Brake Controller acting weird - video included

[aubiexx]

I have a 69 Airstream Overlander and my TV is a 99 2500 Suburban. I have found that the brake controller to be odd about working properly and am trying to find out if the problem is the controller or on my trailer.

Sometimes it will work perfect, and I have found that 4.5 is about the right setting, but sometimes without moving the setting, the controller returns to 0.5 or goes haywire...see video.

brake controller acting weird

I also at times will turn the setting to the most friction, which should be 10.0, but often doesn't go above 1.5 when in the same position.

Thanks in advance for your help diagnosing this.

[gijoecam]

That looks to me like the potentiometer connected to the knob you are adjusting is not working well. Similarly to the old rotary dimmer switches, or the triggers in your slot-car track controllers, or the volume knob on your old Realistic stereo that crackled when you adjusted it, potentiometers are just little variable resistors. If that knob on your controller was connected to your stereo, it would be crackling when you turne the volume up or down.

Regardless, pitch it. Get a Prodigy and be done with it.

[westend]

Bad connection, i.e. the circuit from the controller to the brake magnet is interrupted. This reminds me, time to clean and lube the 7 pin connectors.

[aubiexx]

Thanks. I will look into the wiring over the next week or so when I have a chance. This is a relatively new problem. I have had the trailer for about 3 years.

[bguy]

Wiring issue is most likely here with that age of trailer. Even if wiring was replaced you have an issue somewhere in the system. Whatever controller you may want to use cannot deal with faulty wiring any better than what you already have. Is this a new symptom?

[ScottG]

They shouldn't be allowed to sell time delay controllers.
Go for a Prodigy and I suggest you mount it somewhere besides the knee bolster for safety sake.

[DutchmenSport]

Yup, mine did that earlier this Spring. It started acting up last Fall, and on 2 different trips, lost the brakes in the camper completely. This was our Springdale camper. Took the truck and the camper to our local dealer to figure out. I had several problems.

1st, one of the pin holes (that little clip), on the truck was bent and wasn't making good contact. So, they replaced the entire plug on the truck. Seemed to clear up the issue, until our next trip and the brake controller started doing the same thing again.

Took it back (truck and camper) to the dealer, and they checked out the camper. They replaced the pig-tail, seemed to clear up the problem... until the next trip and the controller would go crazy like your and no brakes. That's really scary driving with no trailer brakes ....

So, took truck and trailer back again this Spring (by now, we'd parked the camper for the winter). They checked it all REAL good this time and found out the wire to the actual brakes under the trailer had rubbed raw and was shorting out when it touched the metal it was rubbing. It only did this erratically. That's why when they fixed the plugs, it seemed to work again. Now mind you, the plugs were well worn, and I did have that bent pin, so I was perfectly OK they fixed that.

But after they replaced the wire leading to the brakes from the trailer's pig-tail, (they also repacked the bearing and inspected the brakes), it never happened again.

Four weeks ago we traded the Springdale for the Outback (below) and controller has absolutely NO issues with the new camper.

So, my advise, check the wires under the camper that lead to the brakes. See if there are any worn spots.

[Terryallan]

You brake controller appears to be a Draw Tite Activator. IF that is the case. It is time delayed. Get rid of it. Go get a Inertia activated proportional controller. Most on here like the Prodigy.
With a time based controller. Your trailer brakes start braking after the delay time you punch in. A good proportional controller activates the brakes as soon as you hit the pedal.

You moving numbers could be the time counting down, or up.

Biggest problem with time delayed. The brakes may not come on until AFTER the accident.