Kodiak Brake Light Switch (help with wire)

July 19, 2008, 09:43:39 pm

I just finished installing a Unified Tow Brake by US Gear in my 2007
CRV and my 2007 Jayco Greyhawk 32SS motorhome. I am very pleased
with the results, but I spent about 12-14 hours over several days
doing the CRV part. The motorhome doesn't take but a couple of
hours...except for one thing.

US Gear has the following in the directions for wiring the motorhome
brake control:

With the motor home ignition in the "ON" position, use a test light
to locate a wire on the brake switch/air switch which is "hot" only
when the brake pedal is depressed, and "cold" when the pedal is
released (some late model Roadmaster chassis's use a "negative"
switched air switch. Refer to the Roadmaster Chassis supplement for
those applications).

GASOLINE CHASSIS: You may have more than one wire that
reacts "cold/hot". Once you have found the wire(s) that react this
way, we then must identify the one which controls the brake lights on
the back of the motor home. The only way to do this, other than
contacting your chassis manufacturer to see if they can tell you
which wire, is to cut a "cold/hot" wire and apply the brake pedal and
see if the brake lights on the rear of the motor home is dead. If so,
this is the correct wire. If the brake lights are still working, then
the wire you cut is not the correct wire that controls the brake
lights and must be re-connected and then proceed to cut another wire
that is "cold/hot" and again check to see if the brake lights are off
or not until you have correctly identified the brake light wire
(NOTE: The reason you may find multiple wires that are "cold/hot" is
because of other accessories utilizing the brake light switch. Such
as the cruise control, torque converter lock-up, ABS, etc.).

GASOLINE AND DIESEL CHASSIS: Once you have identified the
correct "cold/hot" wire from the brake switch/air switch, connect the
Orange wire from the Controller and install the Blocking Diode
supplied with the kit to the factory wire. Instructions for the
Blocking Diode Installation are packaged with the Diode. Be sure to
install the Blocking Diode as close to the brake switch/air switch as
possible and that there are no other wires between the brake
switch/air switch and the Diode.

Well needless to say, I am not going to cut wires into and then have
to splice them back together unless I absolutely have to.

So, does anyone happen to know which wire on a 07 Kodiak C5500 gas
burner I need to use? Thanks for any help.

I took some pictures of the CRV install if anyone is interested.

Mike

Re: Kodiak Brake Light Switch (help with wire)

Reply #1 – July 20, 2008, 05:27:31 am

Yahoo Message Number: 1420

I replied to your question on RV.NET. First wire on connector from
drivers seat. You should not need the ignition switch on to check this
wire.

Re: Kodiak Brake Light Switch (help with wire)

Reply #2 – July 22, 2008, 11:18:46 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 1436

I also installed the Unified System on the C5500. The braking system
on the Kodiak is not straight forward. There is a GM Upfitter
publication #66 "Brake Controller Wiring Requirements" which details
where to pick-up the equivalent to the "brake switch" out of the
harness. Most upfitters do not use that specific "body building"
connector which is located on the passenger side of the frame near a
set of easily identifiable grounding blocks. Mine was capped off and
taped to the harness.

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