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Hardcandy's avatar
Hardcandy
Explorer
Jun 30, 2015

Electric break controller not working

I have working lights ony fiver and on the break controller but I have no breaks on the fifth wheel. I've tried both plugs the one in the bed of the truck and on the bumper and still no trailer breaks. Any input will be appreciate.
  • All the above information is good advise. It would however been helpful if you had indicated what type of brake controller you are using. Given the age of your truck we cannot assume it is an OEM set up, so please specify.
  • Check voltage at the Truck socket first;
    Check for humming at each brake with the controller on
    Check the breakaway cable and make sure its engaged
    Check for voltage at each wheel (if you can get to the connectors)

    Finally - check for a GOOD ground at each wheel (this was my problem when
    I had similar issues) All grounds were connected together and then grounded
    to the chassis - the chassis connector was bad thus each brake was inoperative.

    Gerry
  • Check your brake light switch in the truck. When mine died, I had no trailer brakes. I'm not sure if this is true on all brake controllers, but suspect that it is. The brake light switch is an input that initiates power from the brake controller. I have the Prodigy® P2 Electronic Brake Control.
  • If you break it, then it is broke. But, if you have no brakes, I would start with a good battery and pull the breakaway cable, and listen for the distinctive hum. Then try to pull it with the breakaway cable pulled.
  • Hardcandy wrote:
    I have working lights ony fiver and on the break controller but I have no breaks on the fifth wheel. I've tried both plugs the one in the bed of the truck and on the bumper and still no trailer breaks. Any input will be appreciate.


    Standard 7-pin connector shows pin 2 (usually blue) as the brake power wire. If you have power there when the controller manual handle is moved, then you likely have a wiring problem in the FW. First place to check is good ground wire. Second, make sure the wires in the plug are good. If you can jack each wheel, you can see if you have =any= braking at all. If you have no power at the truck, then check fuses, then start checking truck wiring. If you have another truck available, plug in to that and see if you have brakes. That can narrow it down to your truck, too. Any thing else, and you're having to chase wires on your FW.

    Lyle
  • Is the battery in the trailer charged?

    Is there a fuse in the truck for the TBC output?

    Checked the brake and ground pins on the trailer electrical connector?