Trailer Brakes Lock Up When Brake Pedal Is Pressed

Question:

Trailer brakes lock up when I apply my brakes in trucks and when I release they release.

asked by: Stephen

Expert Reply:

The first thing I recommend is to check the gain setting on your brake controller. There should be a dial or button that lets you reduce the brake intensity.

If your manual override works correctly and your gain is set to the right level, then there may be a short in the wiring for the brake output circuit.

You want to check the wiring on your truck and also on the trailer and look for any signs of corrosion, pinched, or damaged wires. Also check the vehicle side trailer connector and the connector on the trailer to make sure they line up correctly per function. You can use a circuit tester like part # PTW2993 to do this. Have someone sit in the driver seat and run through the functions while you check the trailer connectors. You will want to also look for any signs of corrosion or damage and fix as needed.

expert reply by: Jeffrey L