Troubleshooting a Draw Tite Activator Brake Controller That is Not Sending Brake Output
Question:
hi, I have a 2005 Ford F 150 with a Draw Tite activator 4 brake controller. this truck has a factory tow package so the Draw Tite controller came installed from the dealer. I recently purchased a trailer and am going through it to hook up the electric trailer brakes and am having a problem with either the controller or the plug in the back. I do not have the trailer connected and I do see that the controller has the red dot indicating it is receiving power but that it does not detect the trailer brakes as it should when the trailer is disconnected. however if I try to test the blue wire at the plug at the back of the truck I do not get any indication of voltage while testing the plug with brake pedal applied. would this indicate a problem internally with the controller or even worse a short to the blue wire that goes to the trailer. it should be noted that I did not get any power to the blue wire just at the controller itself but was unsure if I would get any power indicator if the trailer is not hooked up
asked by: Jared P
Expert Reply:
Testing the brake controller is fairly easy. Sever the blue brake output wire near the brake controller leaving enough room to reconnect it and then apply the manual slide. Using a circuit tester like part # PTW2993, you should get output to the controller side of the wire you severed. If the manual slide activates the trailer brake output wire properly, try the brake pedal. If the brake pedal activates the brake output properly also then the problem is farther back either in the vehicle wiring or on the trailer.
If either the brake pedal or the manual slide are not functioning properly you will need to test the wires going into the brake controller. Make sure you have power entering the brake controller on the black wire. On the red wire you will only want power when the brake pedal is pressed.
If there is power on the red wire before the brake pedal is pressed you have connected the red wire from the brake controller to the wrong circuit. You would then need to find the brake switch wire that has power ONLY when the brake pedal is activated.
If these connections check out and the brake controller is properly grounded then there is possibly a problem inside the brake controller.
I am including a link to a video that will show you how to test the wiring on a brake controller.
