Installing brake controller 2002 suburban

Electronic brake controllers come in a wide variety of configurations and options to assist tow vehicle drivers with stopping a load. The ability to mount a pod controller on vertical surfaces or in odd locations provides drivers with an opportunity to tuck the brake controller in tight locations and still have full control over the trailer's brake systems. Connect the supplied pigtail wiring harness into the electrical connection port on the rear of the pod brake controller. Purchase a wiring harness specific to your vehicle application from your vehicle's manufacturer, and plug that harness into the recommended connection portal.

Place the pod controller inside the cab of the vehicle near its final mounting location. Connect the coinciding wires from the controller wiring harness and vehicle wiring harness using electrical butt connectors.

When an application specific wiring harness is not available, you may follow a universal wiring method to supply power to the pod controller. In this case, connect the white wire from the back of the controller to a ground, the black wire to the vehicle's positive battery terminal, the blue wire to the trailer connector and the red wire to the vehicle's stoplight switch. After collecting all these materials and reviewing the instructions set forth in your service manual, you should be ready to complete this job.

As with any service, replacing the electronic brake control module will begin with making sure you have clear access to all the tools and supplies you need to complete this task. You don't have to jack the vehicle up or raise the vehicle on a hydraulic lift to complete this job. Step 1: Remove battery cables. Remove the positive and negative battery cable and place them away from the battery terminals before proceeding. Step 2: Remove engine cover and air filter housing.

In many instances you'll have to remove the engine cover and air filter housing in order to have free access to remove the electronic brake control module. Refer to your service manual for exact instructions on how to remove these components. It is very common for part manufacturers to send the wrong replacement EBCM; especially when ordering online.

Before you remove the old component, verify that your replacement part is identical. The most important items to consider are the connectors on the bottom of the plate. Step 4: Remove first two electrical harnesses. There should be two electrical harnesses on the left side of the EBCM.

Using a flat blade screwdriver, pry the clips from the harnesses carefully and remove with your hands. This unit is typically attached to a bottom plate with torx screws. If this is the case with yours, use a torx screw attachment with a ratchet to remove the four screws from the EBCM. Take them out one at a time and place the screws to the side for now. After the screws have been removed, the module should easily pull up. Remove it from the base plate and place aside.

On some vehicle, there will be a third electrical harness attached to the back of this unit. If this is the case with your vehicle, remove this harness the same way you removed the first two in step 4 noted above.

The steps for installing the new EBCM are in reverse of the removal. Follow the following guidelines when installing the new unit on your vehicle:.

Place the new EBCM onto the mounting plate. It should snap into place with the male electrical fittings on the bottom of the mounting plate. Step 8: Follow start pattern for tightening screws. The proper procedure for tightening the torx screws on the EBCM is to do so in a star pattern. Follow the diagram above to ensure the new EBCM is fully tightened before completing this step and proceeding to the next steps.

In many cases when the OBD-II error codes have triggered the check engine light or the ABS light due to a malfunction of the EBCM, they'll need to be downloaded again and cleared in order for the repair to be finalized. If you do not have a digital scanner, contact a local mechanic to complete this step for you. When you have finished each of the steps above, the replacement of the EBCM has been completed. If you've reviewed the steps in this article and are not confident completing this project or need an extra set of professional hands to help fix the problem, contact YourMechanic.

Our certified mobile mechanics perform over services, including diagnostics, brakes, oil changes, scheduled mileage maintenances, and will come to you with all necessary parts and tools. Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2, U. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

Some of the elements it controls include: The pressure applied from the brake calipers to the rotor The length of time the brake calipers apply this pressure Down-shifting the transmission to help deceleration Reducing brake pressure when tire lock-up or skidding is detected The EBCM also works with other safety devices including traction control and vehicle stability systems.

Noted below are some signs you can watch for that may signal that your EBCM has stopped working prematurely and will need to be replaced: The ABS light illuminates on the dashboard. Part 1 of 3: Determining the symptoms of a damaged electronic brake control module Unlike replacing the brake pads or rotors, there are no determined service intervals for inspecting or servicing the electronic brake control module. In most cases, they would be correct to assume this however it is subject to wear and tear and can be damaged due to multiple factors including: Exposure to high heat under the hood Wires or electrical harnesses being damaged or burned Vehicle accidents Due to the fact that there are no service checks or inspections, part failure is typically determined when symptoms are apparent.

Some of the common symptoms of a damaged EBCM include: Brakes that lock up while stopping in emergency situations The check engine light or ABS light is illuminated The brake pulsate during normal braking Steering wheel vibrates during braking Warning : Anytime you are working with electrical components, you must remove the battery cables from the terminals.

Part 2 of 3: Preparing the vehicle for replacing the electronic brake control module Replacement parts for the EBCM typically include the module itself. In general, the materials you'll need to remove and replace the EBCM; after removing ancillary components will include the following: Materials Needed Clean shop rags Replacement EBCM Torx Screw Set Screwdriver s flat and Phillips head Socket set and ratchet After collecting all these materials and reviewing the instructions set forth in your service manual, you should be ready to complete this job.

Part 3 of 3: Steps for replacing the electronic brake control module As with any service, replacing the electronic brake control module will begin with making sure you have clear access to all the tools and supplies you need to complete this task.

It should snap into place with the male electrical fittings on the bottom of the mounting plate Install the screws but do not fully tighten Install the two front electrical connectors Step 8: Follow start pattern for tightening screws.

Step 9: Replace engine cover and air filter housing. Step Reconnect battery cables. Home Articles. The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details. Excellent Auto Repair Ratings.

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