Troubleshooting Brake Controller That Has Output Voltage on it at All Times

Updated 06/04/2020 | Published 06/03/2020

Products Featured in This Question

Hopkins Endurance 7-Way Trailer Connector Socket - Vehicle End - Ergonomic Design

(145)

$18.85

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(60)

$12.27

Question:

I put a new brake controller in my 09 silverado, a Reese brakeman 4 compact. When I hook to my camper the brakes engage unless I have the gain set to 0. Once I start to increase the gain I get an error message that flashes at 2.0.see picture. Also, is the stop wire from truck blue/white supposed to have constant power when brake is not pushed? I have traced all wires, connections are good and no bare spots found to short out.

asked by: Dustin

Expert Reply:

Your brake controller most likely has an internal short and needs to be replaced. I can help determine that.

Testing the brake controller is fairly easy. Sever the blue brake output wire near the brake controller leaving enough room to reconnect it and then apply the manual slide. Using a circuit tester like the Tester, part # PTW2993, you should get output to the controller side of the wire you severed. If the manual slide activates the trailer brake output wire properly, try the brake pedal. If the brake pedal activates the brake output properly also then the problem is farther back either in the vehicle wiring or on the trailer.

If either the brake pedal or the manual slide are not functioning properly you will need to test the wires going into the brake controller. Make sure you have power entering the brake controller on the black wire. On the red wire you will only want power when the brake pedal is pressed.

If there is power on the red wire before the brake pedal is pressed you have connected the red wire from the brake controller to the wrong circuit. You would then need to find the brake switch wire that has power ONLY when the brake pedal is activated.

If these connections check out and the brake controller is properly grounded then there is possibly a problem inside the brake controller.

I am including a link to a video that will show you how to test the wiring on a brake controller.

expert reply by: Jameson C