Troubleshooting Brake Controller that Says Not Connected to Trailer

Question:

I installed the venturer controller in my 06 Nissan Titan and cannot get it to read my trailer. Ive got power and a brand new trailer. The trailer brakes worked fine on my dads truck but wont read on mine. Thanks for the help,

asked by: David C

Expert Reply:

Since your trailer's brakes worked on another truck that would indicate that the problem is on the truck side of the equation. First and easiest thing to check is to check for corrosion on your truck's 7-way. Some fine grit sandpaper can easily remove any corrosion that would prevent the connetion from being made.

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 the Quickee Tester, part # 3808, 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.

expert reply by: Jameson C