Troubleshooting Brake Controller that Doesnt Activate Brake Consistently

Question

Question:

I have the P2 connected to my 2004 Silverado. I have been using this set up pulling a 4500lb Travel Trailer now for about 8 years and it has been great until this last couple of trips. Here is what I experienced: The trailer felt as if it provide little to no braking, in fact at one point I could feel it suddenly stop braking truck slightly lurched forward and the truck did all the stopping. Later, I tried to re-set the P2 and found I could never get the trailer tires to lock up, even with boost 3 and the power cranked up as far as I could go about 11 volts. I was then driving thru a small town and as I approached a stop light, I stepped lightly on the truck brakes and realized the trailer tired locked up. Touching nothing, the next block as I came to a stop again for the next light, the trailer tires this time did NOT lock up. I have since purchased the Trailer load emulator and all the wiring appears fine. The LED for power to the trailer brakes was very slow to come on when there was no boost 3-8 secs but did come on immediately when there is a boost set. I have removed all the trailer tires and inspected the brake and tested them by spinning the wheel and pulling the break-away pin and then trying to spin the locked tire. All seems good. Is my P2 going out? what should I try next?

asked by: Erik P

0

Expert Reply:

It really sounds like your P2 may have shorted out. Good news is the controller does have a limited lifetime warranty. First we need to test everything to see what exactly is going on.

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 # 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

0

Troubleshooting Brake Controller that Doesnt Activate Brake Consistently

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