brakes 2017/179
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12546
Printed Date: 29 Apr 2024 at 9:23am
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Topic: brakes 2017/179
Posted By: lgblau
Subject: brakes 2017/179
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2019 at 5:32pm
Hi...My brake controller( factory installed) says that my TT brakes are not connected. The dealer said there is nothing wrong with the controller, and it must be the TT at fault.The controller/ brakes worked fine on a recent trip, but not now. Where would be the best location to start trouble shooting. Thanks
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Leonard🌵
2017/179
2017 Ram 1500
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Replies:
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2019 at 6:01pm
Have you checked to make sure the breakaway switch on the R-Pod isn't pulled?
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Alan
2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod"
2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4
Three cats
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2019 at 6:12pm
What dealer? RV or vehicle? Physical inspection is first step. Look at brake wiring at wheels. The brakes will be locked if e brake is problem and trailer batt is connected. A multimeter would be helpful you can measure brake out voltage at 7 pin. I would advise you start by looking at it.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2019 at 6:15pm
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The trailer connector would be the most likely culprit, crud and water can easily get in there. Try flushing it and the TV socket with WD40 or similar material and connecting it to the TV a few times, sometimes it helps to wiggle it around to clear the pins of corrosion. Be sure its all the way in and connected.
If that doesn't work and you have a mulitmeter check the resistance from the brake controller pin to the ground pin on the trailer end. Look at the pinout here (7 way RV standard)
https://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx
The resistance of each brake magnet is about 3-4 ohms and the two brake magnets are wired in parallel so you should see about 1.5-2 ohms across the pins. If the resistance is a lot higher than that then the controller will think its not connected.
The other thing I've noticed on my controller is that operating the trailer brakes a few times can get the controller to decide its connected after all, so you might try that if you haven't already.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: lgblau
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2019 at 6:30pm
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The TV dealer said the controller was ok. I tried a neighbors 7pin connector, and my controller worked. All the lights, turn signals, etc work. I have a multimeter, but not the slightest idea of how it works. I will move the wires around next.
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Leonard🌵
2017/179
2017 Ram 1500
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2019 at 7:13pm
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Also, check underneath to see that the wires connecting the brakes at each wheel are intact also. It could be that something damaged the wiring there. As for the electrical connector, try getting some electrical contact cleaner and use that to flush out the connector. Afterward, apply a thin coat of silicone dielectric grease to keep out water and prevent corrosion. Also, if possible, store the trailer's connector pointed downward so water will not flow into it. The tow vehicle's connector has or should have a cover so that is somewhat protected. There is a mount one can get that attaches to the A frame and serves to hold the connector, Here is one example: https://www.amazon.com/Holder-Stay-Put-Trailer-Camper-Electrical/dp/B00IN9II5E/ - https://www.amazon.com/Holder-Stay-Put-Trailer-Camper-Electrical/dp/B00IN9II5E/ . And here is another: https://www.amazon.com/Husky-81497-Universal-Electrical-Connector/dp/B00LMGMCV6/ - https://www.amazon.com/Husky-81497-Universal-Electrical-Connector/dp/B00LMGMCV6/ . I use the first type and have been very happy with it.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2019 at 7:35pm
The multimeter is pretty easy to use. If cleaning up the connectors doesn't work and there are no obvious loose wires, turn it to the ohms scale, stick one pin probe into the ground connector slot on the trailer connector and the other pin probe into the brake controller slot as per the etrailer diagram. Read the display. That's all there is to it.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: lgblau
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2019 at 10:15pm
Thanks offgrid. I will try the multimeter.
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Leonard🌵
2017/179
2017 Ram 1500
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Posted By: Motor7
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2019 at 6:29am
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I use White Vinegar to clean elec connections...it works excellent to get off any corrosion or oxidation. Put some in a glass and drop the end of the 7-pin in there. Let is sit for 5-8 min then remove and rinse thoroughly with water. For the 7-pin one on the TV you can 'paint' the vinegar in there using small brush(a old toothbrush will even do) & don't be shy with the amount, then again let it sit then rinse well.
Also, make sure the ground(White) wire on the harness has a clean tight connection with the TV or the trailer.
