Best Way to Find Brake Settings for Echo Under-Dash Controller on a Volvo XC90

Question:

I have an under-dash Echo brake controller installed on my Volvo XC90. When towing our 16’ Airstream at low speeds with Sentitivity set to 2 and Max Output set to 10 out of 100, I get locking. It stops when I reduce to 5 Max Output, but at that low of a setting, I believe I am working only off the vehicle’s brakes. I read in a similar post referencing the plug-in Echo, that it was a pairing related issue. Any guidance would be helpful. Thanks!

asked by: Hans-Trevor G

Expert Reply:

The standard Curt Echo # C51180 does use the same technology as the Curt Echo Under-Dash # C27JR, but whenever I've heard about the pairing issue being a problem it causes settings to become erratic rather than just being a struggle to find the correct setting. You can try uninstalling and reinstalling the app to see if that makes a difference but I believe you'll see a better benefit from going into a parking lot with your Volvo XC90 and Airstream and testing out how different sensitivity settings affect your braking performance.

expert reply by: Jon G

Hans-trevor

4/7/2024

Hello, for my Curt Echo Under-Dash # C27JR. After uninstalling and reinstalling the app per you recommendation, I continue to get locking of the brakes when the Max Output setting is greater than 5 (out of 100). At that setting it is using only the tow vehicle brakes. The rep at the Airstream service center suggested going to Volvo service center and having them hardwire a controller. The locking of the brakes is very disconcerting and I am at a loss of what to do.

Jon G.

4/9/2024

@Hans-trevor Thank you for the update on how your Curt Echo Under-Dash # C27JR is currently performing. I reached out to my contact at Curt about what could be going wrong and they replied with "Check the output with a test light, but it is most likely a mechanical error on the trailer." The Echo can be a bit touchy, but to their point it is worth testing your trailer with either a different tow vehicle and brake controller, or by applying 12V power to the brake pin on your trailer 7-Way to make sure your brakes are activating like they should. If you see no issues on your trailer then the issue is definitely on the Echo side of things and it would be worth looking into a warranty.