No Trailer Brakes On Trailer Towed By 2008 Dodge Ram  

Question:

Expert Reply:

If the brake pedal in the Dodge Ram was depressed when he tested it or the manual override on your brake controller was applied, then the brake output circuit should show 12 volts. If your brake pedal or manual override was not applied when the circuit was tested it should have shown 0-3 volts possibly but not 5.

The first thing you want to do is make sure the ground from the 7-way connector is grounded to a clean bare metal surface on the frame because that is usually the reason the brakes are not activating. Also check the pins on your 7-way connector for any corrosion that can be lightly sanded away with a fine grit sandpaper.

If you check your ground and it is properly grounded, have someone depress the brake pedal in the truck while you test the brake output circuit. If you do not get close to 12V then you know the issue is somewhere in the vehicle wiring. You want to check the blue wire from the 7-way up to cab of the of the vehicle for frayed or damaged wire.

If the 2008 Ram Pickup has a factory 7-way the harness may need to be replaced or there's a blown fuse. You can check location 12 in your integrated power module in the engine compartment near the battery for a 20 amp pink fuse. That needs to be replaced if it's blown because it powers the electric brake circuit.

You can test your brake controller by severing the blue wire 6 inches back from the brake controller then using your circuit tester to test the end of the blue wire coming out of the controller. It should only have power if you apply the manual override or brake pedal. If it sows power at idle then the brake controller is shorted out and needs to be replaced.

expert reply by: Heather A

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