Troubleshooting Constant Output on Tekonsha Voyager Trailer Brake Controller # 39510

Question:

I have a Tekonsha Voyager brake unit and am trying to troubleshoot an issue with it. Should the brake line blue wire have voltage in it at the back of the brake unit when the manual slide is not being operated and vehicle is stationary? There are a number of posts on your website that suggest that having voltage when the brake unit is not activating indicates a fault in the brake unit, but I am not sure if this also applies to the Voyager unit - since the yellow LED connection indicator must require some voltage flowing through the unit to work. Any help much appreciated. Thanks

asked by: Nick

Expert Reply:

The Tekonsha Voyager Brake Controller # 39510 should show a voltage on its blue output wire under two circumstances: when you press the manual override button and when you are driving and press the vehicle brake pedal. If you have output when you are stationary and are NOT pressing the manual override then either there is a problem with the unit or its installation was incorrect. It is possible that the controller will generate an output signal if the wrong wire is connected to its red input wire; this is the wire that tells the controller to send a signal to the trailer brakes.

Some brake controllers do send out a very small voltage every few seconds to "look" for the trailer brake circuit but this signal is so small that is could not activate brakes.

The red input wire should connect to the cold side of the vehicle's brake light switch; the correct wire should be active ONLY when you press the brake pedal. If you detect no signal on the input wire to the controller but detect an output signal without pressing the manual button then the unit is damaged and needs to be replaced.

expert reply by: Adam R