What To Do if an RV Dealership Installs a Brake Controller Incorrectly and Damages Cruise Control

Updated 01/09/2020 | Published 04/21/2014

Question:

I had the Tekonsha Voyager Brake Controller installed by a competent tech at the local RV dealership. He tapped into wire coming from brake switch to install. Immediately, I have no cruise control. After driving the camper home and then driving the truck around a bit, I find the Service Engine Soon light on. Light reads as P0719: “Brake Switch B Circuit Low Input”. I take the truck back to the RV dealership for testing and confirmation of the correct install of the brake controller. Everything is confirmed. Technician said there are normally two lines coming off the brake switch, and he jumpered off one showing voltage this was probably the Cruise Control circuit. In attempt to rule out the brake controller as the problem, he wired a quick-disconnect in-line to disconnect the unit. Even with this disconnected, cruise control never returned to functionality, even after the code was cleared. The light re-appeared after less than a day of highway driving. Ive not reconnected the controller yet. My brake lights do not stay on constantly, and they all work properly upon pressing the brake pedal. Ive got an appointment scheduled at my auto mechanics shop in case this is just a weird coincidence of the brake switch going bad, but Im still thinking its all in the wiring. ANY thoughts you may have on this would be GREATLY appreciated. Ive got a trip coming Friday and I would like to have this sorted out by then. Thanks!

asked by: Grayson

Expert Reply:

It sounds like the RV dealership that installed your Tekonsha Voyager Brake Controller part # 39510 did not install the controller correctly initially, and even though he attempted to rewire the controller the damage was done to your vehicle and now you have lost cruise control.

I would recommend having the mechanic look at the circuits like you are doing, and then once they confirm that the initial install of the controller screwed up your cruise control circuit I would go back to the RV dealership and have them cover the cost of fixing everything.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Grayson

4/22/2014

The RV tech told me that my truck was not Plug-N-Play, rather it was long-wired, or perhaps it was short-wired. Do you have wiring diagrams that show exactly how the Tekonsha Voyager should be installed on a 97 Silverado 1500?Thanks again!

Patrick B.

4/23/2014

If the truck came with a 7-Way trailer connector from the factory, there is a plug-in port that can be used, but you will also have to make a couple of wire connections under the hood. I have included a link to a Tech Article that outlines the procedure. If your truck didn't come with a factory installed 7-Way connector, you will need a working 4-pole connector, our ETBC7 kit and of course the Voyager to make the install complete. You will essentially be installing a controller from scratch and I've linked to a second article that will walk you through the process.

Helpful Links

faq-cbc.aspx

faq-installation-of-brake-controller-from-scratch.aspx

Nick H.

1/9/2020

That is a tough spot. It sounds like this could turn into a case of she/he said versus they said

Jacob H.

1/9/2020

I would recommend having the RV Dealership remove the brake controller and get everything set back to as it was before. If this does not fix the issues with the vehicle, I would make a that my new goal. Once the vehicle is back to normal I suggest trying a different brake controller all together.

Mike J.

1/9/2020

Do you think its the type of brake controller he chose that caused the issue?

Jacob H.

1/9/2020

It could be a few different issues. It could be a wiring issue in the RV itself or maybe the brake controller was wired incorrectly the first time and triggered something in the RV's system that it's not able to forget. That is why getting the vehicle back to the factory settings would be my first choice of steps to take.