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Teray · 03-12-2011, 04:55 PM

66 Soverign Brake problems, we have no brakes ready to move and can't get lights and brakes to work. We have 100 almost to go with her and need assistance, any AS near N. Al.?

thanks in advance
Teresa & Ray

au_ee · 03-12-2011, 05:07 PM

What kind of tow vehicle do you have? Does your AS have electric over hydraulic disc brakes or normal RV brakes with shoes? My Classic has the disc brakes. I lost my brakes when I picked up my AS and towed it home. Initially they worked but on the way home they stopped working. Turns out I had a blown fuse in my turck. This was the fuse that sent power to charge the battery. This is the same circuit that powers the brake system on the Classic.

There is a RV Repair shop in the Madison area. They are an independent shop but we've had them work on a variety of RVs over the years and they do good work. I don't know if they can get unique AS parts from AS because they aren't an AS dealer.

Their info is:
Steve's R V Service & Repair
301 Capshaw Rd NW
Madison, AL 35757
(256) 837-4742

Teray · 03-12-2011, 05:13 PM

My brother-in-law has a commercial 250 Ford set up to 5th with loads, he is pulling it for us, has disk electric brakes, but we do not have a battery in to AS

Teray · 03-12-2011, 05:13 PM

They are actually in Grove Oak, Al

silverleeper · 03-12-2011, 05:14 PM

This is always tough to solve a connectivity problem without the ability to see what you see. Airstream wired the trailers a bit different back then and we don't know what has been done over time.

This might help.

wasagachris · 03-12-2011, 05:19 PM

Teray I suspect the problem you are having is with the umbilical cord which connects the trailer to the tow vehicle. Vintage airstreams used a different pattern for the wiring than today's standards. I'm not awrae of the pattern for a 66 but I had to move two wires on my 73 to match todays pattern.
Without a battery in the trailer you will have no emergency braking if god forbid the trailer seperates from the tow vehicle.
Can your brother-in-law work on wiring?

Teray · 03-12-2011, 05:21 PM

We printed that off of the web and he took that with him with the wiring too, no luck so far. Would we need a battery in the AS, this is new to us, as AS is too.

Teray · 03-12-2011, 05:23 PM

Husband can they have two cell phones trying to get her home tonight.

au_ee · 03-12-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teray

My brother-in-law has a commercial 250 Ford set up to 5th with loads, he is pulling it for us, has disk electric brakes, but we do not have a battery in to AS

You're trailer is older than mine and could be set up differently. I have a F250 and one of the pins of the 7 pin connector is a 12V line. This is normally connected to the trailer to charge the trailer battery while traveling. The brake system on the trailer has a power connection that goes to the trailer battery. It also has the signal line connected to the brake controller in the truck. If you don't have a battery installed in the trailer then there is no way for power to be supplied to the braking system. The electric/hydraulic disc brake system requires the power to work the hydraulic pump and the controller (that is on the trailer side). Note that non-disc brake systems don't require the hydraulics or the trailer side brake controller. On these systems the brake shoes are actuated directly by the current supplied by the brake controller in the truck.

Anyway, in case you have an electric over hydraulic disc brake system. Check the trailer and see that it has a good battery installed. You might also check the truck connections to verify that the pins are properly matched to those on the trailer. After you've done all that, check the brake controller and make sure it is operating correctly.

One other thing, if you have the electric/hydraulic brake system, note that some brake controllers are not compatible with them. I know the Tekonsha Prodigy works with it but can't vouch for others.

silverleeper · 03-12-2011, 05:36 PM

A little clarification.

You don't need a battery in the Airstream for the brakes to work off the truck. The battery needs to be in place for the brakes to come on if the Airstream breaks away from the truck. Safety device.

overlander64 · 03-12-2011, 05:37 PM

As others have noted, the color code and wiring pattern utilized by Airstream in 1966 is not the same as that used in today's industry standard. More often than not, you will find that a Vintage Airstream that hasn't been restored is going to be wired to Airstream's unique pattern requiring you to change wires around in the umbilical cable to match the modern industry standard.

If switching the wires to correspond to the current industry standard doesn't work, then, you may have a problem in the umbilical junction box. I believe that the junction box may still be located in the bellypan of the coach in the front curbside corner on your 1966 (but I am not absolutely certain) -- it is covered by a square or rectangular piece of aluminum attached with either pop rivets or screws. Inside of this junction box, you will find all of the umbilical wires -- there may be a problem with either corrosion or rodent damage.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

Teray · 03-12-2011, 05:38 PM

The brakes are electric, and they are brake shoes

silverleeper · 03-12-2011, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teray

The brakes are electric, and they are brake shoes

Assuming nothing has changed.

Yes!

au_ee · 03-12-2011, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teray

The brakes are electric, and they are brake shoes

Good then this simplifies things. Double check your connections and make sure the pin outs match like some of the other folks were commenting. Using a meter you might also check to make sure the brake controller is getting current to the receptacle.

Teray · 03-12-2011, 06:03 PM

they are checking the pins again. Will be back with progress.

THANK YOU ALL

Teray · 03-12-2011, 07:00 PM

they are stamped on trailer Auto Lamp 576 sae-s-1a-l-t-63 where can we find these

Teray · 03-12-2011, 07:08 PM

11/47 fits the back lights on the 66 for anyone that might need to know

Teray · 03-12-2011, 07:47 PM

No luck tonight, home to retry tomorrow. Thank everone for all the advice and help. I will work on photos soon.

pgr32e · 03-12-2011, 08:02 PM

Give a look on the plug connections on the inside at the front of the trailer. When I went looking on mine, I found the brake wire had been disconnected where the wires connect to the umbilical plug at the inside front of the trailer. Good luck............Phil.

airstream66 · 03-12-2011, 10:12 PM

My 66 doesn't have a battery as well. I have had trouble with my brake controller before. It happens when I am plugged into shore power and plugged into my turck at the same time. It fries my brake contoller. Don't know why, but i did it twice before I figured out that they both can't be connected at the same time. Hope this helps.