Electric Trailer Brakes Lock Up In the Rain

Published 06/03/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Dexter Electric Trailer Brake Assembly - 12" - Right Hand - 6,000 lbs

(194)

$87.81

Dielectric Grease for Electrical Connectors, 2 oz.

(1481)

$10.94

Liquid Electrical Tape

(11)

$28.04

Question:

Have a Tekonsha Prodigy in my truck. This past Sunday while driving my TT home the trailer brakes started locking up in a downpour. It was only in the rain they started to lock up, the drive to the campground on friday and previous uses before that they were good to go and have been working fine Is there some sort of adjustment i need to make to the Prodigy when trailering in the rain?

asked by: Derek S

Expert Reply:

It sounds like the rain water caused a short and drew power to the electric trailer brakes causing them to lock up. the brake controller, since it is inside the vehicle and not exposed to the elements, would not have been affected by the weather so there isn't an adjustment you would have to make to account for rain.

The first and easiest things to check are the vehicle and trailer side connectors. Make sure they are clean and free of corrosion inside where the wires attach and on the pins. Using dielectric grease, # 11755, between electrical connections will repel water and prevent corrosion.

Next you can check the wiring to the magnets. Make sure that there are no exposed copper strands and, if there are, fix as needed using new wire or something like liquid electrical tape, # SWC50122, which will seal out water.

expert reply by: Michael H