How to Test If Brake Controller is Working on 2007 Chevy TrailBlazer

Updated 03/04/2015 | Published 03/03/2015

Question:

I need proportional 260 degree electric brake controller. Problem is, I will be picking up RV in May, several hundred miles from home and have no way of checking controller with another electric brake trailer. If I do install myself how do I check that the brake controller is functioning correctly at the trailer connection, since I will have to tie in to wires. I have a voltmeter and most equipment for testing. How to test, please.

asked by: Ted K

Expert Reply:

We do have an FAQ article on testing brake controls, which I have linked to.

Basically you will want to first verify the following:

1. The trailer is plugged into tow vehicle
2. Gain is set to max
3.Trailer brakes are adjusted according to manufacturers specification
4. Battery voltage (approximately 12-13 volts) between the Black power wire and the White ground wire at the rear of the brake controller. (This is the input voltage.)

With the manual slide lever fully applied, measure the voltage at the wheels of the trailer. If you have 11 volts or more, check the trailer brake adjustment. If brake adjustment is within specs, check brakes for mechanical issues.

If the voltage at the wheels is less than 11 volts, unplug the trailer. Then, connect ground clip of test light to the ground pin in the trailer connector on the tow vehicle and contact the probe of the test light to the Electric Brake pin. With the manual lever fully applied, using a volt meter, measure the voltage between the Electric Brake pin and the ground pin. If the voltage at the rear of the tow vehicle is 11-12 volts, repair or replace trailer wiring or brake magnets. If voltage is not 11-12 volts, relocate the ground probe of test light to a known good ground on the tow vehicle and retest. If the voltage is not 11-12 volts, repair or replace ground wire to trailer connector. If voltage is not within this range, check the output voltage at the controller.

To check the output voltage at the rear of the control, cut the Blue wire 5-6 inches behind the control. Install the test light between a known good chassis ground and the Blue wire coming out of the control. Apply manual slide fully; using the volt meter, measure the voltage from the Blue wire to chassis ground. If the output voltage is within 1 volt of input, control is good; repair or replace Electric Brake wire on tow vehicle. If it is not within 1 volt of input voltage, measure the input voltage again, from the Black wire to the White wire of the brake control, with the manual slide not applied. As you are measuring this, fully apply the manual slide and monitor the voltage. If the voltage drops, there is a voltage supply issue to the brake control. If the voltage spikes, there is a ground issue to the brake control.