The mysterious case of the sometimes brakes
Mar 29, 2016 5:46:35 GMT -8
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Lola53 likes this
Post by Offspringin on Mar 29, 2016 5:46:35 GMT -8
So. Maybe someone can guide me on what to check. I am new to trailers with brakes. Our Shasta Conpact didn't have them. Our "new" 76 Apache does. I know they work (electro magnet drum style). I bought and installed a brake controller in my truck. My truck comes pre wired for it. Just plug and play. Our maiden voyage was in Feburary and at that time everything worked great. Adjusted the brake controller. It activated the brakes. No problems.
Just got back from a 1400 mile road trip with it. No trailer brakes for a single mile. So now. When the trailer is NOT plugged into the truck, the brake controller lights up and functions as it should from the drivers view. When you plug the trailer in, the brake controller no longer shows power or any brake activity/lights etc and the trailer brakes do not activate.
So it was working a few weeks ago. Now not. Only things I can think that have changed are that I reinstalled my kick panels under the dash again. I also think (as I write this i thought about this) that maybe my son flipped the 3 way switch on the inverter/converter in the trailer.
So the obvious (to me) route to go is to maybe flip the switch in the trailer inverter/converter and see if that has an effect. Not sure that it would/could.
Second option would be to drop the kick panels and make sure wires are intact? Seems like they should be though if the brake controller has power when no attached to trailer.
I'm wondering if there are any other issues that could be causing this (relay/fuse). TV is an 02 Trailblazer LTZ (Short wheel base). I have also had jumpy wipers and lost my low beams on the trip due to a dead relay. If alternator is putting out too much could that have effected the trucks ability to make the trailer brakes function?
Any advice welcome. Or confirmation on my assumptions/theories.
Thanks
Just got back from a 1400 mile road trip with it. No trailer brakes for a single mile. So now. When the trailer is NOT plugged into the truck, the brake controller lights up and functions as it should from the drivers view. When you plug the trailer in, the brake controller no longer shows power or any brake activity/lights etc and the trailer brakes do not activate.
So it was working a few weeks ago. Now not. Only things I can think that have changed are that I reinstalled my kick panels under the dash again. I also think (as I write this i thought about this) that maybe my son flipped the 3 way switch on the inverter/converter in the trailer.
So the obvious (to me) route to go is to maybe flip the switch in the trailer inverter/converter and see if that has an effect. Not sure that it would/could.
Second option would be to drop the kick panels and make sure wires are intact? Seems like they should be though if the brake controller has power when no attached to trailer.
I'm wondering if there are any other issues that could be causing this (relay/fuse). TV is an 02 Trailblazer LTZ (Short wheel base). I have also had jumpy wipers and lost my low beams on the trip due to a dead relay. If alternator is putting out too much could that have effected the trucks ability to make the trailer brakes function?
Any advice welcome. Or confirmation on my assumptions/theories.
Thanks
