All lights work, hazards/blinkers/running lights/brakes lights. But electric brakes no workie? My controller displays no trailer attached? Brand new controller (Tekonsha). Would a dead trailer battery cause this? Trailer has sat for a year.

 

Sounds like you have an open in either the blue or white brake wires. Make sure you have power to the controller. Have someone start wiggling the wires at different points while you watch for connection. Also plug and disconnect the trailer plug several times to make sure you have a good connection. Watch the controller while someone does this also. Check the ground where your trailer brake wire is grounded on the truck. Check with a voltmeter on the blue wire terminal for voltage as someone works the manual control.
The dead trailer battery will not cause this.

Rick

 

Thanks, I'll check it out when I get home and post my findings.

 

Taking an ohm meter reading between the trailer's neg and brake pins. That would at least tell you if the brake circuit on the trade is open, or if the problem is in the truck wiring or controller.

 

I have correct varying voltage off the brake pin of the truck side, so I'll ohm the trailer tonight.

 

could be bad magnets . might be a good time to inspect brakes on trailer and do a repack too

 

Yeah, ditto that if it sat for a year.

Was any work done on the trailer before it was parked?

 

No service, I used it last year without a controller, parked it at B-I-L's and it hasn't moved until I picked it up Sunday. I was initially getting intermittent lights, but I cleaned/greased the contacts and that went away. I'll ohm it tonight and post my findings.

 

Just as a pointer, trailer wiring usually stinks. Check back at the wheels where the harness connects to the wheels. Make sure you have a ground too. They need a ground to be seen by the controller.

You might want to check all the trailer wiring for corrosion at thje connections.

 

Thanks, will do.

 

Okay, I have open line from Brake to what should be -, but I have ohms from Brake to what should be +

----------------Truck-------------Trailer

1 o'clock........+12v.................GRN
3 o'clock.........RH Stop............RED
5 o'clock.........Brakes.............WHITE
7 o'clock........-12v..................BLUE
9 o'clock........LH Stop.............BROWN or BLACK (16 gauge)
11 o.clock......Running............BLACK (12 gauge)


To me I'm thinking the Blue and White are reversed on the trailer.

Comments?

 

If wired properly blue is brakes,white is ground.

 

Yes, but his trailer obviously isn't wired 'right'.

You should have ohms from the positive brake wire to the negative ground side, tho I can't tell you what the ohms should be. The power is going thru magnets, thus the ohms.

Trace that white brake wire and I'll bet you'll find either a bad connection or a broken wire. If not, check the ground wires coming from the brakes. They DO need their own ground. Tying into the frame to achieve a brake ground just don't work!

 

Depending on which way you're calling o'clocks, 5 and 7 may be reversed, which may only matter if the brake ground is on the frame. Hopefully, you'll find this link helpful.
http://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx

 

I guess i dident think some people would have a hard time swiching or tracing a few wires.