Posted 2011-10-29 1:36 PM (#138603) Subject: brakes lock up
Member
Posts: 5
Location: aransas pass, tx
When I plug my trailer in the brakes lock up, I changed the plug still lock up. Hooked up to our camper and it reads that it is conected. Hook up to the horse trailer and nothing. They are both wired the same. any ideas?
Posted 2011-10-29 2:47 PM (#138604 - in reply to #138603) Subject: RE: brakes lock up
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Lockport, Illinois
Is this a "new to you" trailer?Have you hooked up this trailer before, and everything was ok?Are you using an adapter?Is there a wiring diagram on the door of the trailer? Some manufactures don't follow the standard wiring, Rustler and Trail-et were different.
Posted 2011-10-29 2:54 PM (#138605 - in reply to #138603) Subject: RE: brakes lock up
Member
Posts: 5
Location: aransas pass, tx
Have had the trailer but the truck is new have not pulled with this one but hooked it up to another truck and its still the same. no adapter. nothing on the trailer door that I saw.
Posted 2011-10-29 3:29 PM (#138606 - in reply to #138603) Subject: RE: brakes lock up
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by cgirl38 on 2011-10-29 1:36 PM
When I plug my trailer in the brakes lock up, I changed the plug still lock up. Hooked up to our camper and it reads that it is conected. Hook up to the horse trailer and nothing. They are both wired the same. any ideas?
The causes of electric trailer brakes locking up are few:
1) Brake controller adjusted incorrectly for the load;
2) Brake controller failure;
3) Grease on the brake shoes;
4) Poorly adjusted brake shoes;
5) Broken brake shoe.
When brakes lock up due to controller issues. it is generally both wheels that lock up. Try reducing the brake voltage by adjusting the knobs on the controller to see if the problem goes away. Most controllers need to be manually adjusted to work correctly when the load is removed from the trailer.
The easiest way to check for a controller that has failed and cannot be properly adjusted is to try the trailer on another tow vehicle. If the brakes do not lock up when towed with another vehicle, you should replace the brake controller in the first tow vehicle.
If the problem is in only one wheel, jack the trailer up and remove the wheel and brake drum. Check for grease on the brake shoes or broken pieces of brake shoe or spring that could cause a mechanical lockup. If grease is found, replace the grease seal. If brake shoes or springs are broken or excessively worn, replacement on both sides of the trailer is mandated.
If no other problem is found, the electric trailer brakes may be locking up due to incorrect brake adjustment. Try adjusting the brakes to eliminate the locking problem.
Posted 2011-10-29 3:38 PM (#138607 - in reply to #138603) Subject: RE: brakes lock up
Member
Posts: 5
Location: aransas pass, tx
thanks I figured it out had to change 2 wires on it. It does wire diffrent then what the plug tells you changed the # 2 pin with the # 4 and bingo it worked..
Posted 2011-10-30 5:27 PM (#138629 - in reply to #138603) Subject: RE: brakes lock up
Veteran
Posts: 182
I had this happen on my trailer twice... you have to get a connecter for the truck that accomodates for what kind of pickup you got.. ford and dodge are different then the others...
Posted 2011-11-01 9:13 PM (#138665 - in reply to #138603) Subject: RE: brakes lock up
Member
Posts: 5
Location: aransas pass, tx
yea I dont under stand it we bought this trailer new every thing worked great on all our other trucks. then we bought this 2011 and nothing worked right, but then hooked it to my sons 06 and the lights were all backwards. anyway the wireing was all off from what the plug says and we have it working except for the running lights stay on when its pluged in to the truck.
Posted 2011-11-03 9:10 PM (#138695 - in reply to #138603) Subject: RE: brakes lock up
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
I would look at grounding issues.Or, you are trying to hook an American trailer to a Japanese truck. I have seen the Nissan and Toyota trucks to have funny hook ups, and be squirrely to wire . As someone said; Dodge and Ford are different, as is GM trucks. So sometimes the wiring is not standard.
Posted 2011-11-03 10:38 PM (#138700 - in reply to #138603) Subject: RE: brakes lock up
Member
Posts: 5
Location: aransas pass, tx
well not sure what happen cause we have always had chevys and still do so no diffrent brand, its a mystery, someone had told my husband that the new trucks are diffrent but not quiet sure about that seeing how the 06 didnt work. Im starting to think someone opened the box on the trailer and messed them all up for some reason.
Posted 2011-11-03 10:55 PM (#138701 - in reply to #138603) Subject: RE: brakes lock up
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If the brakes lock up as soon as you insert the plug, you have applied 12V to the braking system. This is generally done by incompatable wiring, or a short to a hot lead. I would look to the pin from your truck that supplies the B+ 12v, and see if it feeds the plug socket that has a blue brake trailer wire.
For the moment I would discount the brake controller, until you are assured that the truck and trailer wiring are compatable. If the brakes don't drag or lock up when the trailer is being towed without the plug being inserted, the mechanical parts of the braking system are also probably without fault.
Unless each wire is in its correct placement for each type of truck you use, you will have unavoidable electrical issues. Various truck and trailer wiring diagrams are available from the internet. They can quickly get you started in the right direction.
brakes lock up
