New Electric Brakes Not Working On New Installation

Updated 08/06/2019 | Published 08/04/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(62)

$13.33

10 Gauge Wire - Blue Primary - Per Foot

(104)

$1.75

Question:

My friend and I both replaced our brakes on our trailers, now we have NO BRAKES!!! They were working fine before we replaced them. We first checked the connections they were good. Then we checked voltage that was fine too. Adjusted the brakes too. Still don’t know WHY we have NO BRAKES. Am we missing something over looking something. Please HELP, we are leaving for a long distance trip this weekend. Electric Brakes

asked by: Mark B

Expert Reply:

The first thing you want to check is the ground on the brake assemblies, make sure if they are grounded to the trailer that they are grounded to a clean bare metal surface of the frame. If they are grounded to the trailer's main ground then make sure it has a good connection. Also make sure you used 10 gauge wire like part # 10-1-1 which is sold by the foot. If you used smaller gauge wire you may be experiencing an amperage drop and the brakes are not getting the right amount of power, although you said you checked the voltage and that was fine. I assume you mean you checked the voltage on the brake magnets themselves.

Is your brake controller showing any error codes? Sometimes, you will get an error code on the brake controller when experiencing weak braking that will tell you exactly what the issue is depending on the brake controller. If you haven't tested the brake output pin your 7-way yet it is a good idea to see if you have power when the brake pedal is depressed in the tow vehicle or when you hit the manual override on your brake controller. If you check for power there and there isn't any issues, then you know the trailer wiring is the issue. It sounds like you have a ground issue honestly since its happening to both of your trailers, which is pretty common.

expert reply by: Heather A