2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Question to all..

[SField]

Does any one else have this problem with there truck?



Sometimes it's like the alternator is not charging. I've had it checked out and it's good. The lights get dim and then they get bright again.



And for some reason now when i hook up to my trailer the brake controller goes haywire and it comes on and off when the blinker is on, and nothing has been changed on the truck. and it use to work fine.

 

[SRadke]

Voltage fluctuation causing your headlights to dim is normal right after startup while the grid heaters are still cycling. If it happens all the time I'm



The brake controller issue sounds like a backfeed through a ground wire to me.



-Scott

 

[SField]

thanks for the answer on the light dimming thats what i thought it was but wasn't sure.



but on the B/C how would it back feed and how would i fix it?

 

[SRadke]

IF and I repeat IF you have a backfeeding problem they can be really difficult to find. The first thing I would try is hooking up to a diffrent trailer and see if your problem goes away. This will isolate whether it's in the truck or trailer.



When you say the controller goes on and off with the blinker do you mean the entire power to the controller or that it applies brake when the light flashes? It may be as simple as something in the plug that's connecting two prongs.



-Scott

 

[SField]

SRadke thanks for replying to this.



ok say i put my blinker on and then i start applying the brakes the B/C will go on and off every time the blinker blinks, and then sometimes it will not do it at all (which is ever few)... . and i have tried other trailers and it does the same with all of them

 

[jmeehan]

How are the trailer lights and brakes wired? I've never used or installed a brake controller, but it sounds like the problem is tied in with these systems.

Have you checked all your light bulbs? I've seen REALLY strange lighting problems with broken filaments in tail light bulbs.

 

[SRadke]

If it has done it with other trailers the problem is in your truck. I don't know how your truck is wired for trailer lighting. On my 03 there are totally independant fused systems for truck and trailer lights. On my 96 they were the same system and used the same fuses.



The four wires to the B/C are +12v, Ground, supply to trailer brakes, and indicator from the brake light switch. I could guess someone tapped the wrong wire for the indicator (tapped turn signal instead of brake) but you said nothing has changed and it used to work. Please forgive me I'm thinking out loud here.



I'm drawing a blank. Answer some real specific questions for me.

1. ) Your turn signal is on and you touch the brakes. The trailer brakes apply when the signal light is on or off?

2. ) This happens with left turns, right turns or both?

3. ) Are you using the factory 7 prong plug?

4. ) Have you tamped with the trailer wires or is it all still factory?



-Scott

 

[DDT]

Another possiblity- brake controllers do go bad sometimes, for me the trailer brakes give problems first.

 

[RustyJC]

The cure may be as simple as taking apart your 7-pin plug receptacle mounted on the factory hitch receiver, cleaning it out thoroughly with a good moisture displacer (e. g. , WD-40), packing it with dielectric grease and reassembling it.



My Jordan brake controller started showing continuity (i. e. , that a trailer was hitched up) when we were running empty! The problem was that the 7-pin receptacle was packed with water, mud and grit that produced a high resistance short between the terminals. If you have the same problem, you may be backfeeding from your turn signal terminals back along the blue brake output wire, thus confusing the brake controller.



Rusty