Troubleshooting Curt Echo Brake Controller that Only Works with Manual Override Lever

Updated 11/15/2021 | Published 03/07/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Echo Wireless Brake Controller - 7-Way Plug-in w/ Bluetooth App - Up to 2 Axles - Proportional

(1802)

$289.95

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(65)

$12.94

Question:

Hi, I have a new curt echo mobile controller. It worked on my first stop, and since then it will only work on manual mode. Have you had this problem with anyone else?

asked by: Power D

Expert Reply:

Most likely you have some dirt or corrosion built up on the pins of the trailer connector on your vehicle. What you described is how a brake controller acts when it is not seeing a brake light signal to tell it to activate. Try cleaning the pins of the 7-way and let me know if that changes anything. Also make sure that all of the circuits of the 7-way are currently active. You can do this with a circuit tester like part # PTW2993 testing each pin as you apply all of the different turn signal functions of the vehicle.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Bill M.

5/30/2020

My 7 wire to a brand new camper works fine. Blinkers directionally, brake lights, clearance lights and running lights. After installing the Echo, the left brake and turn signal would not work, now, NO lights work on the trailer at all.

Chris R.

6/3/2020

This is quite strange - can you tell me what model vehicle you have?

Vitaliy

7/27/2020

At first setup I got the green light and seemed to be working but as soon as I pick up any speed and hit a bump I get notification that trailer breaks are disconnected and then it reconnects. A day later it no longer shows a green light at all. I even replaced the 7 wire on the camper thinking that was the issue but no. I replaced the echo and still nothing. The wiring to my car is brand new as well.

Chris R.

8/3/2020

It sounds like there's an interruption to the 12V power feed to the Echo (which is what powers it). Does the Echo itself seem really loose when hooking it up - enough to where a bump in the road could really mess with a secure connection? I would also inspect the 7-Way on the vehicle side to see if you notice any debris or corrosion built up inside the pins that might be interfering with this circuit, cleaning out as needed. Can you tell me what model tow vehicle you have?

Judd

8/13/2020

Hi there, I just purchased a new Curt Echo. I installed and connected to the phone; however, the orange button does not turn orange. It shows the break applied though I didn’t hit on the break. The light on the echo is green. I unplugged, re-downloaded the app, re-connected, but it was still the same. The orange button is sort of grey out/ light orange and not showing the bright orange button. What would be the case? Thanks!

Jon G.

8/27/2020

Hmm, that should only happen when you manually press that button on your phone screen. Do you have issues with your screen randomly selecting things? If not I'd try cleaning your screen to see if that changes anything. If you have it in a case be sure to take it out of that case when you clean it (also be sure to clean the screen on the case). If this doesn't solve your problem let me know.

Judd

8/27/2020

@JonG The screen won’t show in orange (default) color, so I was pressing the manual to check if that might work. I synced and resynced, re download the app and connect to the app again, but the default orange button still not showing up. I tried both on android and iPhone.

Jon G.

9/2/2020

@Judd I reached out to my contact at Curt and explained our situation. He said the only other thing he can think of is to go through the pairing process again and make sure that the LED on the Echo is solid blue prior to inserting your trailer 7-Way connector. Aside from that the only other thing that I can think of is if maybe your 12V power pin is leaking over to the brake output pin and so the Echo is reading that your trailer brakes are getting full power and sending that signal back to your mobile app.

Steve V.

11/10/2021

I have a Curt echo brake controller which has been giving me problems, when hooking up the controller it will pair, but the profiles will not load. the sensitivity and max power start at 255 I t hooked up the controller to the trailer and tried the brakes at low speeds they lock up. I have deleted the app and and reloaded it numerous times. No change. I have tried three different devices all devices have the same results. need help!

Les D.

11/15/2021

I realize that it is frustrating when things do not work as you expect. I first want to gather some information. The first thing to do is make sure that you're pairing your phone with the Echo through the app. If you paired it through the Bluetooth on your phone then it won't connect in the right way. Look the bluetooth connections on your phone. Delete any for the Echo. Then from the Echo app pair the phone to the Echo app directly. When you say that you have tried three devices, I assume you mean phones? What phone models are you using and what operating system version do they have? For instance, the current version of Android is 10.0.0 If you have an Apple phone you will have to be on IOS 8.0 or newer. Check the voltage at your bumper connection. The 12 volt supply is on the pin in the 1 o'clock position. Let us know the exact voltage. Will read something like 12.5 volts.