No Trailer Brakes!!

[Ryan_V]

Got the camper out for the first time this weekend. Hooked her up on friday afternoon and took off. Couldn't get the light on the brake controller to come on. No big deal, happens every year, after about a mile and a half, it usually makes a connection and is good for the year. No such luck this year. Went to the campground (15 miles), then came home with it today, still no trailer brakes. I checked all the connections behind the brake controller and nothing. I put penetrating oil on the plug to eat away any corrosion that may have built up over the winter, nothing!!! Checked fuses, didn't locate any that were bad..

What do I check next. Do brake controllers go bad?? I put this one in about 5 years ago and have not had a problem until this year. That's why our memorial day weekend trip is close to home, in order to work out the bugs, but I'm not taking the camper anywhere until I get this fixed!!

Thanks

[Big Buck Buster]

Did you check power at the controller? Check for power at the controller(one wire will be hot all time/ one will have power when the brake is pressed(small wire is brake input)). The big blue wire will also have power when either the controller is pressed, or the brake pedal, if the controller is working.

If you have a test light, you could also check power at the trailer connector.

If there is a broken wire on the camper, the light on the controller will not light when it is hooked up. Some controllers will light green when the trailer has a good connection, then turn orange or red when the brakes are applied, depending on how aggressive you have it set.

[Valv]

If you cannot find the problem easily, take the trailer to a shop, they should be able to test the system including the controller, then you can decide which way to go.

I recommend not using the trailer until brakes are fixed but unfortunately you will have to tow it to a shop, be careful and give plenty of room for braking.

There's a poster some threads below that might get rid of his controller, it's a Tekonsha Prodigy and it's a reliable model.

[Ryan_V]

Well, I'm pretty sure I have it narrowed down to the tow vehicle. I got the test light out, and on the trailer brake prong (bottom right) I can't get juice. I'm thinking that's hot all the time right?? Because when you hook up the trailer, the light on the controller goes on no matter if the key is on or not. The other prongs light up the test light when they are supposed to. So, I'm thinking it's the controller. I checked all the connections behind it and they are all fine. I put this controller in myself about 5-6 years ago. It's a Tekohsha Envoy. Do you guys think I'm on the right track, or should I just bring it in somewhere??. Thanks a bunch!!

[katophil]

NO that one should only be "hot" when the brakes are on. Or when you slide the thingy.

[jeffreyd]

[Big Buck Buster]

Ryan,

You could test the lead for the trailer brake on the truck to see if the controller is working.

When you put the test light probe on the trailer connector for trailer brake with either the pedal pressed or sliding the controller handle, you should have a light. This probably will take two people. One other thing you can do is: when the brake controller is activated, change the power output of the controller: this will make the test light go from dim(low setting) to really bright(high setting). If this is happening, your controller is good, and the problem is in the trailer.

If your trailer has a brake-away battery and switch, you can test the trailer brakes with that.

To test that: Hook the trailer up to the truck. You can leave the trailer connector unplugged for this: pull the cable attached to the switch. This will pull the plastic insulator out of the switch making contacts inside close. When the contacts are closed, it will send the full battery power to the brakes, locking them up. Now try to move the trailer. It should not move, or at least the wheels will be locked up skidding. This is good to test on gravel! If nothing happens, make sure the battery is good on the trailer. If it is good, you have either bad brakes, or a wiring issue underneath.

Good luck.

BBB

[FlatBottom]

Is the synchronizer turned way down? I have a reese brake box that has that. If the kids or the dog bumped it and turned it way down the light won't come on. I've never had that happen. Or it's bum ground. I had that happen on my horse stock trailer this year. Had to redo them. Not bad, but not fun either.