Trailer brake wiring
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Senior User
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From: Central arkansas
Trailer brake wiring
I've got a problem with my trailer brakes. The trailer is a Texas Bragg 18ft with one set of brakes. This trailer has been used hard for for several years and now that I've pulled the boards out to replace them I would like to get all the lights and brakes working again. I replaced the plug and verified I got all the wires in the right spot. I also ohmed the blue and white wires going to the brakes and they check out to just before the wires go inside the drum. However when I plug it into the truck the truck brake connector doesn't light up. This is on a factory brake controller for a 2006 f250. Any ideas?
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Bristol, TN.
If I am following you, so far you have checked the wiring on the trailer and it looks good, but plugging into your seven pin does not show a brake connection. That is, when you actuate the slide for the brakes manually it shows nothing? Do any of trailer lights work?
If nothing works you most likely have a ground issue, but your starting point would be to check for voltage at the seven pin on your truck and the connections at that point as it is a problem child in the majority of cases.
Steve
If nothing works you most likely have a ground issue, but your starting point would be to check for voltage at the seven pin on your truck and the connections at that point as it is a problem child in the majority of cases.
Steve
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From: Central arkansas
Well tonight I cleaned the ball and inside the hitch and also pulled the ground wire off the trailer and cleaned it all up. Still get the "trailer disconnected" message when I plug it in. I tried squeezing the brake levers on the controller together and checking the voltage and got 0v. However the red trailer was lit up so it might not have been sending any signal on purpose.
Also I clipped a jumper wire from the trailer plug to a separate 12v battery and could hear a light click coming from each brake if I sat beside it while applying voltage.
I also checked the fuses under the dash I think # 20, 28, 101
I do not have another trailer with electric brakes, only surge. I could try to go by a trailer store and see if they would let me test my truck
Also I clipped a jumper wire from the trailer plug to a separate 12v battery and could hear a light click coming from each brake if I sat beside it while applying voltage.
I also checked the fuses under the dash I think # 20, 28, 101
I do not have another trailer with electric brakes, only surge. I could try to go by a trailer store and see if they would let me test my truck
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From: Frederick, MD
Red trailer means no trailer connected.
sounds like you have tested the trailer brakes and they appear to be working.
Pull the truck side 7 pin connector apart and look at those connections.
sounds like you have tested the trailer brakes and they appear to be working.
Pull the truck side 7 pin connector apart and look at those connections.
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From: Central arkansas
About a year ago I was rear ended and the bumper and 7pin were smashed into tiny pieces. I replaced the plug but it's possible a wire is broken. Is there a way to get voltage to the 7pin from the controller to test it?
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From: Frederick, MD
there should be power while the truck is running to at least the lights.
Someone can step on the brakes and then that one should have power as well.
Someone can step on the brakes and then that one should have power as well.
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From: Central arkansas
Ok checked the the 7pin and all Of the light voltages seem good, the lower right pin which should be the brakes only had 4.6v also I pluged in the trailer and at my connection about 5 ft back into the trailer it read 4.6mv so power is not getting from the truck back.
I ohmed from the trailer plug back to the same 5 ft connection and got 0.00
The 4.6v coming to the back of the truck is low, is that because the trailer brake module is turned off?
I might go ahead and replace the plug on the truck and also move back on the trailer wire as the copper in the blue wire is a little black.
Any thoughts?
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Ok checked the the 7pin and all Of the light voltages seem good, the lower right pin which should be the brakes only had 4.6v also I pluged in the trailer and at my connection about 5 ft back into the trailer it read 4.6mv so power is not getting from the truck back.
I ohmed from the trailer plug back to the same 5 ft connection and got 0.00
The 4.6v coming to the back of the truck is low, is that because the trailer brake module is turned off?
I might go ahead and replace the plug on the truck and also move back on the trailer wire as the copper in the blue wire is a little black.
Any thoughts?
I ohmed from the trailer plug back to the same 5 ft connection and got 0.00
The 4.6v coming to the back of the truck is low, is that because the trailer brake module is turned off?
I might go ahead and replace the plug on the truck and also move back on the trailer wire as the copper in the blue wire is a little black.
Any thoughts?
Steve
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Senior User
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From: Central arkansas
Thanks, I will check that tomorrow evening. Also, I jacked up the back end of the trailer and spun the wheels . Then applied power and ground to the plug on the trailer and both wheels stopped. Sounds like my problem is in the truck side of it. Getting closer now!
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From: Central arkansas
Pulled the truck plug off from the truck harness behind the bumper and found the pin for the trailer brakes bent and also some moisture in there. Cleaned it up and straightend the pin.
Now when I squeeze the trailer brake lever I get 12.8 to the plug. Hopefully this will fix it all up. I will find out tonight when I get home.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Pulled the truck plug off from the truck harness behind the bumper and found the pin for the trailer brakes bent and also some moisture in there. Cleaned it up and straightend the pin.
Now when I squeeze the trailer brake lever I get 12.8 to the plug. Hopefully this will fix it all up. I will find out tonight when I get home.
Now when I squeeze the trailer brake lever I get 12.8 to the plug. Hopefully this will fix it all up. I will find out tonight when I get home.
Steve
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Senior User
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From: Central arkansas
Thanks for all the help, I hooked it up this evening and got the green trailer on the dash! Drove around a little and could tell they are pulling but need to be adjusted. They didn't want to lock up with the trailer empty.
To adjust don't I just spin the star from the bottom up until the wheel stops spinning. Then back off by spinning the star top down about 5 clicks?
To adjust don't I just spin the star from the bottom up until the wheel stops spinning. Then back off by spinning the star top down about 5 clicks?