Why Would Trailer Brakes Only Work With Manual Override Lever and Not Brake Pedal

Question

Question:

Brakes work manually but not with pedal. It is a brake force control and a 2009 chevy silverado 1500 4x4

asked by: Carl

0

Expert Reply:

Sounds like your brake controller will apply your trailer brakes if you apply the manual override lever but not when you press the brake pedal. This is a fairly common problem and the solution is the red wire of the brake controller.

Make sure it is connected to a circuit that only sees voltage when the brakes are applied and none when released. Most likely the connection is the issue and just reconnecting the circuit will cause the controller to work again.

It also is very likely it's the CHMSL fuse being blown on your truck. Check fuse location 12 in the fusebox in the side of the dashboard to see if the fuse is blown.

expert reply by: Jameson C

0

Zeb R.

5/23/2020

I have a 2015 Chevy Silverado with built in brake control. When I use brake pedal the camper brakes don’t work. But they work with manual control on the dash

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Chris R.

5/26/2020

Just to be sure, are you testing this while driving or just with the truck and trailer parked? The factory unit is proportional, meaning it will send back power based on deceleration (when hitting the brake pedal) - so if you're just testing the controller while parked, it's not going to send anything back when stepping on the pedal. If it's during travel, then there's an issue with the brake input circuit (red wire) like Jameson mentioned above. Since it's a factory unit I would bring the truck up to a local Chevy dealer to have them take a look.

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Darcy

9/26/2021

@ChrisR I did the same thing with a 2015 3500. Lifted the trailer and spun the tires on the trailer and they locked up with the foot brake

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Les D.

10/20/2021

But they may not brake on acceleration or deceleration.

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See All (8) Replies to Zeb R. ∨

Mike G.

5/29/2020

Ok I have similar trouble with my trailer Brakes only working in the manual mode. I have a 2004 Chevy 1500 Z71 4X4 - Brand new RV with Factor Brakes. Our reputable? RV dealership tried for hours testing the system and could not come up with why the trailer brakes will not work when the Brake pedal is depressed. I have checked the CHMSL 10 amp fuse in the side dash fuse box and it is good. I have unplugged the control box connectors and tested the red blue and black wires and all seem to get 22- 25 volts. Could it be related to the Brake pedal switch? Or other system. All l;ights and turn signals work fine on the RV

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Richard S.

9/6/2020

I have a 2014 f150 with the same problem, the brake pedal wont apply the trailer brakes but the manual control will work with the dash mounted brake controler

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Jon G.

9/9/2020

If you're sitting still when you test with the pedal then that is likely your problem. Have you tried towing and stopping with your brake pedal? If that doesn't work then you'll want to look for the fuse for the brake pedal in your owner's manual like what Jameson mentioned.

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Richard S.

9/9/2020

I have been towing my travel trailer and only the manual lever will apply the trailer brakes when attempting to slow down or come to a stop. Ive checked all fuses that have to do with brakes and towing. The brake lights and turn signals are working on trailer just no response from brake pedal to brakes on trailer. Thank you

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Jon G.

9/14/2020

@RichardS Try checking the red wire going into your brake controller. Make sure that when you press down on your brake pedal that wire is getting hot. If it doesn't get hot and your controller is spliced in with the wiring you might have connected to the wrong wire. If that wire is getting hot then your controller is in need of replacement.

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See All (5) Replies to Richard S. ∨

Marc B.

6/20/2024

Hi Jameson. Do you think the same problem would be the same for a 2022 f150

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Jameson C.

6/20/2024

@MarcB yes that would be basically the same problems on that truck.

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Brian P.

8/23/2024

there is no red wire to my controller it's plug with blue wires. i put a aftermarket controller it did it work.

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Jameson C.

8/25/2024

@BrianP is the problem that it doesn't work with the brake pedal.

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Tiara D.

11/2/2024

@JamesonC I have a 1999 Chevy Tahoe, brake lights don’t work when manually press pedal, but will work when I use the brake control. Can u help

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Jameson C.

11/3/2024

@TiaraD Have you checked the third brake light fuse?

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See All (5) Replies to Brian P. ∨

Kyle

8/13/2025

I have the same problem. I've checked all the wiring with a light tester and all is good. I have a Hopkins Insight. My fifthwheel has hydraulic brakes. I can hear the hydraulics on manual. When I step on the brakes going forward, no hydraulic pump at all. And somtimes after letting off the brake, power still read 10 when it should go to 0.

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Jameson C.

8/13/2025

@Kyle The Hopkins Insight was not designed to be used with hydraulic brakes like what you have. You'd need a controller that has a hydraulic mode like the p3 part # 90195.

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Answer 1

If your trailer brakes activate when using the manual override but not when pushing on the brake pedal you may have a bad connection or a faulty brake switch. I have also linked below our article on Brake Controller Troubleshooting. Also if you have…

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Answer 2

Since the controller is activating the trailer brakes when you use the manual override that means that the trailer battery not being connected is not the problem. Both the brake pedal and the manual override will tell the controller to send back…

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Answer 3

The Dexter BrakeRite Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator #DX82KR will need the adapter installed to be compatible with your 2007 Ford F-250 brake controller. The correct adapter is the Adapter Module for BrakeRite Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator…

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Answer 4

This sounds like the trailer brakes are not receiving the signal from the brake controller when you apply the brakes. I believe what is happening is that you may have a loose, broken, or inaccurate connection on the red wire from the brake…

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Answer 5

The brake assemblies you have are 7k Dexter assemblies that are 12 inch by 2 inch in size. The part number #AKEBRK-7-SA will work as a great replacement set. This includes assemblies for both sides of your trailer that are self adjusting.

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Answer 6

When replacing a grease seal, the metal part of the seal will face towards the inside of the trailer and the rubber part of the seal will face toward the back side of the wheel. The air side of the seal is the flat side of the seal and faces out when…

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Answer 7

I checked with Dexter and here is the information on tightening the spindle nut on your 8K axle: 1. After placing the hub, bearings, washers, and spindle nut back on the axle spindle in reverse order as detailed in the previous section on hub…

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Answer 8

The controller is only putting out voltage when the manual switch is applied on the brake controller, but not when the vehicle brakes are applied, is that correct? The most likely problem is that the controller is not getting the input that the…

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Answer 9

Since you have already tested the trailer brakes with a few different trucks by different manufacturers (2 of which have been used with an Electric Over Hydraulic (EOH) system), the problem should be with your trailer. The reason that they most…

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Answer 10

The first thing I would do is check for power. Using a circuit tester like #PTW2993 check to see if 12V power is running to the #HS381-8066 when you use your manual override on the brake controller. If you have power here and no brakes it is likely…

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Answer 11

It sounds like you're looking for the Dexter Trailer Axle Beam part #8327816 which is 86.5" long at the hub face and has a 5,200 lb weight capacity. The spring seats however will need to be moved in for your application which requires tack…

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Answer 12

Have you tested the brake controller output on the 2025 Silverado's 7-way and confirmed that it's sending power back to the trailer when the manual override is being activated? When you say the brakes aren't activating as they should do…

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Why Would Trailer Brakes Only Work With Manual Override Lever and Not Brake Pedal

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