Integrated Factory Brake Controller on 2008 Chevy Silverado Not Sensing Trailer or Applying Brakes

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Question:

I have a 38 ft fifth wheel, trailer brakes do not work nor does it show the camper is connected to truck. Truck is 2008 2500 HD Chevy with integrated controller. It has AL-KO 12x2 brakes. Do you know what resistance should be for magnets. I have 1 that reads 4.7 ohms and 3 that read 3000 ohms. Camper is only 1 year old and cant see 3 of them failing at same time. Thanks

asked by: greg

0

Expert Reply:

I do know that the first few years of the integrated brake controllers, there were some performance problems, especially if your 2008 Chevy Silverado has a hold over unit from a previous model year. Hopefully, we can troubleshoot and rule out the brake controller.

Start with checking the trailer and vehicle connectors for dirt or corrosion and clean them as needed. Make sure the grounds are grounded correctly and free of dirt and corrosion. Finally, check to see if the tow package on the truck needs fuses to be completely activated if it does and they are in place, check to make sure none are blown.

I would check the magnets for wear before going on to test them with a meter. If the magnets show abnormal wear or if you can see the windings beginning to show through the friction surface of the magnet then they will need to be replaced.

To further test your magnets, you can follow the FAQ article I have linked for you. You will need a multimeter, like # PT89ZR if you need one, to test the magnets.

expert reply by: Michael H

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Answer 1

The factory brake controller port on your 2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 is in your vehicle's junction box underneath the dash, to the left of the steering column, just above the carpeting. If you take a look at the accompanying photo you can see…

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Answer 2

Normally when you are having a trailer connection issue, it is because there is corrosion or debris in the connection. The 7-way trailer connector on your truck at the 5 o'clock pin position is the brake controller output. This pin is where the…

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Answer 3

The first thing I would test is the brake circuit on the 7-way at the rear of your 2008 Chevy truck. You will want to use a circuit tester like our part #3808 to test the brake output circuit for voltage when the brake is applied. This will tell you…

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Answer 4

There are some tests you can do to determine if the problem is with the brake controller on the truck or if the issue is on the trailer. In the truck cab you will need to sever the blue wire several inches from the back of the controller. Then use a…

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Answer 5

The wiring will already be run on your 2000 Chevy Silverado. There will be 1 of 2 wiring situations on your truck. The wiring for the 7-Way will be located above the spare tire. If it is just bare wires with no plug, you will need to hard wire one…

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Answer 6

If the vehicle has the factory installed integrated trailer brake controller (ITBC), the tow package wiring that exists under the dash is used to install an aftermarket controller. The wiring is located under the dash, above where the driver's…

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Answer 7

There are two options to activate the electric over hydraulic brakes on your trailer when towing with your 2010 GMC 3500 truck. The first, as you mentioned, would be to use an adapter, which also requires some additional parts. The second option…

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Answer 8

If the factory brake controller in your 2016 Chevy Silverado 2500 isn't even powering on and registering that you're connected to the trailer then it's most likely a blown fuse. You'll just want to look at your owner's manual and…

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Answer 9

You are correct, you should only be getting output when the brake is applied, or the override switch is activated. It sounds like the controller might be bad, but to make sure, you should probably bench test it before tossing it. Use a circuit…

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Answer 10

Since you have a Chevy factory integrated controller you can use a circuit tester like #PTW2993 to test the brake circuit pin on your 7-way. The linked photo shows the functions on each pin on a standard 7-way installation and the arrows indicate…

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Answer 11

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 12

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Integrated Factory Brake Controller on 2008 Chevy Silverado Not Sensing Trailer or Applying Brakes

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