a number of wires attached to the switch so you can use a tester like part # PTW2993 to test the wires. Since the auto manufacturers can use different color wires it is always best to use a tester and check the wires for function and not color.

You would need to find the wire that only shows power when the brake pedal is pressed. That would be the wore that gets attached to the red wire from the brake controller.

If you want to let me know the year, make, and model of your vehicle I may be able to provide more information for you when installing a brake controller.

expert reply by: Jeffrey L

0

Aaron

5/10/2020

I have a reese brake controller, Brake-EVN proportional. I don't know where my cold side connection is on my 99 dodge ram 1500. To connect the red wire to the stop light switch.

Reply

Chris R.

5/13/2020

To find the right wire, you'll just need to use a circuit tester on the wiring behind the brake pedal. You're looking for the wire that ONLY gets power when stepping on the brake pedal (and no power with any other function). Unfortunately I wasn't able to track down what color this wire might be on your 1999 Ram 1500.

Reply

What F.

9/20/2020

What if you have air barkes? (I have a 2004 Ford

Reply

Jon G.

9/21/2020

@W I'm not super familiar with air brakes but from my understanding there should still be a cold brake light wire somewhere - you'll just have to use a circuit tester like what Jeff and Chris mentioned. If you absolutely cannot find one then installing something like the Roadmaster Universal Stop Light Switch Kit # RM-751000 might be your best solution.

Reply

Ed

5/14/2024

Trying to install a Roadmaster brake light relay in 2018 F150. I have two of four wires at brake light switch that give 12v when brake is depressed. Purple/white and purple/pink

Reply

Mike L.

5/29/2024

@Ed You're wanting to use the purple/white wire.

Reply

Kee

6/12/2024

I have 1996 xj Jeep Cherokee. I need to find which wire is for cold side of brake light switch? There are several lines coming out of the switch. Which color is it for cold side of brake light switch?

Reply

Bud M.

6/12/2024

@Kee I was able to find one source which said it is going to be a white wire with tan stripe. You should verify this using a test light on your particular 1996 Jeep Cherokee XJ to ensure it functions correctly when pressing the brake pedal.

Reply

Kee

6/12/2024

Thanks

Reply

Bud M.

6/12/2024

@Kee You're welcome!

Reply

Tim D.

8/3/2024

Hi Jeffery. I have a 2010 Chevy Express 3500. There are four wires coming off the wiring harness from the brake pedal. None of them seem to be a cold switch, at least with 12 volts. One of the wires is on when the pedal is not activated and then turns off when it is depressed. Do you know or have any suggestions of how to install my electric brake controller? I have a Takonsha IQ progressive brake controler.

Reply

Jesse M.

8/5/2024

@TimD These Chevy Express vans can be tricky but if your vehicle has the OEM 7-way tow package the blue output brake wire is already ran and it is located under the dash near the emergency brake pedal. Some models however will not have this wire or the 12v power wires run and in this case you will need to run your own wires using the # 5506 kit.

Reply

Tim D.

8/7/2024

@JesseM Thank you for the reply. My van did not come with a tow package. I installed wiring for trailer lights and then the ETBC7 wiring kit from e-trailer. I called to ask the same question, and the best answer I got was to connect it to a fuse. When I went to look for the fuse description they gave me, it does not exist on this van. I tried wiring it to the brake switch fuse, which doesn't seem to be the answer. Any advice? I'm sitting here with everything basically done except for a place to put this wire.

Reply

Gilberto

2/7/2025

I am hardwiring my tekonsha electric brake controller on 2021 VW Atlas that didn't have oem plug in,so I am having a hard time finding the cold side wire for the brake switch ? Any ideas where I can connect the red wire from the brake controller on this vehicle?,thanks.

Reply

Robin H.

2/8/2025

@Gilberto I'm sorry to say we don't have any specific information on the location of the wire. You will either have to test as described above or install the # RM-751000 which can be used to connect the red wire as well. Sometimes on newer vehicles the wire cannot be accessed but again, I don't know if that is true on your 2021 VW Atlas.

