Why Does a Activator III Brake Controller 5520 Read Erratically on a 2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty
Question:
this truck has a drawtite activator 3. when you press the brake in the truck the display starts reading erratically, strobing rapidly. if you dial to 0 it subsides. this happens with or without the trailer connected. this controller plugs right into the factory harness. any ideas?
asked by: michael
Expert Reply:
What does the display read when you press the pedal? Does the same problem occur when you use the manual brake lever on the unit?
My contact at Draw-Tite recommends disconnecting the blue wire from the brake controller. If the display reads correctly when you disconnect the blue wire, then the issue might be that this wire is shorted, which should give the brake controller a read out of O L.
The other issue may be that the black power wire to the controller might not be connected firmly under the hood. Double check your connection point for the black wire, and ensure that it is still has a good connection to the 12v power source.
I would try activating the manual lever fully and releasing it several times, as this will sometimes clean the contacts in your brake controller and allow it to function correctly.
You could also check your brake control wiring adapter for any shorts or exposed wires, and ensure that it is wired correctly. I have included a link to the wiring adapter instructions, which will show you the locations for each of the brake controller functions on the plug. You can use this to compare with your current wiring adapter and factory port.
