Curt Venturer Brake Controller Shows Green Bars then Red Dot, then the Trailer Jerks

Updated 06/19/2014 | Published 06/17/2014

Question:

I have a Curt Venturer 51110 controller. When pressing the brake, it displays 3 green bars, then the bars disappear and the red dot appears with the trailer slightly jerk, then the green bars appear, red light, then slight trailer jerk. I checked the plug in to the back of the truck and it appears all brass contacts are fine. Please advise.

asked by: Wayson

Expert Reply:

On the Curt Venturer brake controller # C74VV, if the red dot is solid that indicates that the trailer is not connected, or at least the brake controller is sensing a disconnected condition. This seems like what is going on. When the trailer jerks that is the brakes engaging and then it goes out again.

The likely culprit is a dirty or corroded trailer connector, brake wiring, or the magnets themselves. Make sure the vehicle and trailer side connectors are clean and corrosion free inside and out.

Inspect the power wires to the magnets and look for pinched, frayed, or damaged wires and fix as needed. Make sure the ground wires are attached to clean and corrosion free bare metal surfaces.

You can visually inspect the magnets and if you can see the copper windings coming through the magnets will need to be replaced. To further test the magnets you can follow the help article I have linked. I have also included some help articles on testing and troubleshooting brake controllers for you.

If the dot is flashing red then the controller is sensing an overload condition. All of the same tests above should also help find the problem. But you will also want to check the wiring from the back of the vehicle side connector forward as far as you can for any breaks in the wiring.

expert reply by: Michael H