Troubleshooting No Brake Output at 7-Way with Factory Brake Controller on 2010 Chevy Suburban

Updated 06/22/2018 | Published 06/21/2018

Question:

Factory wired brake controller and RV 7 plug. Trailer brakes to not get power at the back end of the suburban with a test light. The light turns on faintly and ticks or pulses, however no power increase with brake application. I cant seem to locate the fuse for the trailer brakes. It seems that it may be more of a short issue? Any thoughts?

asked by: Thad R

Expert Reply:

I did take a look at the online owner's manual for your 2010 Chevy Suburban and found that there should be a fuse located in the # 6 position inside the engine compartment fuse block. This fuse is for the trailer brake controller and you can start by checking to make sure it is present and in good condition.

If the fuse is good, then I recommend checking the 7-Way itself for any debris or corrosion that might be built up behind the pins, cleaning out as needed. Check the wiring going into the connector, specifically the brake output wire to see if you can find any frayed or damaged sections that might be causing a short.

Also make sure you are testing the brake controller with it adjusted to its highest setting and using the manual override, as opposed to pressing on the brake pedal. The factory controller on your Suburban is a proportional unit, meaning it will send back power to the 7-Way with power proportionate to how fast you are moving. This means that if you are testing the controller with the truck parked, using the brake pedal will not send much if any power back to the brake output pin at the connector.

If you are still having issues, please let me know and I will be happy to help you further.

expert reply by: Chris R