Brake Controllers

smily · 09-10-2002, 06:57 AM

I have an Escort Brake controller installed in my Dodge Ram 1500.

I installed myself.

I am told and I have read that the Green Continuity indicator is to be illuminated at all time when the trailer wiring harness is connected to the Tow vehicle.

My green continuity light only illuminates when the brake pedal is actuated.

The brakes seem to be working well but I cannot figure out why the green light will not stay on at all times.

I have been told that I have a ground problem but I cannot figure it out.

I checked all of the pins in the trailer connector and I get ground to all pins. I assume that all wiring eventually finds ground according to DC theory.

Other than my reverse lights getting bleed over, it seems that all of my lights are working properly.

All right all of you ET's, belly up to the electrical bar the questions are on me.

Smily

**john hd** · 09-14-2002, 05:59 PM

by bleed over, do you mean that the reverse lights are lit when they souldn't be? dimly? or bright?

sounds like something is amiss.

john

ElliottBartlett · 10-01-2002, 02:52 PM

Light bleed sure sounds to me like a bad or poor ground someplace. Be sure to check the wiring and connections on both sides of the connectors.

Sharon Lee · 10-01-2002, 07:01 PM

Hello,
We had a simaliar problem and had to get out the tester and check everything over again (we had someone put ours in and totally messed it up)
It sounds like a ground is touching something else somewhere. See if ou can ask Andy at Inland RV a private message or get him to help. He helped us figure out the mystery. And as Iv'e said before "Andy Rocks".
Good Luck -Sharon

Inland RV Center, In · 10-01-2002, 07:12 PM

Smiley. Reverse lights on the trailer or tow vehicle??

Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com

smily · 10-02-2002, 07:10 AM

Andy and gang,
I was troubleshooting tail lights this past weekend, as I mentioned I figured out how fiber optic indicator works, but any way on the subject of bleed over.......

I could not get the streetside turn light / brake light to work and the reverse light was getting bleed over when the lights did work.

I was literally scratching my head and I leaned against the trailer and the reverse light came on, Hmmmmmmm. I pushed on the light housing and lights on, lifted hand, lights off.

I discovered that the light housing was loose from the skin and was not getting a good ground.

Talk about the light coming on! (Pun intended, LOL)

I always wondered why there were screws in the curbside light housing,( four corners), and none on the streetside housing.

Now I know. I installed screws in the streetside housing and now I have a perfect bond from the housing to the skin and all of my lighting problems are gone gone.

Thanks for the help,

Smily

smily · 10-02-2002, 07:12 AM

Sorry Andy,

Trailer lights. Thanks for your attention.

Smily