tekonska brake controller on isuzu dmax pulling 16ft starcraft caravan single axle. When putting the override brake on it does not stop rig, when using the footbrake it feels as though its the car thats doing the braking. Disconnect the electical coupling between car and van braking does not feel any different. connect van to another car and brakes are no different to my car. can hear the solanoid?brakes moving on van when using the footbrake in car. tried increasing the controller to maximum, makes no difference. Anybody got a suggestion ?
BarneyBDB said
12:50 PM Apr 26, 2023
Brakes properly adjusted? Adequate material on shoes / pads?
Gundog said
12:52 PM Apr 26, 2023
First test to do is to pull the breakaway pin and see if the caravan lights come on.
If that ok check the settings on your brake controller, on my tekonsha brake contrller, the display screen shows if I'm connected to the caravan
gerlin said
01:28 PM Apr 26, 2023
Hi
I always start a van brake set up on a stretch of dirt road
Using the manual override to lock up the wheels
If they dont lock up its back to the workshop
When they have locked up on dirt I set up on black top
Hope this helps
Gerry
punch and judi said
01:39 PM Apr 26, 2023
taking brake drums off tomorrow but am sure the shoes are not worn. Handbrake only comes up 1 x knotch
punch and judi said
01:41 PM Apr 26, 2023
brake controller working ok and have been through the help section on the controller and doesnt tell me anything new
punch and judi said
01:43 PM Apr 26, 2023
thanks for advise but wheels not locking up even when controller is set to maximum
punch and judi said
02:28 PM Apr 26, 2023
Thanks but doesn't have breakaway pin (under the weight)
BarneyBDB said
02:49 PM Apr 26, 2023
Wiring could be undersized not allowing enough current to magnets.
Did the brakes work previously and this is a recent problem?
Gundog said
02:55 PM Apr 26, 2023
If you have access to a multi meter with the manual overide fully on check the voltage at pin 5 Blue wire.
If you have voltage at the trailer plug on the vehicle connect the caravan to the tow vehicle and check the voltage in that plug.
If thats ok then I would be checking voltage at the brake magnets.
Radar said
03:33 PM Apr 26, 2023
punch and judi wrote:
tekonska brake controller on isuzu dmax pulling 16ft starcraft caravan single axle. When putting the override brake on it does not stop rig, when using the footbrake it feels as though its the car thats doing the braking. Disconnect the electical coupling between car and van braking does not feel any different. connect van to another car and brakes are no different to my car. can hear the solanoid?brakes moving on van when using the footbrake in car. tried increasing the controller to maximum, makes no difference. Anybody got a suggestion .
_______________________
To me it sounds like the electro magnets are worn.
You will need to pull the drums off to inspect them for wear.
You will notice possibly the brake shoes will have plenty of meat on them but the magnets will look pretty secondhand.
My brake controller was 20 years old before it failed and needing replacing.
Izabarack said
05:37 PM Apr 26, 2023
gerlin wrote:
Using the manual override to lock up the wheels
one way to work out how the van mounted brakes are performing.
punch and judi said
09:03 AM Apr 27, 2023
after a discussion with mechanic the brakes are working and the problem was operator error (ME). The van brakes were hot after we went around the block (they were working). turns out that the override brake is only activated when you push the footbrake. embarrassed but now happy there was no problem. thanks for all the members who offered help.
KJB said
09:06 AM Apr 27, 2023
punch and judi wrote:
after a discussion with mechanic the brakes are working and the problem was operator error (ME). The van brakes were hot after we went around the block (they were working). turns out that the override brake is only activated when you push the footbrake. embarrassed but now happy there was no problem. thanks for all the members who offered help.
Excellent outcome.......KB
deverall11 said
09:38 AM Apr 27, 2023
punch and judi wrote:
after a discussion with mechanic the brakes are working and the problem was operator error (ME). The van brakes were hot after we went around the block (they were working). turns out that the override brake is only activated when you push the footbrake. embarrassed but now happy there was no problem. thanks for all the members who offered help.
Kind of defeats the purpose. If I understand this correctly, in case of an emergency, you need to apply the brakes
in order to get the override to work??
Cuppa said
09:46 AM Apr 27, 2023
I am unfamiliar with the Tekonsha brake controllers, having only owned a Redarc towpro unit.
Can you clarify for me what the 'override brake' on the Tekonsha is intended to do?
I ask because on my Towpro the 'override' function is operated by a push on the towpro button. It applies light braking to the van only. It's intent is as an aid to stop sway of the van. A situation where braking the van & not the car is desirable.
If the 'override' braking function for the Tekonsha requires the foot brake to be applied I don't understand it's purpose if stopping sway requires the car brakes to remain untouched.
Or have I misunderstood the purpose of the override?
