I'm wiring up my trailer plug and brake controller on the Candy Van. I found the appropriate color codes (which, according to multiple sources, can be just patently wrong) and verified all the wires with a multimeter. Brake controller is wired up. I have figured out everything in the rear harness and it all checks out... except 12v+. The one 10ga wire (some say orange, some say red, some say red/blk... mine is red/blk) refuses to have power
The fuse panel has two fuses that just say "trlr 30a." One is a standard blade fuse and the other is one of those little box fuses with the clear plastic top. I pulled both fuses for visual (look good) and then tested both for continuity and tested that there was 12v on the pins in the box. I know the fuses and fuse box are kosher. P.S... whoever engineered the fuse box in an express van, berkeley you. If I have to lose skin, rip a fingernail off, and generally get covered in smudge up to my elbows, maybe you could have done a little better.
Recalling my earlier Ford days, I know that some of them had a relay that only energized that circuit with the key on so you couldn't drain the truck battery by leaving a trailer hooked up (like an RV with lights on) No matter what I do... key on, key off, engine running, trans in D... nothing will put 12v to that red/blk wire at the back.
So I need a full diagram so maybe I can trace that wire back through connectors and things to see where it's broken, not connected, etc. Anyone have access to said diagrams? 06 Express 1500 5.3L WITH towing package. Here is all the owner's manual has to say:
Because it doesn't exist. Etrailer is working on fixing this problem. Express vans are a confusing lot. The only factory harness (the one behind the trim panel) will only do a 4-pin trailer plug. No express van (with the exception of some later model cutaways) had a factory plug for 7-pole trailering. They have 4 wires under the dash for a brake controller (blunt cut and covered with e-tape) and 7 wires tucked in the frame near the back (also blunt cut with e-tape). There is no factory plug to just magically add a trailer connector for 7 pole like E-trailer lists. If you're lucky, you get this tucked in the rear frame rail:
I should also add (edit)... this was a photo pulled from google from a fellow 2006 Express van owner. His ground is black, mine is white. His 12v+ wire is solid red, mine is red/blk. I just reached out to him to find out where his was assembled, but nearly all of the vans are assembled in the same place. Also, if you notice, that Etrailer contraption is a proprietary magnetic connector which means I would only be able to tow one trailer... which I would have to rewire with it's own proprietary connector.
There was seemingly zero standard for GM. In the fuse panel, you could either have the fuses or not. Under the dash you might have brake controller wires or not. In the back, you could have no wires at all, you might have 7 wires cut off with e-tape, or you might have a GM round connector tucked up in the spare tire. To add to the confusion, GM didn't always use the color of wire that is listed in the wiring diagrams. Keep in mind... these were all possibilities under the same tow package umbrella. You should see the guys on the van forums. Everyone offers great advice based on their personal van, and it almost never translates to any other van.
Now... to add more confusion to the pile, GM did offer an obscure pre-wired option which came with both 7-pole and 4-pole connectors in one of these funny looking housings. Apparently those DID have a GM round plug-n-play provision, but mine does not.
