So, I was mowing the grass the other day and it appears that the breakaway wire somehow got pulled and I did not notice for a few days. My battery is toast. I like to think that I am not a total idiot and can replace the battery without help, I was wrong. The battery came out so fast that I did not notice what wire went where. My trailer is Lakota gooseneck with LQ if that matters. I have blue and a white wire. I put a volt meeter on the wires with the trailer plugged into the truck and got 0.01 volts on the blue wire as hot. So I hooked up the new battery that way and tested the system by pulling the breakaway switch with the truck unplugged and the electric wheel brakes made no noise.My questions are: Is blue hot for this thing? If blue is hot and my brakes make no noise what is my next step? Or should I admit defeat and take it to a service center?Thanks:Jeepplr, not an electrician
Posted 2009-11-03 10:19 PM (#112790 - in reply to #112788) Subject: RE: Breakaway Battery Issues
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
Blue is the standard colour for brake wires. You can determine the polarity of your battery's wires and its voltage with a multimeter. It will have to be charged to operate the brakes. The B+ will go directly to the brakes. You might also check to see if the voltage is going through the switch, when the lanyard is pulled.
Not all electric brakes will make a noise each time they are activated. Before any defeat is acknowledged, hook up the trailer without the electrical plug, pull the brake away cable, activating the switch, and see if the wheels drag when you try to pull ahead.
It's a very simple system, and is easy to trouble shoot. You shouldn't have to take it anywhere to figure things out.
Posted 2009-11-05 12:56 PM (#112824 - in reply to #112788) Subject: RE: Breakaway Battery Issues
Veteran
Posts: 233
Location: Pataskala, Ohio
It is fixed. When the breakaway is pulled the brakes make no noise but still stop the truck and trailer. I drove down the driveway at about 10 mph pulled the breakaway and came to an abrupt stop so it works.Thanks for you help.