Troubleshooting Tow Vehicle Brakes Heating Up When Towing with Tekonsha Primus IQ

Question:

I am towing a light weight TT with a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland V8 Hemi. I have the Prius iq brake controller. On my last tow - I smelled brakes overheating going up hill. Pulled over and it was my Jeeps brakes. It sometimes feels like the trailer brakes are oninch even when I am not braking. Is this possible? Any ideas on why my Jeeps brakes would overheat towing uphill?

asked by: Tracey S

Expert Reply:

The Jeep brakes won't have anything to do with your Primus IQ brake controller # TK90160. The output for the controller only goes to your 7-way trailer connector and does not go to any aspect of your vehicle.

Towing uphill should not have any impact on your brakes, but could have a similar smell if your transmission is overheating which would make more sense. I recommend having your vehicle checked out by a mechanic because the brakes should not be impacted at all by towing uphill. Going downhill could increase friction and heat with a small trailer adding force, but going uphill doesn't make any sense to me.

expert reply by: Jason S