Trailer Brakes Not Working When Brake Controller Is Connected To The Trailer On 2004 Chevy Suburban
Question:
I recently purchased a 2004 Suburban with the Draw-tite Activator Brake Controller installed. At first the light on the controller would only come on occasionally while the truck was not hooked up to any trailer. When I hooked the truck to either of my campers, the light goes out and there are no trailer brakes. In doing some research on your site, as well as other sites, I looked at the wiring and just think a couple wires from the under dash plug to the controller may be crossed. The truck has the under dash Delphi plug PA66 with the blue wire to blue wire on controller, white to white wire, red to red wire, and black to black wire on the controller. Should I switch the red and black wires from the plug/controller, meaning red plug wire to black controller wire and black plug wire to red controller wire? I just wanted to make sure before I go switching wires and start blowing fuses/causing a fire.
asked by: Jason K
Expert Reply:
Before you do any switching of your wires you will want to use a circuit tester and test the functions of the wires on your brake controller adapter.
With the adapter plugged into the port on the junction box the red (Stoplight) wire should be located in the top right position and show power only when the brake pedal is pressed. The black (Power) wire should be located in the left middle position and show constant power. The white (Ground) wire is located in the bottom right position and the blue (Trailer brakes) wire is located in the top left position.
The Draw-Tite Wiring Adapter, # 3015-S, is the brake control wiring adapter we use to connect the Draw-Tite brake controller to your 2004 Chevy Suburban. I am sending a link to the picture of the plug that connects to the brake controller port on your vehicle. This picture will help show the wire locations.
If the light on the brake controller is on and you have no trailer brakes when using the brake pedal or the manual control you will want to check the blue wire connection to the trailer brakes. You will want to use a circuit tester and test the blue wire on the trailer connector to see if you have power back to the trailer brakes. You will also want to check the blue wire connections to the brake controller under the dash.
Also, the trailer or the trailer brakes may not be grounded. You will want to check the ground on your trailer and the trailer brakes.
If you have no trailer brakes when using the brake pedal or the manual control on the brake controller and the light is off on the brake controller you possibly have no power to the controller on the black (power) wire.
You will need to check the battery wire connection at the battery under the hood and the circuit breaker next to the positive post in the fuse box under the hood.
The last thing to check is the red (stoplight) wire connection from the brake controller to the brake pedal stoplight switch. The red wire on the brake controller needs to be attached to the wire on the stoplight switch that will show current only when the brakes are applied.
I am sending a link to the instructions on the Draw-Tite brake controller # 5504. It will show a troubleshooting guide which will be able to help guide you through the possible causes of your problem.
Also, I am sending a link to brake controller installation on 2004 Chevy Suburban.
Products Referenced in This Question
Tekonsha Custom Wiring Adapter for Trailer Brake Controllers - Pigtail - GM
- Accessories and Parts
- Trailer Brake Controller
- Wiring Adapter
- Wired to Brake Controller
- Vehicle Specific
- Tekonsha
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