Troubleshooting Curt Tri-Flex Brake Controller Installed on 2007 Dodge Ram 1500

Question:

I bought the Curt 51140 brake controller for my 2007 Dodge Ram 1500. My truck has the factory installed tow package and the included plug-in with the pigtail wires on one end and the plug-in adapter on the other end. I cut off the plug-in bracket at the end of the wires from the Curt brake controller and pigtailed them in to the wires on the factory plug-in adapter wires. I read, read, and read and double checked many times to make sure that I was connecting the right wire, with the right wire because they are all different colors. I even removed the positive cable from the vehicle battery terminal prior to the installation. Once I had everything installed, I reconnected the battery cable and started the truck, but the brake controller did nothing. I think that it is supposed to at least have a decimal point lit up, but it doesnt. Do I have to have a trailer connected in order for the decimal point to light up, or should it light up even without the trailer connected? What are your thoughts on what may be wrong?

asked by: Clyde F

Expert Reply:

If everything has been connected properly, you should be seeing a decimal point that indicates power is reaching the brake controller. Since you are not, use a circuit tester like part # PTW2993 on the black wire exiting the rear of the controller (the controller, not the factory pigtail.) You should see 12-volts on this wire. If you do not get power, check that the OE pigtail is wired correctly to the brake controller.

If your factory pigtail has a green wire, it should be connected to the brake controller as follows:

White OE harness wire with red tracer to black wire on controller.
Blue OE harness wire with white tracer to red controller wire.
Green OE harness wire with black tracer to white wire on controller.
Dark blue OE harness wire to blue brake controller wire.

If it does NOT have a green wire, it should be connected like this:

Red OE harness wire with black tracer to black controller wire.
White OE harness wire with tan tracer to red controller wire.
Black OE harness wire to white controller wire.
Dark blue OE harness wire to blue controller wire.

If you have confirmed that the wires were connected correctly, it is possible that the fuse protecting the circuit that feeds the brake controller is missing or blown. I checked an online copy of the 2007 Dodge Ram owner's manual and saw that the fuse is in either position # 12 or 19.

If you are getting power on the black wire exiting the rear of the controller, but are not seeing any readout on the screen, try adjusting the power knob. If you still see nothing, the controller is probably faulty.