Weak Trailer Brakes After Pulled Breakaway Pin and Burning Smell
Question:
My breakaway cable was not removed from my truck and I pulled it out, when I plugged the 7way back in the next time I pulled it, there was a burning smell coming from the breakaway controller. brakes dont seem to work correctly since, I have replaced pin but could something in the controller be fried? if so do i have to replace that controll board or the whole thing? when using my truck brake controller, if i test it at full, I can barely feel the brakes on the trailer. I pull a skid steer so brakes are very important to me, especially in the rain.
asked by: Zach
Expert Reply:
I have attached a photo of how a breakaway system should be wired. If you would please, check the brake output wire on the trailer where the breakaway switch is spliced in. This is shown as the letter A in the attached photo. If something were to fail on the breakaway system then it would more than likely be the switch, not the pin. Since you said you smelled burning I would replace this anyhow with part # 3802348 which also comes with a new pin.
With that being said, I suspect that you have a short on the brake output wire that runs from the brake controller to the braking assemblies. If you have access to another trailer or truck with a 7-way then you can easily determine if the short is on the truck or trailer but if not, you would need to begin testing the wire with a multimeter # PT89ZR. There should be a drop in power if you can barely feel the brakes when testing with the brake controller tuned all the way up.
You will again want to test the wire with the brake controller tuned all the way up.
Products Referenced in This Question
Replacement Breakaway Switch for Bright Way Trailer Breakaway Kits
- Accessories and Parts
- Trailer Breakaway Kit
- Switches
- Bright Way
more information >
Digital Multimeter with 42" Long Test Leads - LED Display
- Electrical Tools
- Testers
- Multimeter
- Yellow
- Performance Tool
more information >
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on Trailer Breakaway Kit
