Troubleshooting Hopkins Agility Brake Controller That Won't Engage Brakes on 1996 Ford F--350
Question:
We have a 1996 Ford f350 put the Hopkins agility brake controller on It lights up but isnt applying the trailer brakes
asked by: Alan
Expert Reply:
In order to determine what is going on with your Hopkins Agility Brake Controller # HM47295, when you say it's lighting up, if you're not actually seeing the small red dot in the lower right hand corner of the unit that would indicate that there is an issue with the trailer hookup. If you're not seeing that dot, I would recommend cleaning off the 7 way connector on both your truck and the trailer and making sure it is free from dirt, debris and corrosion.
If you're seeing the small red dot, you'll want to check and see if the controller activates the brakes when the manual override is activated on the unit. If the manual override does not activate the brakes I would check the gain adjustment to see what it's set at and raise it to see if the brakes start engaging then.
If it's not the gain, and the manual override does not activate the brakes, you'll need to test the brake controller wire on the vehicle 7 way to see if there is power going to that circuit when the brakes are pressed. You'll want to use a circuit tester like the # PTW2992 and have a friend press on the brakes while you check for power on that pin (I've linked an article on testing a 7 way that will show you which pin controls the brake controller- it's the pin at 5 o'clock when looking at the front of the 7 way). If you're not getting power on that pin there will be an issue on the wiring on the vehicle that is causing the brakes not to operate. If there is power on the vehicle, it would indicate there to be a potential short on the trailer. Wherever the issue is, you'll want to trace back the wiring and check for damaged wires that might be contacting the frame of the trailer or vehicle.
If these troubleshooting tips don't help you get the trailer brakes working and you can provide me with a little bit more information on what you're seeing on the brake controller, I'm happy to help you continue to troubleshoot this issue.
