Trailer brake connection

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Mar 11, 2008 | 06:40 PM

Mydiesel250

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Trailer brake connection

alright guys im hoping someone can help me out, ive got an early 99 f250 , and a brand new reese brakeman digital brake controller, the only response from the controller is a decimal point, ive hooked up 3 different trailers hoping it was something simple , maybe i missed something, any advise?

Mar 11, 2008 | 07:45 PM

elmo8641

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is this the first brake controler in the truck? if so i think there are some relays and fuses that have to be installed. if fuses and relays are in and good then i would make sure that you did not wire it up based on color code. ford uses same color wires as most brake controls but they do differant things. so i would double check that. after that i would check wire from plug to brake controler. make sure you don't have a open wire.

Mar 11, 2008 | 08:19 PM

Mydiesel250

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well ive had it working before, but now all i get is the decimal on the screen, i jumped a direct line from the trailer brake line to truck and still no reading.

Mar 12, 2008 | 10:48 PM

MARTYSTOWRIG

Cargo Master

Joined: Dec 2004

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From: Living under the bosses d

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mydiesel250

well ive had it working before, but now all i get is the decimal on the screen, i jumped a direct line from the trailer brake line to truck and still no reading.

What does this mean, Please explain forther. Also what has changed between when it worked and now? Are you sure the Circuit breaker or 30 amp fuse is not partially blown? do all of your break lights work correctlly? Have you used an ANALOG multi meter on your 7 pin connector with someone working the controls in the truck?

Mar 13, 2008 | 01:10 PM

03scf250

Mountain Pass

Joined: Nov 2006

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From: Orefield,PA

I had a similar problem everything worked fine but no brakes. One day they worked and the next they didn't. I found that where the wire goes into the back of the plug on the truck side it corroded off. I had to take the plug apart and take the terminal out to reattach the wire. Reassembled it and has worked fine ever since. Hope this helps.

Mar 13, 2008 | 02:46 PM

Mydiesel250

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after checking everything i can think of i figured try to eliminate the distance from a to b, so i pulled my truck up next to the tongue went under the trailer as far back as i could reach and tapped on a new ground and new brake feed line to the exisiting ones , i ran it directly to the brake controller assuming i would bypass any problems i might have overlooked at the plug or anywhere else, the problem is still there, now i went through my reese brakeman digital pamplet and found something about a ground that might short out on the ford vehicles, and at this point im wondering if the controller itself has gone bad? and how would i know? Ive done this and many other tests to my trailer as well as a few others at work that i know have working connections and brakes. Let me know guys

Mar 13, 2008 | 07:25 PM

99whiteford

Tuned

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 338

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From: Barbourville Ky

I have same setup as you,I have had the same problem as you are having.My trouble were in the female plug on the truck.the connection had drawn dampness and were corroded up.