Electric/Hydraulic Trailer Brakes....................HELP !
Hi All,
Hoping someone may be able to point me in the right direction wrt trailer brake problems. I'm running a Breaksafe Series 5000 and Hydrastar HBA-12. Tow vehicle has a Tekonsha Voyager fitted. All has been fine since system was first fitted around 5/6 years ago.
Several weeks ago I seemed to develop an intermitant problem. After hooking up the trailer, depressing the brake pedal would cause the light on the Tekonsha to flash red to green continously and the trailer brakes were not operating. They would then start to operate after a few minutes. As of last Sunday they no longer work at all, Tekonsha light no longer flashes red/green, just stays green when brake pedal is depressed.. Pressing the test button on the Breaksafe operates the trailer brakes.
I have checked all wiring and it appears to be all good, checked connections in both plugs and found nothing out of place. I expect the problem to be either the Tekonsha or the Breaksafe. Any suggestions, or can anyone tell me how I might be able to pinpoint what is at fault ? Thanks in advance for any advice.
The Saint
kempy
Posts: 810
Date Joined: 28/05/09
Very unlikely the tekonsha
Very unlikely the tekonsha unit to pack up have only have seen 1 in 100. Have you drowned the brake unit on the trailer?
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Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
With Kempy, likely to be
With Kempy, likely to be wiring
The Saint
Posts: 473
Date Joined: 30/01/13
Thankyou
Thanks for the replies fellas,
Kempy, brake unit on trailer has definately never been wet. Being an auto sparky can you tell me if it is possible to hook up a meter to the car plug to determine whether the problem is on the car or the trailer ?
Bodie, my initial thought was wiring but I've checked all connections including inside both plugs and all seems good.
Cheers,
The Saint
joel231
Posts: 107
Date Joined: 18/09/12
pin 5 is usually the hot
pin 5 is usually the hot wire for your electric brakes, so get someone to push the breaks on and while testing for power at the trailer plug. If there is no power there, then trace it back, also check to see if there is power coming from your brake controller and go from there.
Cheers Joel
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
I had issues with my brakes
I had issues with my brakes at one stage. wiring was all good at plug and socket... the adapter was dead shorting but haha.
Yes you can check your pin with a multi meter. Kempy should be able to explain better than me haha
The Saint
Posts: 473
Date Joined: 30/01/13
Thanks Joel
Thanks Joel,
Yes, 5 pin is the blue wire for the brakes. 2 pin is the black 12 volt supply that is required with the Breaksafe Series 5000.
The 2 pin is showing 12 plus volts on a multi meter, it also lights up a test light.
The 5 pin is showing 12 plus volts on a multi meter ( no change when the manual slide is operated on the controller), but DOESN'T light up a test light.
I'm scratching my head !
Cheers,
The Saint
kempy
Posts: 810
Date Joined: 28/05/09
Sounds like your not getting
Sounds like your not getting anything from the unit but sometimes the test light isnt enough resistance to make it work. What I would do is use a battery and test out your trailer first so that you can eliminate the trailer first. To do this you would have to hook up earth to pin 3 power to pin 2 and activate it by power pin 5 and maybe 6.
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shortfuse
Posts: 211
Date Joined: 02/01/12
Have a close look at the
Have a close look at the connections, if they are terminated with scotch locks toss em out they can cause high resistance joints where you can measure 12v unloaded but as soon as a load is applied the voltage will drop right off.
Solder all the connections, check fuse holders that could also cause similar issues seen them where the contacts melt into the holders and cause similar high resistance issues
The Saint
Posts: 473
Date Joined: 30/01/13
Will try tomorrow
Will try that tomorrow Kempy. To determine whether it is the car or the trailer would be a start.
Shortfuse, no scotch locks or connectors, all joints are solder and heat shrink, all fuses and circuit breaker OK
Cheers fellas, appreciate your efforts to assist.
The Saint
The Saint
Posts: 473
Date Joined: 30/01/13
Thanks Kempy
Connected everything as you suggested Kempy, and the trailer breaks were activated (didn't require power to pin 6). I'll give all the car wiring a thorough check over once again, and if nothing is found I'll have to assume it is the Tekonsha controller, maybe I have that 1 in 100.
Thanks to everyone for your ideas and suggestions.
The Saint
Brucesta
Posts: 1721
Date Joined: 29/05/09
can you find another trailer
can you find another trailer to test it all on, grab a mate and swap trailers and see whats going on?
Las Vegas - Rolling the dice and trying your luck. 1M+ Barra summer target. 100kg Black Marlin winter target
The Saint
Posts: 473
Date Joined: 30/01/13
Did think of that Brucesta,
Did think of that Brucesta, but don't know anyone with the same Breaksafe/Hydrastar setup.
Rob H
Posts: 5807
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Might be easier to borrow
Might be easier to borrow another Tekonsha to test, i think they all use a similar plug?
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
kempy
Posts: 810
Date Joined: 28/05/09
Generally hardwired.
Generally hardwired.
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Rob H
Posts: 5807
Date Joined: 18/01/12
My P3 has a plug in the
My P3 has a plug in the back, if they didnt you cant remove it from the cradle?
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
kempy
Posts: 810
Date Joined: 28/05/09
The voager version isnt
The voager version isnt removable unless you unscrew it from the brackets.
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just dhu it
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 14/05/09
Loose wire I
Rob I think you have a loose wire on your avatar connection. Lol
Rob H
Posts: 5807
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Looks like it! The
Looks like it! The "give-a-fuckometer" is on overload!
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
The Saint
Posts: 473
Date Joined: 30/01/13
Problem Solved !
It was nothing more that a poor earth. I fitted a new 7 pin plug to the car when things first started playing up, even ran a heavier earth wire and grounded it to a bolt in the chassis (was previously grounded with self tapper), so assumed earth was OK. As a last resort before buying a new Tekonsha I ran a wire directly from the Neg. battery terminal to the earth in the plug. Just like magic it all sprung to life !
Obviously the earth was fine for the lights but not for the brake unit. Sometime it's the simplest things, and I'm still kicking my own arse for not picking it up sooner.
Big thankyou to everyone who offered advice
The Saint
kempy
Posts: 810
Date Joined: 28/05/09
Good outcome then. Like I
Good outcome then. Like I said them controllers rarely go wrong.
Dinkum Auto Electrical A/C & Mechanical Unit 10/16 Kent way Malaga 0438755754 Also Mobile
Open 7 days except when we are fishn For all your auto electrical needs