Troubleshooting - Hayes ENERGIZE III Installation Manual

Troubleshooting

Symptom
Trailer Brakes "Lock
Up"
Low output to trailer
brakes
Weak / Ineffective
Brakes
No output to trailer
brakes (manual or
automatic)
No output to trailer
brakes (automatic only)
Intermittent or surging
brakes
No output to trailer
brakes, red indicator
light dim or off when
brakes are applied.
Reduced output to
trailer brakes, red
indicator light stops
increasing in
brightness with
increased braking
requirements.
Trailer brakes lock up
when trailer connector
cable is attached.
Controller red indicator
on all the time.
Feel the difference with Hayes.
Possible Cause
Gain set too high
Pendulum leveling arm set too
aggressive
Gain set too low
Pendulum leveling arm set too
delayed
Overloaded trailer
Loose or poor quality connections
Insufficient wire gauge
Trailer brakes out of adjustment
Improper Wiring
Improperly grounded
Trailer brakes out of adjustment
Faulty Brake Light Circuit on tow
vehicle
Improperly grounded
Out of Round brake drums
Worn wheel bearings
Direct short to ground either in tow
vehicle wiring or in trailer wiring.
Faulty brake magnets
Too many brake magnets are
attached to controller
Intermittent short to ground in tow
vehicle or trailer wiring
Defective brake magnets
Faulty breakaway switch
Indicates presence of an unexpected
12 Volts on the blue (output) wire
due to one of the following:
•
Faulty wiring
•
Malfunctioning break-away
switch
Indicates presence of an unexpected
12 Volts on the red.
Remedy
Reduce gain setting
Move pendulum arm to a less aggressive position.
See adjusting pendulum section.
Increase gain setting
Move pendulum arm to a more aggressive position.
See adjusting pendulum section.
Check weight rating
Inspect connections / check with meter
Inspect / replace
Inspect and adjust as needed
Check color codes of all wires.
Ensure that the following are grounded:
•
Controller (white wire)
•
Tow vehicle connector
•
Trailer umbilical cord
•
Each brake magnet
Inspect and adjust as needed
Troubleshoot / repair brake light circuit
Check and repair all ground connections
Repair / replace
Repair / replace
Inspect and repair wiring
Test / replace brake magnets
Energize III only handles 1-2 axles with brakes.
Energizer XPC only handles 1-3 axles with brakes.
Inspect and repair wiring
Test / replace brake magnets
Test / replace switch
Inspect wiring and breakaway switch. Ensure that
there is no voltage on the blue wire when the brake
pedal is not depressed.
Inspect wiring. Ensure that there is no voltage on
the red wire when the brake pedal is not depressed.
Learn more about trailer hitches and towing we have.