Forum Discussion

wayne123456's avatar
wayne123456
Explorer
May 11, 2017

Brakes controler

I have a question: my 2008 chevy duramax has a built in brake controller. When I apply the trailer brakes at the controller the brakes work fine. When I apply the truck brake pedal the trailer brakes do not work as well. Is there a problem with the brake pedal sensor for trailer brakes not sending the same amount of volts to the trailer brakes as the built in controller?
Thank you,
Wayne
  • Sounds like you need to up the setting on your brake controller.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    My 2010 F150 Ford built-in BRAKE CONTROLLER does the same thing if I am not driving at least 10MPH. I thought I also had a problem with the Brake Controller and took it back to FORD for maintenance.

    Google Image

    The FORD built-in Brake Controller is very much under control of the FORD computer electronics and monitors all kinds of thing during it normal operations.

    This was also disturbing to me when I pulled up to a stop sign with my foot on the brake pedal expecting the trailer brakes to be engaged as well... Now that I know about the 10MPH rule I have to operate the BRAKE CONTROLLER Thumb Slider Switch with my right hand if I want to lock down the trailer brakes when setting at a stop sign...

    I suspect this is what happening to your setup...

    Does your brake pedal action slow down your trailer when going over 10MPH.

    When I use my SLIDER SWITCH I provide maximum DC Voltage going back to the trailer brakes. When using the Brake Pedal the trailer brake voltage adjustment comes into play... I think my setting ended up being around a 5-6 Number using the + and - push buttons on the controller to make the adjustments...

    Roy Ken
  • Does all IBC's do this?

    With my P3, reset the boost level and then just drive.

    Touch the TV brake pedal just enough to turn on the P3, but not engage the TV's brakes will have the P3 turn on the trailer brakes to the preset and as long as there is deceleration, the accelerometer will keep the trailer brakes on...even turn up the trailer brakes higher if there is more de-celeration...

    Have you guys tried turning up the boost or gain, or whatever it is called on your TV's ?
  • The gain is turned up to nine. I also noticed coming to a stop sign that the trailer brakes do no engage, to the point that when I take off the trailer makes a clunk noise when moving forward. I will check out whether they work better at higher speeds, I never had this problem with an after market controller, if this is what happens with the built in system I may install the after market system and bypass the truck controller.
    Thanks for the info,
    Wayne
  • Educated guess....Highly Interated Brake Controller (IBC) is highly integrated with other on board computers...one being the TV ABS computer....which turns OFF the ABS below a preset MPH

    Some preset around 30 MPH...others around 15 MPH....so of course the highly integrated IBC computer obeys the ABS computer...if it has a higher ranking in the trucks real time OS master/slave heiarchy...plus IMHO, auto Real Time isn't as good as the stuff I used in robotics
  • wayne123456 wrote:
    The gain is turned up to nine. I also noticed coming to a stop sign that the trailer brakes do no engage, to the point that when I take off the trailer makes a clunk noise when moving forward. I will check out whether they work better at higher speeds, I never had this problem with an after market controller, if this is what happens with the built in system I may install the after market system and bypass the truck controller.
    Thanks for the info,
    Wayne


    With that high of a setting, my guess is that you have a trailer problem. When the brakes are working correctly and the controller is set right, you won't have the jerking that some think is normal. The built in controllers are far superior to the guesswork aftermarket stuff. The low speed reduction of braking is to prevent the jerking.
  • Thanks to all who responded to my question. I don't understand when I use the manual brake on the built in system the trailer brakes will stop the trailer, but when I apply the brake pedal the brakes don't work as well, even with the brakes set at a gain of 9. My previous diesel did not have the built in brake system, I had a Prodigy and it work great. I will do more research and testing of the brakes, but so far the explanation for the lack of brakes at low speed seems to fit with the issue that I am having.
    Thanks,
    Wayne