Troubleshooting OEM Brake Controller Signal not Getting Through on a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500

Question:

Im not getting power from the blue wire when brake pedal is engaged. Everything else works except the electric brake wire. The truck is a 2016 dodge 1500 ecodeisel with a factory brake controller. Does the truck need to be moving to supply power to the trailer brakes?

asked by: Scott

Expert Reply:

Let me start off by saying that if you are trying to use an Electric Over Hydraulic (EOH) system with an OEM brake controller, that might be the issue in and of itself. Although it would be good to go ahead and do the following troubleshooting tips, if this is the first time you've tried to use it with an EOH system, it might just be that the brake controller is not compatible and you will need a new brake controller that is compatible with an EOH system, like the Prodigy P3 # 90195. A lot of times even when the manufacturer says that the OEM brake controller is compatible with an EOH system, there will still be issues.

You will need to use the manual override with the OEM brake controller set to it's max power when testing the signal while you are not moving. Otherwise there will not be much power going to the brakes since you are not actually in motion.

If your OEM brake controller is getting power, then you will want to check the wiring on your 2016 Dodge Ram 1500. Start at the wiring harness and follow the wire for the brake controller and look for places where it might be corroded, bent, damaged, or have exposed wiring. You can replace any wiring with 10 Gauge Wire, part # 10-1-1, and Butt Connectors, part # DW05745-5.

If the wiring seems to look okay, then the next thing I recommend doing is using a Circuit Tester, like part # PTW2993, and testing the wire from your brake controller about 6 inches away from the brake controller. This will ultimately tell you if the brake controller is bad, or if there is a place where your wiring is bad, and you just can't see it. If you do get a signal, then you will need to run new wiring for the brake controller using the parts that I mentioned earlier, # 10-1-1 and # DW05745-5.

If you are not getting any signal 6 inches from the brake controller, then your brake controller will need to be replaced. I recommend going with the Prodigy P3 # 90195 since it uses an easy-to-read LCD screen and is very easy to setup.