Troubleshooting Brake Controller that Locks Up Trailer Brakes Immediately

Updated 04/13/2016 | Published 04/11/2016

Question:

I have a 2002 chevy truck 1500 and I have a #47225 Hopkins Brake controller but its locking up the trailer brakes when I step on the brakes in the truck. I have been watching a lot of your videos. I took off the fuse box cover and there is red wire connected to the right side post which has a 30 amp fuse. There is a blue wire that is plugged off and not took to anything. Should that blue wire be took up to the left side post with a 40 amp fuse? Right now the truck came with those fuses already there but both are 30 amp. I am having a time with this I just purchased a new camper that has electric brakes. I have never needed a brake controller because I always pull pop ups, boats. Dont I need to run a write from the plug in the to the controller to the fuse box other than that red one that is there now? The controller now does not work now other than the right side kill button. I was told by the camper store to take the truck to a Chevy dealer to have it write they couldnt do it. Got any ideas?

asked by: Robert D

Expert Reply:

If the brakes are immediately locking up with your brake controller when you touch the vehicle brakes that means typically that the brake controller just is set too aggressively or there is a short between the stop light circuit of the trailer connector and the brake output. Another potential short location is between the stoplight circuit wire used for wiring up the brake controller and the brake output circuit.

Have you tried adjusting the brake controller to see if the application of the brakes changes?

If the underhood connections were wrong the controller would not be working at all so that is not going to be where the problem is. But I did attach a help article that details what needs to go where.

expert reply by: Jameson C