Troubleshooting Hydrastar Clicking With Short Circuit Error After Replacing Trailer Wiring
Question:
I just replaced my trailer cable along with the 7pin plug and the trailer box. I connected everything the way it was but now the hydrastar is clicking when the trailer is connected and I keep getting SC! warning every few seconds w/o me touching or moving anything. It comes up on its own and goes away on its own. Over and over. I checked all connections on trailer, there is no short circuit anywhere. Of that I am pretry sure. I tested the blue wire going to the trailer and a very weak light on my circuit tester. Almost as if the brake signal coming to the plug is being lost somewhere. I read a little about the brake controller been thinking about switching to tekonshi P3 but not sure thats the problem because everything worked fine til now. My truck is a 2012 RAM 3500. I am almost certain problem is on the truck. Will test with a different truck but is there anything else that I can do that you may have seen in the past? The pump is for drum brakes.
asked by: Nick
Expert Reply:
The Tekonsha Prodigy P3 # 90195 may help avoid issues that some factory brake controller have with the # HBA-12. However, since everything was working before the brake controller is probably not the issue. If you can test this on a different truck first I would do that to avoid wasting time trying to narrow things down.
If the issue is on your truck then I would start by checking the 7-way at the back. Make sure there is no corrosion or debris present. After that, since you already were checking the blue brake output wire I would look to see if there is a short in that wire. If you need to replace it you can use the # 10-1-1.
Outside of this Hydrastar recommends the following when your actuator is clicking:
-Check for proper wiring of the actuator
-Check for proper wire size (12 gauge wire is required)
-Check for proper ground (must be ground through the tow vehicle and to the trailer)
-Check to ensure unit is receiving power from the tow vehicle (black and blue wire from the actuator)
-Check for compatibility with the tow vehicle (see compatibility chart)
-If HBA-CAM is required, ensure CAM is wired correctly
-Check Break-Away Battery System wiring. Blue brake controller wiring from the Hydrastar SHOULD NOT be wired in to the Break-Away Battery System.
-If problem is not solved, conduct Battery Test (see Battery Test Procedures)
-If actuator passes Battery Test the problem is not in the actuator, if actuator fails Battery Test, contact the Technical Dept.
Products Referenced in This Question
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 >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Hydrastar Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator for Drum Brakes - 1,200 psi
- Brake Actuator
- Electric-Hydraulic Brake Actuator
- 1200 psi
- Drum Brakes
- Hydrastar
more information >
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