Weak Trailer Brakes When Using The OEM Brake Controller

Updated 08/18/2020 | Published 08/14/2020

Question:

I have a 2014 ram 2500 diesel and my fifth wheel breaks worked fine last year. This year they are very weak. I,ve had the brakes serviced, and checked fuses in the tpim. The emergency brake overide works but is also very weak. When I check the brake output on the 7way connecter on the truck it continually flashes. Like blinking. From what I understand, this is the vehicle looking for the brakes and their current condition. I used an adapter to connect the harness under the dash to an aftermarket brake controller and the breaks lock up unless I have it set to 0.When I connect a seperate 12v source to the 5th wheel harness the trailer brakes seem to work fine. Any ideas? JP

asked by: John P

Expert Reply:

If you connected a separate 12v source to the trailer and the brakes seem to work fine then it could be your factory brake controller itself. There has been issues with factory brake controllers on the Ram trucks. In order to connect an aftermarket brake controller to the Ram truck the factory brake controller has to be disabled by an authorized dealer or the two will interfere with each other. It sound as if the power wire coming from the factory brake controller has a weak spot or a short. You can have someone trace the power wire to your factory brake controller or just have it disabled so you can use your after market brake controller.

expert reply by: Shane H