Troubleshooting Brake Controller that Flashes When Connected to Trailer

Question

Question:

Curt discovery brake controller C84VV 2009 Nissan frontier I used the existing wiring connectors on my truck to install the brake controller and the trailer connector. When I apply the brakes without the trailer I get a decimal point on the brake controller as I would expect. With the trailer connected the display on the brake controller flashes. As I adjust the output control it flashes between 0.0 and the 2.0 that I am trying to set the unit at for initial adjustment. It also flashes when I try to adjust the manual control as well. The flashing is very erractic and it is very difficult to try to setup the unit. In looking at the videos the display seem very stable compared to what I am seeing. My camper is a single axis pop up with electric brakes. If I ohm between the blue brake wire and the common I get 2.0 ohms.

asked by: Jeff C

0

Expert Reply:

It sounds like the problem is corrosion on the trailer 7-way brake output circuit which is causing the controller to only show an intermittent connection. Try cleaning off this pin on the 7-way with some fine grit sandpaper.

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.

expert reply by: Jameson C

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Answer 1

You are correct, you should only be getting output when the brake is applied, or the override switch is activated. It sounds like the controller might be bad, but to make sure, you should probably bench test it before tossing it. Use a circuit…

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Answer 2

First of all did this problem just start happening? If the trailer has always worked fine before on the same truck then it's likely a short on the trailer's brake wiring. I would start by cleaning the connector and make sure it's free of…

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Answer 3

You have installed correctly all of the components you referenced. The #C51110, #C51352, and the #HM40975. The issue you are experiencing is that the tow package wiring under the hood of your truck hasn't been completed like you suspected. The…

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Answer 4

Check the third brake light of your 2006 Chevy Silverado. It's very common for the CHMSL fuse (third brake light) to blow on GM trucks of your generation and when that happens the brake controller stoplight circuit stops activating.

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Answer 5

I have another option for you, but your 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Classic has a factory trailer brake controller port so there is no need to cut any wires. To replace your current controller with the Curt Assure Trailer Brake Controller with…

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Answer 6

If you are experiencing power at the 1 o'clock position on your 7-way, the issue most likely lies with the trailer's wiring. With this situation, it is important that the trailer wiring is correctly inserted into trailer's side 7-way plug…

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Answer 7

It is not recommended to bypass the break-away battery and a very small current is normal. The 7-pin connector sounds like it is not connected correctly. It is not uncommon for the trailer brake controller pin at the 5 o'clock position to be…

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Answer 8

It sounds like you will need to set up the Hopkins Agility brake controller, #HM47294, as if you have just installed it. From time to time, settings can get changed and the controller can get knocked out of position and you might not notice. Double…

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Answer 9

On some vehicles, the key has to be on for voltage to go back to the trailer connector. On others, it does not. An electric brake controller will always send back some minimal voltage to the trailer connector. This is how it senses if there is a…

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Answer 10

First you want to test the brake output circuit on the 7-Way Plug with a circuit tester like part #PTW2992 with the manual override or brakes applied in the vehicle. If you are not testing the brake output circuit with either one of these activated…

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Answer 11

For a plug and play installation of the Prodigy P3, part #90195 on your 2015 Ford F-350 you can use part #3034-P. This harness will plug into the factory brake controller port located behind the access panel in the center of the dash on the passenger…

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Answer 12

Yes, I just spoke to my rep at Stealth Hitch to confirm that the Stealth Hitches Hidden Trailer Hitch Receiver w/ Towing Kit item #391KIATELL20T has been confirmed to fit the 2022 Kia Telluride.

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