Reply

Gilberto

2/9/2025

@RobinH Thanks for the response, luckily I was able to connect the red wire to the brake switch located at the Brake master cylinder. An other thing that I noticed is when car is parked not running the brake lights don't wort but if switch is on or car running the do work like it should! Any suggestions? I already checked ground wires on the T- connector and the universal 7 way connector and everything seems to be right.Thanks.

Reply

Robin H.

2/9/2025

@Gilberto do the vehicle brake lights have power when it is parked and off? If they don't that explains it. Either way, I wouldn't worry about it as long as they're working when the car is running since that is when you need them.

Reply

Answer 1

Hi John, Yes, we do have everything you'll need to flat tow your 2024 Chevy Trax. Baseplate: Blue Ox Base Plate Kit #BLU24UR. Tow Bar: etrailer SD Non-Binding Tow Bar for Blue Ox Base Plates #e47ZR. This tow bar comes with safety cables included…

view full answer...

Answer 2

There are two methods of installation for the Roadmaster Brake Lite Relay part #RM-88400 that you referenced, open and closed. Most towed cars require the normally open installation method. Ford and Lincoln models with neutral tow kits and most…

view full answer...

Answer 3

Gladly! The difference between the Blue Ox Patriot 3 Radio Frequency, Portable Braking System BRK2019 and the Blue Ox Patriot Radio Frequency, Portable Braking System #BLU37TR is that the Blue Ox Patriot 3 RBRK2019 is older, no longer available, and…

view full answer...

Answer 4

The Optronics LED Trailer Clearance or Truck Cab Light - Submersible - 15 Diodes - Triangle - Amber Lens item #CBL22AB does not come with the mounting hardware. I have attached a diagram showing the dimensions of the lights and the mounting holes. We…

view full answer...

Answer 5

The LED board on your clearance light we do not carry as a separate part. We have either the LED Trailer Clearance or Truck Cab Light #CBL22AB which is an entire single light which is similar in shape. Or we also have the Pacer Performance Hi-Five…

view full answer...

Answer 6

Hello Sean, for your 2024 F150 you can indeed use the etrailer Invisible Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms #e86YR. This is compatible with all etrailer and demco tow bars, and an adapter allows it to be compatible with others. I recommend sticking to…

view full answer...

Answer 7

According to our records, the cold brake switch wire on a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 should be a white/tan wire. Wire color is not always universal, so if you do not find a white/tan wire, you can use a wire tester like part #PTW2993 to determine wire…

view full answer...

Answer 8

Hey Antoine, so the two kits you mentioned are actually really similar and honestly I would go with the part #ETBC7 if I were you. The #ETBC7L is basically the same thing minus a couple wires and breakers so you may as well get the kit that has…

view full answer...

Answer 9

The Curt T-Connector #C56093 is a great place to start with wiring on your 2024 Ford Explorer. To get your vehicle ready for your trailer I recommend the following parts: - Universal Installation Kit #ETBC7 - Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty Brake Controller…

view full answer...

Answer 10

We have everything you need to install a brake controller on your 2004 Dodge Ram. Since your truck does not have any factory trailer wiring, we will want to install a trailer connector first because the brake controller will tie into the trailer…

view full answer...

Answer 11

The Tekonsha Plug-In Wiring Adapter, part #3020-P, you have referenced is for connecting a Tekonsha brake controller to the brake controller port located in the cab of your vehicle. It will be used if you have the factory 4-Way or the factory 7-Way…

view full answer...

Answer 12

The port you describe does not seem like what you need. You are going to be looking up under the dash for the 4 pin connector wiring harness. It is usually blue but this is not always the case, it can sometimes be gray. On your 2004 Dodge Ram it will…

view full answer...

How To Find Cold Side Of Stop Light Switch On Vehicle For Brake Controller Installation

Products Referenced in This Question

Product Page this Question was Asked From

Featured Help Information

Miscellaneous Media

Continue Researching