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Thread: Electric brake problem

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    135

    Default Electric brake problem

    I bought an older open trailer with brakes on two axles. It looked like they had not been used for some time.

    I installed a brake controller in my van and rewired the trailer. So far I don't get any signal on the controller that the trailer is hooked up. Where do I start trouble shooting?

    Thanks in advance.
    Joe Camilleri
    HP Scirocco
    Check out the VW Club Racers Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=309326556818

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
    Posts
    399

    Default

    Start with the basics. If the controller is not "seeing" the trailer:

    1. Split the circuit in half. Make sure there is a controller output signal at the connector on the tow vehicle.
    2. Going to the trailer, and assuming you have output at the connector, make sure that those signals are actually getting to the devices (brakes) they control. You can also do this with a simple continuity check from the trailer side of the connector to the brakes.
    3. Check your grounds. Most of the time the problem is there. Check from the brakes to the trailer frame, and then make sure you have a solid ground connection back to the tow vehicle. In many wiring senarios trailers usually ground through the hitch, and this is not always a good solution. I often like to run a seperate ground from the trailer, through a connector, to the tow vehicle.
    Hope this helps.
    Hero To The Momentum Challenged

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    Wauwatosa, WI, USA
    Posts
    2,658

    Default

    Joe, I have a BrakeMate MT electric which controls the rear axle of a tandem axle. It has a hard adjust & a soft adjust with one red light. The red light comes on when the foot brake is applied. Nothing indicates when the trailer is attached to the truck.

    Is there something on your controler/instructions that indicates a connection when the trailer is attached?

    EDIT: DUH, to early inthe morining. I was thinking install, hook trailer & everything worked a ok. I was not thinking in a Ohm meter testing mode. Rob makes good test points.
    Last edited by ddewhurst; 07-21-2008 at 08:19 AM.
    Have Fun ; )
    David Dewhurst
    CenDiv Milwaukee Region
    Spec Miata #14

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    54

    Default

    This site may help you get it fixed.

    http://www.marksrv.com/wiring.htm

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    135

    Default

    Thanks everyone for the tips. As usual, I'll start with the basics.

    The wiring has a rather beefy ground wire to the trailer and the controller LED is supposed to light up green when connected.

    I'll let you know what I find.
    Joe Camilleri
    HP Scirocco
    Check out the VW Club Racers Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=309326556818

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    135

    Default

    Just to follow up, I replaced the backing plates/e brakes/drums and everything works well now.
    Joe Camilleri
    HP Scirocco
    Check out the VW Club Racers Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=309326556818

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Newton, MA
    Posts
    170

    Default

    Glad that it got worked out... as a heads to people... the follwoing website has an insane about or videos, diagrams, instructions, etc... It has been very, very helpful for me on a few occaisons. No affiliation, just a fan.

    www.etrailer.com

    Thanks,
    BB
    Brad
    1995 Mazda Miata (aka Black Betty)
    #13

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