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No power to trailer brakes on my 04 Dakota

Posted By: 6PAX

No power to trailer brakes on my 04 Dakota - 10/23/17 09:17 PM

I have an 2004 Dakota with the factory installed trailer tow package. I bought a car trailer with electric trailer brakes which replaces my old trailer that had surge brakes. I hooked it up today to make sure everything works and although I have power to all of the lights, there is no power to the brakes. I am using a Draw-Tite Activator II brake controller. I checked for power at the socket under the back bumper and there wasn't any. I then checked for power at the splice where the controller wiring is connected to the factory supplied plug which gets plugged in under the dash. No power there either. Checked the fuses, all are good. I then disconnected the brake controller from the factory harness and then removed the plug-in part of the factory harness from the socket mounted under the dash. Checked all four connectors in the socket with a circuit tester. The red lead has constant power. The white lead has power when the brake pedal is pushed. Both the black and blue leads there is nothing. The little decimal light on the controller is on all the time except when the brake pedal is pushed the light goes out. No numeric readouts on the controller at all. Any thoughts you may have on where my problem might be would be appreciated.
Posted By: Dave Hall

Re: No power to trailer brakes on my 04 Dakota - 10/23/17 09:30 PM

I want to say that the white lead is what you're after. Somehow it's not getting past the controller. If the dot goes out when you push the brake I would imagine that the controller is seeing the power just not sending it to the rear. A factory service manual would probably help. You can download them for about $10.00 on line. I have an '04 dually and my truck constantly sends the brake light on the left. Turns out those relays are not serviceable by anyone other than an electronics expert. They are built in to the Vehicle Command Center. Go figure. Damn Germans! Why wouldn't those relays be serviceable on a vehicle that is MADE to tow??? Good luck man, I feel your pain.
Posted By: J_BODY

Re: No power to trailer brakes on my 04 Dakota - 10/24/17 01:39 AM

man.... I don't remember a Dak having trailer brake wiring factory.
Posted By: J_BODY

Re: No power to trailer brakes on my 04 Dakota - 10/24/17 01:46 AM

Ok.... 4 wires at brake connector factory are R/blk=12v, wht/tan=12v with brake applied, Blk=ground, ltblu= power from brake controller to trailer brake. Fuse 5 and 6 in the PDC both play a part in brake control operation.
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