Trailer Brakes Make a Noise When Stopped and Off when Connected to a 2004 Ford F-350

Question

Question:

I already had the control on my truck when I purchased it, and it seems to work fine on my 1997 Holiday Rambler 5th wheel with 3 axels. However, I hear a very faint sound, like a signal being sent, coming from the trailer brakes, about every 5 seconds, when the truck is off and stationary. The sound lasts for about 2 seconds, then goes away, and repeats. This continues as long as the control is plugged in. An RV repair stated it was a faulty brake switch on the truck, which was checked out by the dealer, and they said it was OK. The brakes and magnets are not getting activated when I hear the sound and it only occurs when truck is shut off and plugged in. Unplugged, no sound. Is this normal?

asked by: AL

0

Expert Reply:

What may be occurring is that the brake controller is sending back a small amount of current to check if the trailer is connected. This is not enough power to operate the brakes but may cause the noise you are hearing. What I recommend doing is checking the wiring to be on the safe side.

First make sure that the red wire connection from the back of the brake controller is attached to the brake switch wire correctly. Then, with the trailer plugged in, apply the truck brakes and check the blue wire with a circuit tester like # PTW2993 if needed. It should show power. Release the brakes and test it again using the manual override. Again, it should show a signal. If it shows a signal without applying the brakes or manual override, then there is something wrong inside the controller and it will need to be replaced.

Also check the trailer side and vehicle side for any dirt/corrosion because this can cause a short circuit or bad ground.

Finally, you can check the magnets on the trailer to make sure they are not in need of replacing. I have included a link to an FAQ article that explains how to test the magnets.

expert reply by: Michael H

0

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