Troubleshooting HydraStar Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator Not Building Pressure While Running

Published 04/07/2022

Question:

My Hydrastar 1600 will run, but will not build any pressure. It is a brand new unit, on a brand new trailer, I have 12 volts to the black wire, and 6 volts to the blue wire. When operating the brake controller it will run, but not build line fluid pressure. It will build air pressure on the fill cap and you have to open the fill cap very slow, or it will blow out fluid. Its almost as if the pump is running backwards, since it builds some air pressure on the cap. Im at a loss of what to do next. Any ideas? Any help is appreciated. Thank you

asked by: Robert B

Expert Reply:

If your HydraStar Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator # HBA16 isn't pressurizing then I recommend running these 2 tests:

1. Run direct power to the HydraStar by connecting the white wire directly to the negative terminal on a 12V battery and then the only the black wire to the positive terminal on the same battery. The unit shouldn't be running when you do this. If the unit does start to run then something internal is going on and you need to have it repaired or replaced.

2. If the unit doesn't turn on with the first test (which it shouldn't) then remove the black wire, connect it with the blue wire, and then connect both of them to the positive battery terminal. When this is done the unit should be running and starting to pressurize. If it either doesn't run or doesn't pressurize then it's an internal issue and you'll have to have it repaired or replaced.

3. If both tests above check out then it has to be something with the brake controller like it isn't switched over to electric over hydraulic (EOH) mode.

expert reply by: Jon G