Electric Over Hydraulic Brakes not Releasing

Updated 10/19/2020 | Published 10/16/2020

Products Featured in This Question

Cordless Circuit Tester

(15)

$19.26

Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

(6643)

$169.94

Hydrastar Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator Adapter Module for Ford and Chevy Brake Controllers

(126)

$252.77

Dexter BrakeRite SD Adapter for Ford/Chevy Integral Brake Controllers

(25)

$184.21

Question:

Hi my boat trailer brakes will not release the 4 brakes stay on. Does this mean the actuator is faulty. Every thing is new been used 3 times

asked by: Mick

Expert Reply:

It is not necessarily that the actuator is faulty, and it is more likely to be the brake controller. I recommend checking the the wiring, specifically the stop light switch wire to ensure it is not contacting another circuit that carries 12 volt power, which would cause the brakes to constantly be on. This could be the wire being loose or somehow damaged or frayed causing a short. You want to use Circuit Tester # PTW2979 to ensure this wire only carries voltage when the brake pedal is applied. Also, check your brake lines, and you should probably bleed them to ensure there is nothing that is causing any type of issue.

Additionally, if you are using a factory brake controller, those do not often perform well with EOH actuators, and if you have a Ford or Chevy, for example, and a Titan BrakeRite II SD or HydraStar you will need either the Titan BrakeRite SD Adapter for Ford/Chevy Integral Brake Controllers # T4845900 or HydraStar Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator Adapter Module for Ford and Chevy Brake Controllers # HBA-CAM.

The best option if you have a factory controller though really is to upgrade to an aftermarket brake controller which is compatible with EOH actuators, the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller # 90195.

expert reply by: Kyle S