EDIT: Looks like Deverall posted whilst I was still typing, thinking along the same lines
-- Edited by Cuppa on Thursday 27th of April 2023 09:47:55 AM
Gundog said
09:50 AM Apr 27, 2023
I'm curious as to the brand and model of brake controller you have?
I thought that override function worked independent from the brake pedal, that's how my tekonsha brake controller works.
shakey55 said
07:48 AM Apr 28, 2023
I have a Tekonsha P3 and my manual override works independently of the brake pedal.
There is no mention of manual override working only when brake pedal is pressed, in fact this is what is stated on the Tekonsha website:
MANUAL BRAKING AVAILABLE: If you ever need to manually apply the brakes, simply move the manual control lever to the left. The Prodigy P3 will apply power to your trailers brakes up to the amount of power previously set.
gerlin said
11:54 AM Apr 28, 2023
Hi
Does the controller have power all the time or has it been powered via the brake light switch
Whatever still doesnt seem right
Regards
Gerry
Cuppa said
02:18 PM Apr 28, 2023
I hope punch & judi return to read this thread as I am concerned that their mechanic has not understood how the brake controller is intended to work & that they may have been reassured that an unsafe situation is ok.
deverall11 said
04:30 PM Apr 29, 2023
gerlin wrote:
Hi Does the controller have power all the time or has it been powered via the brake light switch
Whatever still doesnt seem right Regards Gerry
You maybe onto something there. If that is the case, what cowboy did the installation. Short cut
tekonska brake controller on isuzu dmax pulling 16ft starcraft caravan single axle. When putting the override brake on it does not stop rig, when using the footbrake it feels as though its the car thats doing the braking. Disconnect the electical coupling between car and van braking does not feel any different. connect van to another car and brakes are no different to my car. can hear the solanoid?brakes moving on van when using the footbrake in car. tried increasing the controller to maximum, makes no difference. Anybody got a suggestion ?
First test to do is to pull the breakaway pin and see if the caravan lights come on.
If that ok check the settings on your brake controller, on my tekonsha brake contrller, the display screen shows if I'm connected to the caravan
I always start a van brake set up on a stretch of dirt road
Using the manual override to lock up the wheels
If they dont lock up its back to the workshop
When they have locked up on dirt I set up on black top
Hope this helps
Gerry
taking brake drums off tomorrow but am sure the shoes are not worn. Handbrake only comes up 1 x knotch
brake controller working ok and have been through the help section on the controller and doesnt tell me anything new
thanks for advise but wheels not locking up even when controller is set to maximum
Thanks but doesn't have breakaway pin (under the weight)
Did the brakes work previously and this is a recent problem?
If you have access to a multi meter with the manual overide fully on check the voltage at pin 5 Blue wire.
If you have voltage at the trailer plug on the vehicle connect the caravan to the tow vehicle and check the voltage in that plug.
If thats ok then I would be checking voltage at the brake magnets.
one way to work out how the van mounted brakes are performing.
after a discussion with mechanic the brakes are working and the problem was operator error (ME). The van brakes were hot after we went around the block (they were working). turns out that the override brake is only activated when you push the footbrake. embarrassed but now happy there was no problem. thanks for all the members who offered help.
Excellent outcome.......KB
Kind of defeats the purpose. If I understand this correctly, in case of an emergency, you need to apply the brakes
in order to get the override to work??
I am unfamiliar with the Tekonsha brake controllers, having only owned a Redarc towpro unit.
Can you clarify for me what the 'override brake' on the Tekonsha is intended to do?
I ask because on my Towpro the 'override' function is operated by a push on the towpro button. It applies light braking to the van only. It's intent is as an aid to stop sway of the van. A situation where braking the van & not the car is desirable.
If the 'override' braking function for the Tekonsha requires the foot brake to be applied I don't understand it's purpose if stopping sway requires the car brakes to remain untouched.
Or have I misunderstood the purpose of the override?
EDIT: Looks like Deverall posted whilst I was still typing, thinking along the same lines
-- Edited by Cuppa on Thursday 27th of April 2023 09:47:55 AM
I'm curious as to the brand and model of brake controller you have?
I thought that override function worked independent from the brake pedal, that's how my tekonsha brake controller works.
There is no mention of manual override working only when brake pedal is pressed, in fact this is what is stated on the Tekonsha website:
MANUAL BRAKING AVAILABLE: If you ever need to manually apply the brakes, simply move the manual control lever to the left. The Prodigy P3 will apply power to your trailers brakes up to the amount of power previously set.
Does the controller have power all the time or has it been powered via the brake light switch
Whatever still doesnt seem right
Regards
Gerry
You maybe onto something there. If that is the case, what cowboy did the installation. Short cut
to getting power instead of doing properly.