Brakes on 5th wheel not working!

duramax-rob · 05-15-2008, 10:25 AM

Good morning everyone!

I just towed my 5th wheel to and from camping and the trailer braked don't work with the electric brake controler. When I use the manual slide on the controller, then the brakes on the 5th wheel work and will lock the trailer brakes up.

Any suggestions as to where to start looking first? I bought the controller with the 01 cc dually and didn't have any problems last fall. I have removed and replacd some fuses to install my programmer, but I would think that wouldn't have anything to do with it.

I have a Drawtite Activator II brake controller and when I use the slide switch, just the decimal point lights up with no numbers and nothing with the brake pedal lights up.

Do you think it is the controller or a wiring problem? Where should I start since I don't have a wiring diaghram for the brake controller.

I would appreciate any help! Thanks,

duramax-rob

Treeman · 05-15-2008, 12:01 PM

Have you tried adjusting the gain control, maybe it got moved?

New2DMax · 05-15-2008, 01:51 PM

Just a couple of ideas.
Mine has a wire from the harness that tells the controller that the truck brakes are active. I believe this is off of the third brake light switch. Mine changes color on the indicator light when I touch the brake if everything is hooked up and adjusted correctly. I also have a level control selector. This determines how agressively your brakes react. My book says to have the arrow pointing straight down with trailer on, for a good starting point. If this is too far forward, the brakes may never engage because it doesn't think you need it. If the slide works, then the gain is working.

duramax-rob · 05-15-2008, 02:34 PM

Thanks for the replies. I'll check it out after Judge Judy is over. Luv that show, girlfriend and I make it part of our quality time.

I'll reply in a bit. Thanks. duramax-rob

duramax-rob · 05-15-2008, 06:35 PM

Judge Judy is over and the neighbor came over. Sorry for the delayed response. I found the fuse for the 3rd light and it was blown. Had to go get some and replaced. Now the brake controlller decimal light comes on when I step on the brake, but there are no numbers. I have moved all the adjustments around and still no numbers.

Is that normal until you connect the 5th wheel into the connector?

Thanks for the responces. duramax-rob

New2DMax · 05-16-2008, 12:28 PM

Yes, my Tekonsha (sp) only has 1 L.E.D., and this doesn't even light up until I am hooked to a trailer with brakes. This is a safety feature to let you know your cable is connecting the tow vehicle to the trailer.

06AFDmax · 05-16-2008, 11:05 PM

With my brake controller... I will have the 1 LED light when I step on the brakes not connected to a trailer.. then with a trailer connected it will show numbers

ronk49753 · 05-19-2008, 10:56 AM

Dweebs write firmware for brake controllers. My Bully forever flashes a constant *E3 error code which in the manual says that the trailer brake solenoid circuit is open. Of course it's open you idiot programmer, the trailer is not connected to the truck!!!! The thing works great when a trailer is connected tho.
Yes - the controller needs to know when you step on the brake pedal, once that wire goes to 12V, then the controllers motion sensor will sense how fast the truck is slowing down and apply the correct amount of voltage to the trailer brake solenoid circuit which applies the trailer brakes from a low voltage "soft" stop or a 12V "panic" stop. The controllers manual slide bypases the brake on wire and the motion sensor and simply panic stops the trailer.
If you have access to a voltmeter, test each wire on the back of the controller & see if one of them goes to 12V when you press on the brake pedal. If none go to 12V then you have a problem in the truck wiring or switches (I am assuming that the brake lights in the truck work OK). If one does go to 12V, then the problem is in the controller. It may well simply be that you have the gain turned down too far (hopefully). The gain control is a potentiometer and the contacts inside are therefore subject to corrosion if not moved very much. Sweeping the gain knob back and forth several times will usually clean up the contacts.
Hope this helps