Troubleshooting No Power on the Blue Brake Output Wire from a Brake Controller

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Question:

I got no power to the blue wire which is electric brakes I think I got brake controller problem

asked by: Rick B

0

Expert Reply:

To determine why you do not have any power on the blue brake output wire, I recommend starting at your brake controller. First, make sure the brake controller is on and receiving power. Most brake controllers have 4 wires, blue (brake output to trailer brakes), white (ground), black (12 Volt power from vehicle battery), and red (stop light switch).

If your brake controller is not on, make sure the black power wire is connected to the vehicle battery via a 20 or 30 amp circuit breaker. Also, check to make sure the circuit breaker has not been tripped. If you are using a plug-in harness and there is no power to the brake controller, a fuse may be blown.

If your brake controller is receiving power, set the power gain to maximum voltage and sever the blue wire about 6 inches back from the brake controller. Using a circuit tester, like part # PTW2993, test the blue wire for power when you activate the manual override of the brake controller. If there is no power on the blue wire when the manual override is activated, the brake controller is probably bad and would need to be replaced.

If you have a proportional brake controller and are testing for power when the brake pedal is pressed, there will be no power on the blue wire. Proportional brake controllers send power when the brake pedal is pressed if the vehicle is moving.

If you have a time-delay brake controller and there is no power on the blue wire with the brake pedal pressed, check the connection of the red (stop light switch) wire from the brake controller. This wire should be connected to the wire from the brake light switch that only has power when the brake pedal is pressed. If the red wire is connected properly and there is no power on the blue wire with the brake pedal pressed, the brake controller is probably bad and would need to be replaced.

I have attached three FAQ articles on brake controller installation and troubleshooting for you to check out.

expert reply by: John H

0

Shawn

7/19/2020

I have a 2011 Silverado 2500 HD. I have my trailer hooked up and my break controller will let me increase the gain but it has no output! It will have output when I first start it if I’m holding the break down when I do. But if I let off the break I get no output back at all. Thanks for any help you can give me

Reply

Chris R.

7/23/2020

How are you testing the controller? Is this happening while actually towing the trailer and you're just not feeling the brakes engage or are you simply testing for power when parked?

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Answer 1

To cover the easiest things first, make sure that the brake controller output or gain is turned up. If the power is low then the voltage on the blue wire will be low. When testing for voltage make sure to use the manual override and not the brake…

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Answer 2

The fuse location for an electric brake controller in a 2011 Ram 1500 is position J02 and it takes a 30-amp fuse. This is shown in the manual on page 564. The part you referenced, T-One 4-Pole Vehicle Wiring Harness #118384, is a basic wiring…

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Answer 3

There are a number of reasons why the brakes on your trailer may not be working. Lets start with the easiest things to check. First, check the vehicle and trailer connectors for corrosion. This can cause a short inside the connector and the brake…

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Answer 4

The blue wire on a trailer is typically the output wire to the electric brake assemblies. If this is the case on your trailer then the wire should only have power when you are hooked up to the tow vehicle and are applying the brakes, either by…

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Answer 5

The issue is most likely on the trailer instead of a brake controller like #C24VV for example. I know you said you adjusted the brakes but I recommend adjusting the brakes more. Take a look at our video on how we adjust trailer brake assemblies,…

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Answer 6

I would check the magnets for wear before going on to test them with a meter. If the magnets show abnormal wear or if you can see the windings beginning to show through the friction surface of the magnet then they will need to be replaced. To further…

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Answer 7

To install a brake controller on your 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT 4x4, you will just need the vehicle specific plug-in adapter. These adapters are usually brand specific. For example, if you go with the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 brake controller,…

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Answer 8

First of all did this problem just start happening? If the trailer has always worked fine before on the same truck then it's likely a short on the trailer's brake wiring. I would start by cleaning the connector and make sure it's free of…

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Answer 9

The "Trailer Disconnected" error message on the dash with a factory brake controller is usually related to an issue with the blue brake output wire that runs from the brake controller to the 7-Way connector. The fact that the issue remains…

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Answer 10

You can indeed test a trailer's electric drum brakes by directly applying +12V power from a fully-charged battery. You can apply this power to the hot and ground contacts on the trailer's plug (see photo please) or to an individual brake…

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Answer 11

You are correct, you should only be getting output when the brake is applied, or the override switch is activated. It sounds like the controller might be bad, but to make sure, you should probably bench test it before tossing it. Use a circuit…

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Answer 12

When replacing a grease seal, the metal part of the seal will face towards the inside of the trailer and the rubber part of the seal will face toward the back side of the wheel. The air side of the seal is the flat side of the seal and faces out when…

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Troubleshooting No Power on the Blue Brake Output Wire from a Brake Controller

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