How to Test Draw Tite Activator Brake Controller That Stopped Working After 10 Minutes
Question:
I have a draw tite brake controller on my 2001 F350 and it will not activate the brakes on my trailer. When you press the brake pedal the red lite comes on. The brakes did work one time for maybe 10 minutes. When they worked the red light seemed to be brighter than usual. I have also connected my trailer to my friends 2016 Dodge Ram 2500 and the trailer brakes worked fine while connected to his truck. I have a multimeter and can check voltage at the pins in the plug at the rear of the vehicle.
asked by: Darril
Expert Reply:
Testing the brake controller is fairly easy. Sever the blue brake output wire near the brake controller leaving enough room to reconnect it and then apply the manual slide. Using a circuit tester likepart # PTW2993, you should get output to the controller side of the wire you severed. If the manual slide activates the trailer brake output wire properly, try the brake pedal. If the brake pedal activates the brake output properly also then the problem is farther back either in the vehicle wiring or on the trailer.
If either the brake pedal or the manual slide are not functioning properly you will need to test the wires going into the brake controller. Make sure you have power entering the brake controller on the black wire. On the red wire you will only want power when the brake pedal is pressed.
If there is power on the red wire before the brake pedal is pressed you have connected the red wire from the brake controller to the wrong circuit. You would then need to find the brake switch wire that has power ONLY when the brake pedal is activated.
If these connections check out and the brake controller is properly grounded then there is possibly a problem inside the brake controller.
I am including a link to a video that will show you how to test the wiring on a brake controller.
