Breakaway Kit Not Working Properly and Causing Issues with my Brake Controller

Question:

I hope you can help me with a brake question. I am just wondering if the emergency brake would have an effect on the whole trailer as I get intermittent brake failure connections on my truck. When I pull the pin the brakes do not connect and I have to reset the trailer to get my brake control back to functioning. The brakes hum when I put my brake on but when I pull the pin on the emergency cable nothing happens but it does affect the rest of the breaking ability until I reset it again. I have one that is just a small box on the side of the trailer directly wired. Thanks 2016 Northwoods Nash 25c

asked by: Nancy M

Expert Reply:

If I understand correctly when you hit the brakes in your truck the trailer brakes work fine. Then if you pull the pin on the breakaway switch the trailer brakes do not work and will not work again even using the truck until you put the pin back in the breakaway switch.

If this is the case there is a wiring problem with your breakaway kit the main trailer brake wire should run directly to the brakes and the breakaway kit should only be spliced into that. It sounds as though the trailer brake wire was in some way wired too far into the breakaway kit and it is affecting its performance.

It also sounds as though the battery on the breakaway kit is dead and needs recharged or replaced. This could also be caused by the wiring not being correct.

I have linked instructions and an installation video you can use to verify if your wiring has been properly installed. This is on the Curt Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger part # C52042 but they are all similar.

expert reply by: Randy B