Electrical, wiring and powerModel years 2000–2003Manufacturer
Trailer brakes applied whenever headlamps or park lamps are on (brake controller jumper harness)
The article names 2000-03 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL; bulletin 02-05-22-004A lists 2001-03 GMC Yukon, XL.
FaultCrate・Trailer brakes applied whenever headlamps or park lamps are on (brake controller jumper harness)
With the headlamps or park lamps on, the trailer brakes are always applied, or the back lighting of the trailer brake controller illuminates only when the brakes are applied.
The condition may be due to wiring changes in the vehicle electrical system for the 2003 model year.
What to do
- Inspect the brake controller wiring harness jumper plugged into the vehicle relay block body, which is under the left side of the instrument panel near the left kick panel, behind a plastic cover.
- The 1999 through early 2003 jumper has a reddish/brown 6-way connector and a tag with the last four digits of the harness part number; a second design 2003 jumper may have a white plastic connector with part number 5418.
- The 2000 jumper harness is PN 15366255, with a pink/purple tag reading 6255.
- The 2001-02 jumper is PN 15086884, with an orange tag reading 6884.
- The 2003 jumper is PN 15085418, with an orange tag reading 5418.
- When a brake controller with its jumper attached is moved from a 2001-02 vehicle to a 2003 vehicle, the jumper harness connector must be changed.
- To use a 12171982, 15366255 or 15086884 harness in a 2003 vehicle, switch the wires in cavities A and D.
- To use a 15085418 harness in a 1999-2002 vehicle, switch the wires in cavities A and D.
- The correction is to modify the brake controller wiring harness.
Part numbers printed in the document
15366255Harness Assembly, Electronic Brake Control Wiring Harness ExtensionLook up at RockAuto (aftermarket candidates) ↗Search the web ↗
Discontinued (no successor stated)(replaces 12171982)as stated by GMPartsGiant (checked 2026-10-06) ↗
15086884Harness Assembly, Electronic Brake Control Wiring Harness ExtensionLook up at RockAuto (aftermarket candidates) ↗Search the web ↗
Discontinued (no successor stated)as stated by GMPartsGiant (checked 2026-10-06) ↗
15085418Look up at RockAuto (aftermarket candidates) ↗Search the web ↗
The numbers are as the document prints them. The name and the replacing number are what the pages of GMPartsGiant, a reseller of genuine parts and not GM, state. Aftermarket equivalents are not checked here (the links only search by number). Confirm the fit for the vehicle (VIN) before ordering.
Applies to
- The affected vehicles include the 2000-03 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL.
- Bulletin 02-05-22-004A, which replaces 02-05-22-004, trailer brakes applied when headlights/park lamps are on and brake controller illumination, lists 2002-03 Cadillac Escalade, EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, 2001-03 Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra, Yukon, XL and 2003 Hummer H2.
See the evidence (2 documents, 13 passages)
| Document | Publisher | Date |
|---|---|---|
| [1]GM TechLink, February 2003 ↗ | ManufacturerGeneral Motors | 2003-02-01 |
| [2]GM TechLink, November 2002 ↗ | ManufacturerGeneral Motors | 2002-11-01 |
Applies toThe affected vehicles include the 2000-03 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL.
2000-03 - Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe - GMC Yukon, Yukon XL— [1]
Applies toBulletin 02-05-22-004A, which replaces 02-05-22-004, trailer brakes applied when headlights/park lamps are on and brake controller illumination, lists 2002-03 Cadillac Escalade, EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, 2001-03 Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra, Yukon, XL and 2003 Hummer H2.
02-05-22-004A; replaces 02-05-22-004; Trailer Brakes Applied when Headlights/Park Lamps are On, Brake Controller Illumination (Modify Brake Controller Wiring Harness); 2002-03 Cadillac Escalade, EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, 2001-03 Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra, Yukon, XL, 2003 Hummer H2— [2]
First signsWith the headlamps or park lamps on, the trailer brakes are always applied, or the back lighting of the trailer brake controller illuminates only when the brakes are applied.
Some customers may comment that when the headlamps or park lamps are on, the brakes on the trailer are always applied, or that the back lighting for the trailer brake controller illuminates only when the brakes are applied.— [1]
Why it happensThe condition may be due to wiring changes in the vehicle electrical system for the 2003 model year.
This condition may be due to wiring changes within the vehicle electrical system for the 2003 model year.— [1]
How to confirmInspect the brake controller wiring harness jumper plugged into the vehicle relay block body, which is under the left side of the instrument panel near the left kick panel, behind a plastic cover.
Inspect the brake controller wiring harness jumper that is plugged into the vehicle relay block body. The relay block body is located under the left side of the instrument panel near the left kick panel, behind a plastic cover.— [1]
How to confirmThe 1999 through early 2003 jumper has a reddish/brown 6-way connector and a tag with the last four digits of the harness part number; a second design 2003 jumper may have a white plastic connector with part number 5418.
The 1999 through early 2003 wiring harness jumper that plugs into the relay block will have a reddish/brown 6-way connector and a tag with the last four digits of the wiring harness part number. Second design 2003 may have a white plastic connector with part number 5418 as well.— [1]
RepairThe 2000 jumper harness is PN 15366255, with a pink/purple tag reading 6255.
- The 2000 jumper harness is PN 15366255. The pink/purple tag identifier is 6255.— [1]
RepairThe 2001-02 jumper is PN 15086884, with an orange tag reading 6884.
- the 2001-02 jumper is PN 15086884. The orange tag identifier is 6884.— [1]
RepairThe 2003 jumper is PN 15085418, with an orange tag reading 5418.
- The 2003 jumper is PN 15085418. The orange tag identifier is 5418.— [1]
RepairWhen a brake controller with its jumper attached is moved from a 2001-02 vehicle to a 2003 vehicle, the jumper harness connector must be changed.
When transferring the brake controller with the wiring jumper attached from a 2001-02 vehicle to a 2003 vehicle, a change to the jumper harness connector must be performed.— [1]
RepairTo use a 12171982, 15366255 or 15086884 harness in a 2003 vehicle, switch the wires in cavities A and D.
To modify a 12171982, 15366255 or 15086884 harness for use in a 2003 vehicle, switch the wires in cavities A and D.— [1]
RepairTo use a 15085418 harness in a 1999-2002 vehicle, switch the wires in cavities A and D.
To modify a 15085418 harness for use in a 1999-2002 vehicle, switch the wires in cavities A and D— [1]
RepairThe correction is to modify the brake controller wiring harness.
Trailer Brakes Applied when Headlights/Park Lamps are On, Brake Controller Illumination (Modify Brake Controller Wiring Harness)— [2]
Put together by FaultCrate from public records and technical documents. The cause and the repair are for the workshop to decide with the vehicle in front of it. Counts are records, not failure rates.
List the records (2 that can be opened)
Records whose recall number, document number or text matches. Each line says why it matched.
- Trailer brakes applied with lamps on / controller backlighting wrong: jumper harness differs for 2003Manufacturer communication 2003-02-01・document number matches
- Trailer brakes applied when headlights/park lamps are on (bulletin 02-05-22-004A)Manufacturer communication 2002-11-01・document number matches