Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes that Lock Up with no Electric Brake Controller Installed

Question

Question:

So I bought a food trailer...16 ft united. Has a 7 pin connector plug...So does my 2013 Dodge Durango...Great...I hook up and take off...But wheels dont turn on trailer....I remove my vehicle and the guy hooks up his suburban and its fine...Pulls it to my house and drops it off...What could it be...I know I have to buy a brake controller...But can I not pull it at all without one ?

asked by: James E

0

Expert Reply:

You have a short somewhere on the brake output wire going back to the 7-way trailer connector on your 2013 Dodge Durango. I would start at the 7-way and inspect the connector and the brake wire. The brake connects to the pin in a 5 O'clock position when looking into the connector.

If you find the problem on the trailer connector harness before it plugs into the truck's wiring you can either fix the wire or replace the harness with # HM40975-11933. If it's deeper into the truck or you can't find it you might be better off having a certified mechanic do the work.

Once you have the problem solved and are looking at a brake controller I suggest the Prodigy P2 # 90885. It's one of our best selling controllers because of how well it works and how easy it is to use. Since your Durango has the factory 7-way you will also have the brake controller connector under the dash so installing the P2 just uses # TK93VR.

expert reply by: Charles S

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Answer 1

From what I can find on the 2022 Nissan Frontier, the plug for the brake controller that will let you use a harness like the Tekonsha Plug-In Wiring Adapter for Electric Brake Controllers #3050-P is located just above the OBD connector, taped tight…

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Answer 2

If you have no power on the brake controller output terminal of your 7-way (which is the 5 o'clock pin) then you most likely have a short in your wire or a bad brake controller. I recommend starting your troubleshooting using a circuit tester…

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Answer 3

On a trailer the brake lights and turn signals operate on the same wire/bulb. So, it is odd when the turn signals work, but the brake lights don't. There are 3 possible causes for this that are more likely than any of the other possible causes.…

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Answer 4

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 5

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 6

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 7

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 8

Yes, we do. To add a hitch to your 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, I recommend the Curt Trailer Hitch item #C26VV. This hitch is custom fit and bolts to your Toyota with included hardware. This is a class III hitch with a 2" receiver. It has a…

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Answer 9

Class I and Class II hitches both have a 1-1/4 inch receiver opening. The difference is that a Class I hitch has a lower tongue weight rating, usually 200 pounds and a lower towing rating, usually 2,000 pounds. A Class II hitch usually has a tongue…

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Answer 10

I did some checking and the hub/drum we offer that will work for you is the part #8-430-5UC3. This uses the same bearings as the 8-415 and will be an exact fit aside from the fact this is a non-ABS setup and the 8-415 came in an ABS setup and non-ABS…

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Answer 11

Lance does have a proprietary plug, but many customers see a standard 6-way or 7-way round and notice it doesn't fit their factory 7-way as well. I've attached an article to help if you have one of the 7-way or 6-way round connectors which we…

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Answer 12

From what I could find, it looks like the plug for a trailer brake controller on your 2023 Nissan Frontier is located in the same location as the 2022 model year. That is behind the side panel by the OBD connector and is likely pushed back into the…

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