Troubleshooting Brake Controller and Poor Braking on Trailer Towed by 2018 Toyota Tundra
Question:
My son has a 2018 Toyota Tundras and when he hooks up his new 23 foot trailer to the factory brake controller on the truck he seems to get nothing. He has checked and adjusted the brakes on the trailer and when he pulls the trailer he has no response from the brakes on the trailer unless he has the gain on the controller is set at 10 and this trailer is empty. You have any thought on this, Toyota can not tell him anything .
asked by: Maurice
Expert Reply:
The three main things that could be causing your issue are:
1) Insufficient brake adjustment. The adjusters should be turned 'out' until you can't turn the wheel by hand when it's jacked up off the ground. Then the adjusters should be backed off by 10 or so clicks so there's still a slight drag from the brake shoes.
2) The brake shoes should be broken in correctly or 'burnished'. This is done by applying the brakes 20 to 30 times to decrease the speed by 20 mph. Example, once reaching 40 mph use the manual override to slow down to 20 mph. Once at 20 mph, release the manual override and travel about a mile to allow ample time for brakes to cool and repeat the process again. You will need to repeat this process 20 to 30 times. This allows the brake shoes and magnets to slightly wear-in to the drum surface so they fit together perfectly.
3) Use a voltmeter to check the voltage reaching the brakes with the manual override fully engaged with the gain turned up all the way. Ideally, you'll want to see 10-1/2 volts reaching the magnets but certainly no less than 10 volts.
4) Check the pins on the trailer connector on the back of the truck for debris or corrosion. If you see any green or white corrosion on the pins, it might be preventing all the voltage from reaching the trailer brakes. Clean the pins or replace the trailer connector as needed. Part # A10-7072VP would be a good replacement.
I've linked you to some trailer wiring/brake controller troubleshooting articles which I hope you'll find helpful.
Products Referenced in This Question
Mighty Cord Replacement 7-Way RV Style Trailer Connector for Factory Tow Package - Vehicle End
- Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring
- Trailer Hitch Wiring
- Custom Fit
- 7 Round - Blade
- Mighty Cord
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional
- Trailer Brake Controller
- Proportional Controller
- Electric
- Electric over Hydraulic
- Automatic Leveling
- Under-Dash Box
- Dash Mount
- Up to 4 Axles
- LCD Display
- Up to 360 Degrees
- Tekonsha
more information >
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