Tekonsha PowerTrac Light Went Out

Question:

I purchased the Tekonsha PowerTrac Electronic Brake Controller - 1 to 2 Axles - Time Delayed earlier this summer. It has performed well until last week. I noticed the the orange monitor light went out while driving and my trailer brakes stopped working. All other aspect of the trailer wiring are working well. Did the controller fail? is there a way to test it?

asked by: Peter L

Helpful Expert Reply:

If the light on the Tekonsha PowerTrac Electronic Brake Controller # 39523 if off then that means that it is reading that the trailer is not connected. It is more likely that there is a problem with your wiring somewhere than the controller failing at this point. Before troubleshooting you will want to make sure that the connector on both your tow vehicle and your trailer are clean and free of debris and corrosion.

You can start off by testing the pin in the 5 O'clock position on your 7-Way with a Circuit Tester # PTW2992. Have a buddy sit in the cab of your 2014 Nissan Xterra and set the power on the PowerTrac to its highest setting. As they use the manual override switch you should be getting a 12V signal on that pin. If you are not then you will want to test the wiring from the PowerTrac 6 inches out from the brake controller. Perform the same test and if you are getting power then you know that you have a problem with the wiring on your Xterra. If you do not get power then you will want to make sure that the PowerTrac is getting power and if it is then you will need to replace it.

If you are receiving power to that pin on the 7-Way of your Xterra then you will want to test the connector on your trailer side. On your trailer side you will be testing the pin in the 7 O'clock position using an alternate 12V power source. You can use a different vehicle or the battery from your Xterra to do this. If your trailer brakes don't activate when you apply this power then you know that there is a problem with the wiring somewhere on your trailer.

To inspect the wiring on either your Xterra or your trailer you will want to look for any places where it is bent, damaged, exposed, or has corrosion. You will want to replace it using 10 Gauge Wire # 10-1-1 and Butt Connectors # DW05745-5. This should fix your problem.

If you have tested both connectors and they seem to be working just fine, or if you fix the wiring and are still experiencing issues then you will want to take your whole setup in to a qualified mechanic who can physically inspect the whole setup themselves.

I have attached a picture demonstrating which pin you will need to check on both your Xterra and your trailer in addition a helpful article on wiring.