gunner7243

I have a 2003 dodge 3500. I just put in my electric trailer brake in to the factory plug in. all the light work but the brakes are not working. I hook my other truck up and the brakes work. what should I look for on me dodge that is not letting me trailer brakes work.

CTD NUT

Have you checked on whether you have brake controller power at the 7 pin trailer receptacle on the truck?

gunner7243

Yes I have power at the + pin all the time

CTD NUT

You should not have power at the brake terminal in the receptacle all of the time. If you did, and when your trailer is plugged in, your brakes would be on all of the time.

It sounds like you are testing the battery positive terminal in the receptacle which is the only terminal that should have positive power all of the time. This terminal has nothing to do with the brake circuit.

Danavilla

The brake controller sends a small power signal to the trailer brakes even when not energized. That's why a green light shows that they are connected. Make sure the fuse for the trailer brake is intact. If the brakes have never been connected before, the fuse may even be missing. I don't have diagrams for an '03 so can't be more specific.

Busboy

After reading the OP it could be that the "other "truck has a directly proportional brake controller like a Max brake and the new truck has an inertia brake controller that needs to see the truck slowing down for trailer brakes to be applied.

gunner7243

I just check the brake pin and there is on power to it when you push on the brake. I check all the fuses and there good.

CTD NUT

So, if you have continuity at the brake controller terminal on the receptacle, plug the trailer plug in and test for brake power at the trailer.

It sounds like there may be nothing wrong with the truck side of this equation...

I have no idea what controller you are using but is it possible that the controller voltage output is turned down too low to engage the brakes enough to feel them?

gunner7243

There is no power on the brake pin when you push on the brakes. The brake controller is a Curt C51110

CTD NUT

You are contradicting yourself here...

It makes it confusing for us to try and help you when say there is a trailer brake signal at the receptacle and then you say there isn't.

Anyway, if there isn't a brake signal at the receptacle, I would start by disassembling the receptacle and check the condition of the wire and terminals and the continuity of those connections. The receptacles are not sealed very well and the connections can corrode and fail over time.