Gooseneck Trailer Brakes are Locking Up When Blinker is Turned On, 2005 Dodge Ram 2500  

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Expert Reply:

The one sure way to determine what features your truck came with would be to have a dealer run the VIN. They will be able to tell you what options it came with from the factory.

In 2005, there were 3 wiring situations on a Dodge Ram. Some trucks came with no trailer connector at the back, some came with a 4-Way, and some came with a factory 7-Way.

For both the factory 4-Way and 7-Way, there is a simple plug and play wiring harness that goes from the brake controller to the truck. All you have to do is plug each one in. The harness is # 3020-P. It plugs into a port on an electrical junction box located between the brake and emergency brake pedals. For a brake controller, go with our best seller, the P2, # 90885.

A brake controller will send power down one wire to one circuit on the 7-Way. It is not tied into the blinkers at all. What I think may have occurred is that you have a short circuit that is sending power on the brake circuit when you turn on the blinker. You will need to check the trailer connectors on both trailers and on the truck.

If you find dirt or corrosion inside or in the back of the trailer connectors, clean it out, because that can cause a short circuit.

I mis-wired situation could cause the problem as well. Since the brake light and turn signal circuits are on the same circuit, if anything was changed when you added a brake controller, like to actuate the trailer brakes when you step on the brake pedal, if the stop turn circuit was wired to the brake circuit by mistake, it would send power to the trailer brakes and turn them on when you turn on the truck blinker.

I have included an FAQ article on trailer brake controllers on newer Dodge trucks and an FAQ article on wiring that should help you.

expert reply by: Michael H

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