Troubleshooting a Draw Tite 5504 Brake Controller with No Power at 7-Way

Updated 04/14/2015 | Published 04/12/2015

Question:

Hi I have the drawtite 5504 the brakes do not work but the turn signals and other lights do. Ive had the power socket on my 05 f150 tested and there is no power at the socket for the brakes but ever other contact works great.. Ive replaced the 30amp fuse and nothing. Can you please tell what the problem could be. Is the blue connection on the red wire some sort of fuse

asked by: Mar

Expert Reply:

Testing the # 5504 brake controller is fairly easy. Sever the blue brake output wire near the brake controller leaving enough room to reconnect it and then apply the manual slide. Using a circuit tester like the Quickee Tester, part # 3808, you should get output to the controller side of the wire you severed. If the manual slide activates the trailer brake output wire properly, try the brake pedal. If the brake pedal activates the brake output properly also then the problem is farther back either in the vehicle wiring or on the trailer.

If either the brake pedal or the manual slide are not functioning properly you will need to test the wires going into the brake controller. Make sure you have power entering the brake controller on the black wire. On the red wire you will only want power when the brake pedal is pressed.

If there is power on the red wire before the brake pedal is pressed you have connected the red wire from the brake controller to the wrong circuit. You would then need to find the brake switch wire that has power ONLY when the brake pedal is activated.

If these connections check out and the brake controller is properly grounded then there is possibly a problem inside the brake controller.

I am including a link to a video that will show you how to test the wiring on a brake controller.

expert reply by: Jameson C