No Power to Trailer Brakes When Stepping on the Brake Pedal on a 2004 Dodge Dakota

Updated 07/05/2012 | Published 07/02/2012

Question:

I did not have a connector on my truck so I spliced the wire in under the dash I have a 2004 dodge dakota. My problem is, I can get a light on the testor light at the connector at the rear of the truck when pushing the red button down, but when I press the brake pedal there is no light at the rear connector. I have the white wire to battery neg, black to battery hot, red to cold side of the brake switch, and the blue to the rear connector. I get a read out when I press the red button, but none when pressing the brake pedal.

asked by: Robert L

Expert Reply:

This is symptomatic of having the red wire attached to the wrong circuit on the brake switch. Use your circuit tester to test the wires on the brake switch. You want the one that shows a signal only when the brake pedal is pressed. If it shows a signal when the running lights are on it is not the correct wire.

Once you are certain you have the correct wire attached to the brake controller red wire. Make sure to adjust the power output according to the instructions. If the power is set too low the brake controller may not activate.

expert reply by: Michael H