New trailer and brake controller

[rolltideram]

I just bought a new 18' car hauler and installed my new Jordan controller. It was pretty easy to install, but I'm having trouble adjusting it. It never would lock up the trailer brakes. Like I said this is a new dual axle trailer with brakes on one axle. Could my problem be that the brakes are not "broken in" yet? I could tell the brakes were working, just never locked up. I'm going to haul my Samurai to get the front end aligned tommorrow and would like to know if I am doing something wrong first. Thanks JC

 

[Dkevdog]

That's odd... ... ... . especially with a new trailer. My guess would be the trailer brakes, but its just a haunch. Brakes are usually more grabby at first, not less. I'd give Jordan a call and ask his opinion of what to do. If I recall, there is a way to check resistance on the brakes to determine if there is a short or a voltage loss in the system.



Kev

 

[rwitt]

Have you checked the adjustment on the trailer brakes? Maybe they were never adjusted when installed.

Rich

 

[rolltideram]

I need to do that soon. I went ahead and hauled my Samurai to town. Maybe I will have time to look around under the trailer this weekend. Thanks for the advice, JC

 

[klenger]

You can eliminate the brake controller by pulling the break-away cable from the switch on the trailer (not recommended while already moving as you can't put it back in). That applies full battery voltage to the brakes.

 

[RustyJC]

If you pull the breakaway switch, be sure to unplug the 7-pin umbilical first. Back-EMFing the controller with the 12VDC trailer battery voltage on the brake output wire from the controller can fry some controllers. I've never tried it with my Jordan, but I wouldn't want to either.



Assuming you're showing about 5 to 7 amps (1 axle = 2 brakes, right? 2. 5 to 3. 5 amps per brake. ) on the Jordan readout at maximum braking, I'd suspect loose brake adjustment.



Rusty