Troubleshooting Trailer Electric Brake Signal on 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

Question:

Everything on the trailer was fine but now the trailer brakes are not working. In the plug on the truck both turn light have power but can get nothing to the brake wire. There has to be a short in the wiring someplace. Any idea where to start ?

asked by: Dennis R

Expert Reply:

To test the trailer electric brake signal on your 2003 Chevrolet Silverado you will first want to make sure you are testing the electric brake wire with the manual override on the brake controller, not the brake pedal. If you have a proportional brake controller, stepping on the brake pedal will not activate the brakes unless you are moving.

You will also want to check to make sure the brake controller is getting power. You can use a circuit tester like part # PTW2993. If the brake controller has no power, you will want to check the connection and wire supplying power.

If the controller has power, then you will want to test the blue wire running out of the back of the controller. We recommend cutting this wire approximately 6 inches out from the controller to test the signal.

If there is signal on the wire coming out of the brake controller, the issue is on the wire running to the trailer connector. In this situation, the best solution is to run a new wire from the brake controller to the connector. You can use 10-gauge wire like # 10-1-1 to connect the controller and connector.

If there is no signal on the blue wire coming from the brake controller, there is something wrong with the brake controller and it will likely need to be replaced.

I have attached a help article on installing a brake controller on Chevrolet 1999-2006 pickups for you.