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2016 R-Pod 176T
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2019 at 7:24am
If your controller is telling you it's the brakes, but everything else is working, then there are really only 2 possible culprits. The 7 pin connector, or the brake wiring itself. Both are easy to check. The brakes are a simple, single 12v DC circuit. Polarity doesn't matter. Look under the trailer, start back at the axle, and look at the 2 wires that come out of the back of the brake mounting plates. just follow them and trace them, the odds are extremely high that you will find a bad or broken wire or connector. Just repair as needed. Clean your 7 pin connector on both the truck and the umbilical. Need to do that once or twice a year anyways. I use QD Contact Cleaner.
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Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2019 at 9:21am
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Clean connections seem to be the culprit at least 80% of the time in my experience. Some kind of contact cleaner is essential occasionally and whenever there is a problem like this; I've never heard of using vinegar, but I guess that could work. I have used a knife to scrape the contacts on the umbilical and on the TV bargman.
Things can be hooked up right and look fine, but just a little bit of corrosion or dirt on the contacts can be enough to make something not work.
TT
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser
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Posted By: lgblau
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2019 at 1:00pm
I appreciate all the suggestions. I will try them all.
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Leonard🌵
2017/179
2017 Ram 1500
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2019 at 4:18pm
Originally posted by Tars Tarkas
I've never heard of using vinegar, but I guess that could work. |
White vinegar is a great home remedy for removing light corrosion or calcium build up on faucets or toilets or bath tubs & fixtures. White vinegar is a relatively mild acid that you can use on a lot of things. Periodically I take down our shower heads and soak them in straight white vinegar to remove calcium build up. We also boil white vinegar in our teapot to remove calcium build up in that. It's darn cheap too.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2019 at 2:37pm
Originally posted by GlueGuy
Originally posted by Tars Tarkas
I've never heard of using vinegar, but I guess that could work. |
White vinegar is a great home remedy for removing light corrosion or calcium build up on faucets or toilets or bath tubs & fixtures. White vinegar is a relatively mild acid that you can use on a lot of things. Periodically I take down our shower heads and soak them in straight white vinegar to remove calcium build up. We also boil white vinegar in our teapot to remove calcium build up in that. It's darn cheap too. |
You can clean the lime scale off of most anything, including fiber (but not paper) humidifier filters.
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Alan
2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod"
2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4
Three cats
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Posted By: lgblau
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2019 at 2:44pm
Found the two wires on the passenger side completely separated. Good as new now. Thanks for all the help. Great group.
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Leonard🌵
2017/179
2017 Ram 1500
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2019 at 4:22pm
Glad you got that straightened out! Thanks for updating us.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: lgblau
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2019 at 8:57pm
P.S. I forgot to mention that the two leads from the brake side were clean cuts. No frays, etc. I must have driven over someone with a knife. 😎
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Leonard🌵
2017/179
2017 Ram 1500
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Posted By: craigwood
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2019 at 8:56am
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Had a similar issue last year on a 7000 mile trip where my TV (2017 F150) was suddenly telling me my trailer ('15 179) was disconnected - scary indeed. Of course it wasn't. Found the problem to be a broken connection under the wheel well leading to the brakes. Quick splice using electrical tape and I was back on the road for a few days before the other side of the same connection also came apart. Lowes (and I am sure others) have small 'weather-proof' wire nut connectors available for a better, more permanent fix. I've always hated the wires and connections just hanging loose under the pod - just waiting to work loose, get corroded and quit working - poor design in my book.
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2019 at 9:32am
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The displacement type connectors FR uses are not best practice. There is only a very small electrical contact area. Butt splices or even soldered connections with exterior (adhesive lined) heat shrink tubing is a much better system, but much more time consuming which is of course why they don't do it. You can find a detailed installation video (part of how to install new brakes) on etrailer for this.
The exterior listed wire nuts for residential use aren't meant for locations subject to vibration and movement so I wouldn't recommend those.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2019 at 3:10pm
Craigwood,
I removed all the FR applied toe wraps and replaced with heavy duty tie wraps, 3/8" in width, also removed lot of the slack and laid wiring up and out of the way.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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