Intermittant Brakes
Hi Gang,
I have run into a problem that is new to me and that has been going on for some time, albiet without my knowledge until recently. I have upgraded my brake controller to a Prodigy and now I have discovered that I have intermittant brakes!
When I hook up the trailer the controller reports 'c' = connected. Pressing on the brake pedal I can adjust the amperage to the brakes per the instructions. The nice thing about the Prodigy is that it reports the amperage with each brake application, indicating the max amps applied during the stop or slow down event. However, it also indicates when there is a lost or no connection with an 'nc' in the indicator window. I see the 'nc' indication far too often. I can sit with the trailer hooked up and the truck off and the light will change from 'c' to 'nc' and back seemingly at will (who's Will?) (sorry can't help it!) While driving if the brakes are applied while the unit is in a state of connection it will stay connected and report the amperage being applied throughout the stop. However, the next application of the brakes the unit may be in a disconnected state and no power is being sent to the trailer's brakes.
I have rebuilt the trailer connector ( the one mounted on the trailer) by replacing the socket assy and trimming all wires back to bright copper. 25 year old wire ends, exposed to the atmosphere, tend to become brittle. That's been taken care of. The connector cord went through the same process: new connector plugs and trimmed wires. The truck socket has been replaced as well. All connections seem to be making good contact.
All lights on the trailer work all of the time (running, brake and turn). Battery recharges fully while driving.
If only one brake magnet wire were to break would the controller still 'see' the others and consider itself connected. The brake magnets are connected in parallel, I believe, so that should be the case.
Why do I have this phantom disconnect? It sure is good the 3/4 ton Suburban brakes are in good working order and designed to haul down such a large load. Now that I know what I'm looking for I can tell when the brakes are or are not working. Before, it was simply an uncomfortable feeling when the brakes were applied as some times the truck stopped much easier than other times.
Any help would be appreciated.
Take care,
__________________
Old trucks and old trailers . . . a comfortable combination!
AIR 1446
W5CDR
A-6E All Weather Attack Driver, BUFF
USN Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Ret.
'91 Suburban R-2500 w/BBC
'78 Honda GL-1000
'72 Triumph T-100R Daytona
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