Kelsey Brake Controller Not Working with Manual Override on a 1997 Ford F-350

Updated 09/15/2025 | Published 07/24/2014

Question:

Have kesley controller when I apply brakes manually red light doesnt light up but when I put foot on brake it lights up. Also put test light on blue wire very dim. Turned knob on side of unit no brighter neither.

asked by: Ronnie A

Expert Reply:

It sounds like there is a problem with the manual override lever or the electronics associated with it on your brake controller. If your Kelsey controller is the type that has a load knob on one side and the leveler knob on the other side try making adjustments to the leveler knob. I have seen controllers do strange thing when the leveler was off.

If that doesn't work you can try to clean the contacts inside the controller by fully applying the manual override and then letting it snap back into place. Do this several times to clean the contacts. It that doesn't help and adjusting the gain higher doesn't help then you likely have a problem inside the controller and it will need to be replaced.

I have included a couple of links on testing and troubleshooting brake controllers for you as well.

expert reply by: Michael H

We A.

9/12/2025

1998 chevy Silverado v8 with truck camper, kelsey energiser was there from previous owner to tow a fifth wheel we think help we cannot go out on roads as brake light not working

Kate F.

9/15/2025

@WeA On your 1998 Silverado and camper, the main thing is that your truck’s brake lights should work completely on their own, no matter what brake controller is installed. Since you’ve got that old Kelsey Energizer still wired in from the previous owner, it’s very possible that the wiring for it is interfering with your lights. The first thing I’d try is unplugging or disconnecting the controller and then pressing the brake pedal to see if the lights come back on. If they do, that tells us the controller is spliced into the brake light circuit the wrong way. That said, don’t forget to check the basics too. Pop open the fuse boxes and make sure the brake light or stop/hazard fuse isn’t blown. Double-check the bulbs themselves in the rear housings, and take a quick look at the brake light switch on the pedal arm, if that’s loose or faulty, the lights won’t get power at all. Those older Kelsey units were usually hardwired in, and a bad splice at the brake switch or some corroded wires can cause exactly what you’re seeing. If you’re just trying to get back on the road legally, you can even run a simple jumper wire straight from the brake switch to the rear brake light circuit, bypassing the controller completely. That’ll give you working lights until you decide whether you want to rewire or upgrade the system. Honestly, since you’re not towing a fifth wheel right now, it might be easiest to remove the old controller altogether. If you do plan to tow later, I’d highly recommend swapping it out for a modern controller like a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 # 90195, they’re much safer and way simpler to wire up.

Helpful Links

tv-install-tekonsha-p3-brake-controller-1996-chevrolet-ck-series-pickup-90195.aspx