Should the Brake Controller on a 2016 Toyota RAV4 Always Have Power On To Controller?

Question:

i install a Reese similar to the Towpower 74642 Brakeman Compact Brake Control and everything was working good but like 6 month after installing it i when to a detailer to wash and deep clean inside and out of my vehicle when i pick it up guy told me that my break light on my vehicle are always on 2016 rav4 even if there is no key in the ignition the brake light are always on and the dial on the Reese unit is red and at max they where working find before the car wash so when and disconnected my control and my brake light are now ok so you think its a problem with the control that maybe they splash some water on it or would be that they did something on one of the wire under my dash

asked by: Simon

Expert Reply:

On vehicles like your 2016 Toyota RAV4 it is very common for a brake controller to always have power since they are usually wired directly to the battery and not to a ignition switched source. Generally this is never an issue unless you plan on letting your vehicle sit for long periods of time which you should use a Battery Maintainer # 329-GENIUS5 to protect your battery anyways. If you wanted you could install a Relay # BL63VR in line of the brake controller which you could then tie into an ignition source so the only time the controller would get power is when the ignition is switched on.

expert reply by: Bud M

Simon

3/8/2024

Ok but my problem is that the brakes light of my vehicule are always on only after I got my vehicule wash inside and out even if I remove the key from ignition my brake light stays on when I discontect my brake control it ok so im not sure if it's a problem with the control or they did something with the wiring when the clean my vehicule

Bud M.

3/8/2024

@Simon Sorry for the confusion. If the brake lights are staying on all the time it is most likely the brake switch that failed. While the brake controller does connect to the switch you can verify it the controller is the issue by disconnecting the red wire from the controller. If disconnecting the red wire turns off the brake lights then the controller is bad otherwise it will be the brake switch located near the brake pedal.