Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes Locking Up When Using Curt Echo

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Question:

I have been using the Echo for a few months on a new single axle travel trailer with a Subaru Ascent tow vehicle. I find the brakes to be very grabby and they lock up at low speeds. I used a test light on the brake pin and tested the app braking at various gains and can see the light getting brighter at each level. Keeping the unit hooked up and routing the light inside I went for a drive to test brake power. The light lit at full power on immediately applying the brake regardless of what gain and even if the app was showing only light braking. Is this a possible issue of connection between car brake and controller with too much power going to trailer brakes when vehicle brakes are applied?

asked by: Chris

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

The Curt Echo # C51180 is a proportional brake controller, so it uses sensors to determine direction of travel and how quickly you're stopping to determine how much power to apply to the brakes; it does not use the brake output wire for any controls as a traditional brake controller might. However, what's likely going on here is there is an issue with your brakes either being out of adjustment or something like the brake shoes being damaged that is causing the brakes to lock up.

If you've got manually adjusting brakes then you'll want to back the brakes off completely and go back through the brake adjustment process of tightening the brakes so the wheel can't move and then backing them off about 10 clicks to the point where they just barely are grabbing but the wheel still turns freely. I would also take the time to go through the wiring on the brakes and make sure all of the connections are good; sometimes a faulty ground wire or some corrosion on the connections can cause these types of issues.

If examining these potential causes does not provide resolution, let me know and I can walk you through a few other things to look at.

expert reply by: Erik B

1

Answer 1

We have actually run into this issue quite a few times in the past, and there is a simple fix. The reason the Curt Echo Wireless #C51180 locks up the brakes on your camper only at low speeds is due to it being paired incorrectly, usually plugging in…

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Answer 2

Curt has a recommended setup procedure outlined for the Curt Echo part #C51180 that is outlined in their install instructions for this controller but since not all trailer brakes apply the same way there isn't a standard setting you can use that…

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Answer 3

Does the controller show that it's applying the full braking pressure or does it show the standard ramp up of pressure but you still experience lock up? If the controller isn't showing the full power I'd suspect you have a short between…

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Answer 4

Sounds like you have a short on the trailer wiring between a stop/turn circuit and the brake output circuit which is allowing full 12 volts to apply to the trailer brakes any time the pedal is pressed. Best option is to look for exposed wire on the…

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Answer 5

The best option for wireless brake controllers is the Curt Echo #C51180. It is the easiest to plug in and go when you need to use a brake controller with your trailer. Once you have a 7-way connector installed in your vehicle, all you need is to…

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Answer 6

I would be happy to help you fix your Curt Echo item #C51180. First you will need to completely unplug the Echo from both trailer and truck, delete the app from your phone, reinstall the app, and then plug the Echo into the vehicle 7-way (by itself)…

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Answer 7

In order to troubleshoot your braking issues with the Curt Echo #C51180, first start by adjusting the output settings on your controller. Curt recommends testing the controller output by driving forward on a dry and level paved or concrete surface.…

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Answer 8

With the Curt Echo #C51180 not braking as quickly as you desire when hitting the brake pedal it sounds like one of three things could be the issue. It could be in the settings of the app, the integrated inertia sensor having issue, or it could be…

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Answer 9

The first thing to check is to make sure that the sensitivity or output settings on your Curt Echo #C51180 did not change from your original settings. It also may be beneficial to re-adjust the controller from scratch. In order to do this, Curt…

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Answer 10

I think the most likely culprit here is just that the brakes need adjusting; which after 1000 miles of travel wouldn't be completely out of the question. Often times while trailer brakes are being broken in you can get uneven wear on the brake…

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Answer 11

Self-adjusting brakes #AKEBRK-7-SA do not require that you travel in reverse for them to adjust. They can adjust themselves going forward or backward. Keep in mind that even self-adjusting brakes require 1 initial adjustment. You could just install…

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Answer 12

According to the manual it says that this occurs when the 7-way is not properly wired. You will need to ensure that 7-way on your vehicle and trailer are wired correctly for the Curt Echo #C51180 to function properly. I have attached pictures below…

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Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes Locking Up When Using Curt Echo

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