Troubleshooting Braking Performance with the Voyager Brake Activator # 39510

Question:

My voyager brake controller in my 1999 Chevrolet Silverado no tow package is stopping my trailer ok, but I cant get it to lock up the brakes. The brakes have been adjusted, and I went through the set-up procedure, but when I try to level the sensor, the light stays green when I press the brake and will not change to red no matter where I turn the knob. The ABS light has been on in the pickup for some time I havent towed in a long time. Could the ABS be affecting the controller, or is my controller bad, or something else? Thanks!

asked by: Quintin

Expert Reply:

The ABS light does not affect the function of the Voyager brake controller because the wire from the brake pedal switch is not part of the ABS system but part of the vehicle stop light system.

The brake controller not locking the brakes could be caused by several problems. I will outline a few here for you to check out. First I would check the trailer wiring. Make sure the wires to the brake magnets are grounded to bare corrosion free metal part of the frame and that the power wire connections are solid and not corroded. Next, check the trailer and vehicle connector to be sure that they are both properly grounded and that there is no corrosion inside the connectors.

Next check the blue wire for a short. This could occur anywhere from the brake controller to the 7-Way connector at the rear of the vehicle.

The next step is to check the brake magnets on the trailer and the brake hub where the magnet contacts it. If either of these areas are worn they would need to be fixed.

If these solutions do not work check the brake controller again. If you have a green light when connected to the trailer and no red light when the manual slide is activated, you should try turning the power setting up, check for reversed power (black) and ground (white) wires, and make sure there is no power from another source on the blue wire.

If you have a green light when connected to the trailer and the light is dim red or flashing, check the ground wire connection and blue wire for a short. If you have a green light when connected to the trailer and the light is dim red and gets brighter when the power know is decreased, this indicates a short on the blue wire or defective brake magnets.

If the above suggestions do not help let me know what you find and we will try to figure out the problem.

expert reply by: Robert G