Troubleshooting Titan BrakeRite Electric Over Hydraulic Trailer Brake Actuator-Won't Build Pressure

Updated 07/20/2024 | Published 08/19/2020

Question:

So, have the actuator, and have used this on my large boat trailer for years. Have a 2011 Dodge Ram with integrated brake controller, that I have unplugged, and use a Tekonsha brake controller, plugged into the factory harness. Had trailer built in 2012, and have used it with no issues until this year. Suddenly when first braking, or manually actuating the controller, the pump will spin up, but not build pressure. Release and reapply/reactuate, and it spins up and builds the requested pressure. Thought it was an actuator issue, and purchased a new one. Have the same issue with the new one. Tried new trailer wiring, same issue. Have the same issue using the after market controller, or the factory controller? Friends truck plugged into trailer, works as expected, every time? So, it about has to be something with the truck wiring? Both controller get the same result. It will work every time you cycle it once, then recycle, until you let it sit for a 10 or 15 seconds, then it wont pressure up again. Seems like a relay kind of issue? Any thoughts? Jason

asked by: Jason M

Expert Reply:

I spoke with my contact at Tekonsha, who is doubtful the controller is the issue. The voltage from the controlleer that's sent to the actuator is very minimal, it's just telling the actuator when and how hard to fire. The actuator is actually powered by the 12 volt auxiliary circuit from the 7-way, which delivers the power that actually runs the actuator. Since the controller will cause the actuator to cycle, and using a different truck seems to solve the problem, it tends to point the finger at the 12-volt accessory circuit. I'd recommend that you check to see that you're getting nearly 12 V coming into the actuator.

expert reply by: Mike L

Grady- E.

7/2/2024

Howdy, Mike L. I have a customer that’s experiencing the same issues with the Brakerite EOH system. In attempting to troubleshoot, I found damaged, but not broken, wiring in the pigtail; thought that might be it. Nope! It powers up fine but, It’s doing the same thing as Jason M. described. On first power up, it spins but no pump action. Cut the power and re-apply it and, PRESTO! It’s pumping. Let it sit for a second or three, and we’re back to spin, with no pump. Repeat step above and I’ve got pump action… Knowing that the Brakerite system has motherboard issues occasionally, could this be my issue? Shows 12V consistently when its running…

Mike L.

7/10/2024

@Grady-E Are you getting a full 12V on the auxiliary circuit on your trailer connector?

Grady

7/11/2024

@MikeL Most definitely do have 12V constant. However, in digging into the issue, I found a 3 wire (black, blue, white) factory ‘jumper’ connection that had lost its ground. Fixed that, fixed the problem! Being in Florida comes with all sorts of issues. Salt air being one of them. Salty dew is another…apparently, since the connection is so far up on the tongue, that shouldn’t be an issue but, the salty dew runs down the wires into the connection. Ensuring the connections are clean and making good contact was the key. Thank you!

Blake D.

7/20/2024

I just started experiencing this same problem yesterday. We’ve had a BrakeRite 1500 on our pontoon trailer for two years and the EOH system has worked flawlessly. During my tow to the bay yesterday, I experienced a problem almost exactly as described above. Brake pressure only building on maybe every 5th or 6th brake application. When I got home, I confirmed that the pump is running when I apply the brakes and when I use the manual RAM brake controller actuator, but no pressure to the hydraulic system. If I pull the emergency breakaway, the pump immediately builds pressure. I will explore Grady’s solution, but I wanted to weigh in to demonstrate a trend developing.