The brakes stopped working on my trailer a while back and I;m not sure if it is the truck or the trailers fault. I have a tekonsha brake controller with a green light that turns on when you plug the trailer into the truck and then when you apply the brakes the light turns red, anyway I checked the wiring to the trailer with a test light, the wire for the brakes at the plug has no power when i test it but the green light on the controller comes on and when I pull the brake lever for the trailer brakes over the test light comes on showing that I have power and I have power to the rear brakes on the trailer when the controller switch is pulled over but no brakes, Like I said with the trailer pluged in the light on the controller is supposed to come on but it doesn't it only comes on when I test it, because the test light is grounding it, so I checked all the grounds they are okay, I have a friend with this same problem on their 5th wheel ans we couldn't figure it out so what do yall think

 

First check the fuses for the brake controller. After that, I would check all the wiring on the truck from the controller to the plug. Follow that with checking all the trailer wires from the plug to the brakes. Next jack the trailer up and pull the tires off and check the brakes them self. Trailer brakes are known for rusting up if there not used regularly. Sometimes you can clean them up, but if there bad rusty replace the parts.

Hope this helps,

Rodney

 

If I'm understanding your description correctly, the green light only comes on when the test light is on the brake circut, and you have power to the axle connection and the grounds are good. The only thing that it could be is the magnets wires are broken inside the brakes or the magnets are bad, but the wires are notorius for breaking. You have to remove the drums and the magnets are spring loaded on the arm and will slide right off. Good luck

 

I checked the magnets to and they didn't work either but I nevver heard of them going bad so I didn't think it was them but I will try again, thanks for the advice

 

Let me know if you don't get it working. I may have a few tricks for the electrical stuff. Trailer brake wires are the hardest to keep from getting ripped off because the manufacturers usually have them running out a hole in the axle tub or a hole on the inside of the housing. Nine times out of ten they don't use rubber bushings to keep them from getting cut into and the loops usually hang down where they get caught on everything especially when you drive throught rough pastures with tall grass and junk. If you don't have any brakes at all, chances are it is not a wire torn off. The chances of tearing all of them lose at the same time are slim.

Check your grounds. Grounds and corroded connectors are 90% of trailer faults when it comes to brakes and light. Just my opinion. Like I said, let me know if you don't get it.

JWB

 

Amen, more like 98%.

 

Sounds like your trailer.

 

The test light is not enough of a load on your controller. You need to have a larger load for the light to work. I had an old 12v fan that I was able to use to check mine try going here for instructions: http://www.tekonsha.com/faq.html#voyager
Tom