Hopkins Reliance Electronic Trailer Brake Controller Flashing 10 15 20 After 2 Hours of Driving  

Question:

Expert Reply:

You indicate that the error code E1 that appeared on your Hopkins Reliance brake controller was corrected by removing and reseating the main plug. Since this controller is usually a hard wire type installation I assume you are referring to the trailer connector at the rear of your tow vehicle. If not hardwired, you can check the connector on the controller harness for corrosion or bent contacts.

If handling the connector corrected the error code it may be that there is corrosion or a loose or bent contact pin on the vehicle or trailer connectors. Sometimes corrosion can be very hard to spot; it may simply be a very slight greenish or whitish discoloration on the contact surfaces. Corrosion does not have to be severe in appearance (e.g. rust or a crusty build-up) to affect trailer wiring. You can inspect and clean all vehicle- and trailer-side connector contacts to ensure none are loose or corroded. You can also apply a small amount of dielectric grease to all contact surfaces once you have checked and/or cleaned them. A product like # 11755 will help seal out moisture and prevent corrosion from exposure to the elements.

You can check that the white ground wire from the controller is solidly connected to the battery negative terminal. An inadequate ground can lead to erratic performance. You can also check that none of the wiring for the controller (or the wiring at the rear of the vehicle and front of the trailer) shows signs of wear or cracks in the insulation. Check that the white ground wire from your vehicle connector is firmly attached to a clean rust- and paint-free surface on the vehicle. Do the same at the trailer side with its ground wire to ensure a solid ground at the trailer frame.

If none of these steps corrects the problem you can fully disconnect the brake controller from the vehicle to test whether the vehicle wiring is functioning correctly. If you touch the 12V power feed to the controller (the black wire) to the brake output (the blue wire) your trailer brakes should lock up. If this is the case then the vehicle wiring would appear to be intact and there may be damage to the controller. This unit is not reverse polarity protected; even a brief accidental reversal of the power and ground connections can damage the unit.

I have also linked an article with troubleshooting tips for brake controller installations.

expert reply by: Adam R

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