Help me figure this out so I don't have to take my truck in for them to fix it.

My trailer brakes are not working but my trailer lights are. When I push the brake pedal, the trailer brakes don't work on the trailer and the controller doesn't light up like normal. But, if I reach down and squeeze the brake controller, I can feel the trailer brakes work.  I think the point of failure is between the brakes and the controller. I took my truck (07 Chevy Duramax) in a while back to have a known issue fixed. They replaced the intermediate steering shaft. Now my trailer brakes don't work. So is it something under the hood that they didn't reconnect? Is it a fuse?  What do I need to look for to fix it?

I was hoping to not have to go to the trouble and that it might be something simple I could check. That's why I posted the question on here. People on here usually have an answer.

Are the truck's brake lights coming on?  Is the controller new?  What kind is it?  Check your underhood fuse box for a fuse marked VEH CHMSL.  IIRC that used to be the circuit where the brake controller got it's signal.  Or get your tester and verify that power from the brake pedal is getting to the controller, that would probably be quicker.

I serviced the intermediate steering shaft myself, there was no reason to get in the fuse box.

I'll have to check if the brake lights come on. The controller is new. It is a Tekonsha Voyager. I'll check tomorrow on the fusebox if I can figure it out. I don't know about the fusebox, I just thought there might be a wire connection they knocked loose. It's probably beyond my realm of mechanical knowledge! It just gripes me to have to take something back to be re-fixed and all the hassle that goes along with it.

Also, tell me about the intermediate steering shaft.  Mine's already rattling again and did so after about 2 weeks, so whatever they did, didn't fix it. What did you do that worked? Evidently, this is a known issue with that year model truck and the part they replaced it with must still be defective. It's just unreal that you pay that much for a truck and it feels like a rattletrap piece of junk.

Carol

It has been a known problem for about 10 years.  Mine has been greased/replaced, I have been unable to fix it.  To my knowledge there is no fix that works.

Carol - I have the Tekonsha Voyager.

When you say you have brake lights, but no brakes to the trailer  does the small led light on the controller start out green and then go to red when you put on the brakes?

If it turns red, have someone put their ear to the trailer wheels. They should hear a humming / buzzing sound.

If not, then you need to take it somewhere to have it fixed.

If the light does not go red, you may need to adjust your settings on the controller. I know there have been 2 times when big lugs have worked on my truck and their legs rub the dials on my controller and get it out of whack.

If you think the controller settings are out of whack, get out your book and start from scratch setting the level and gain. If you don't have your book - go to Tekonsha online. http://www.tekonsha.com/tevoyagerintro.html

Good luck.

I ended up taking the truck back to the dealership. They said the controller is bad. One of the guys up at the shop said he had replaced that same controller several time and finally bought another brand. So what is a good controller to replace it with?

Thanks for all the input.