No Brakes (Electric)

timw61 · 04-30-2021, 03:18 PM

I have a 2019 Springdale 38FL with brake problems, as in no brakes. I know it's not a problem with my truck. As I was troubleshooting I traced the problem to the wires in the junction box just below the front of the camper. As I moved the wire bundle the light on the controller went from blinking to steady. As I was inspecting the blue wire it pulled right out of the box. When I opened the box it looks like someone dropped a bag of wet noodles in there so I can't figure out what the blue wire connects to. The 2 brake wires going to the magnets in the hubs are white and either redd(ish) or brown. I was hoping I could find the wiring diagram that shows what the blue wire is supposed to connect to (to include the color of ther wires) but so far I've had no luck so I turned to this group in the hope of assistance. This problem is driving me crazy!

**JRTJH** · 04-30-2021, 03:46 PM

If you're talking about the blue wire pulling out of the junction box where all 7 of the umbilical cable wires interface with the trailer wiring, aren't all of those wires "crimped onto a ring terminal" ???

It "should be as simple as finding the ring terminal with no wire in it"....

As an additional thought: The emergency breakaway switch is wired to the trailer brakes at the same terminal, so locate your emergency breakaway switch, follow the wire: both are black, one goes to the battery the other goes into that junction box and is connected to the trailer brake wiring... That blue wire connects to the same terminal where you should find that ring terminal with no wire in it...

timw61 · 04-30-2021, 04:34 PM

Boy I WISH it was that easy I'm referring to the wires coming from the 7pin plug (red/black/brown/blue, etc). They travel back to a square metal junction box. All the wires within that box are twist tied together with wire nuts. They are not on a nice, neat terminal board. I don't see the color wires in the box that match the ones back by the brake hubs. That's why I'm having such a hard time figuring this out. Whoever did this wiring job should be shot! It is very unprofessional for a big name camper mfg. I bought the camper new so it came this way from the mfg.

**JRTJH** · 04-30-2021, 06:07 PM

Locate the breakaway switch screwed to the trailer tongue. It's the box with the cable that hooks to your tow vehicle. There are two black wires coming out of the back of that device. Follow the black wires. One will go to the battery, the other will go "into that jumbled up mess of wires". Find the connection where that black wire is located and connect the blue wire to that "mess". Secure them with the twist on wire nut and then tape that with electrical tape to keep the twist wire nut from backing off.

As for quality of factory work. At this point, fussing about that won't fix your brakes, so either take the trailer to the dealer and wait the "weeks on end until they get time to look at it" or "fix it yourself"... Once you've got operational brakes, then discuss your disdain with Keystone quality. In the mean time .....

**chuckster57** · 04-30-2021, 06:29 PM

I’ve seen trailers costing 3X as much with the same “spaghetti” in the junction box. If you want to really get a rude awakening, take the breaker panel off, or the rear wall of the front compartment.

**flybouy** · 05-01-2021, 04:17 AM

Like they say, "out of sight out of mind".

timw61 · 05-01-2021, 08:05 AM

JRTJH- Heading out to see if your advice will work. One of the black wired go into a wrapped bundle that heads towards the box. Crossing my fingers.

Chuckster- I'm not even gonna look there. I've got my hands full already!

**JRTJH** · 05-01-2021, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timw61

JRTJH- Heading out to see if your advice will work. One of the black wired go into a wrapped bundle that heads towards the box. Crossing my fingers.

Chuckster- I'm not even gonna look there. I've got my hands full already!

No need to "look there". Here's a couple of photos of what you'd find:

timw61 · 05-01-2021, 10:39 AM

Good Lord! That's ugly. Here's my sweet deal

timw61 · 05-01-2021, 10:40 AM

No room. No slack. No anti-chat or water intrusion protection in the fron hole (in gonna fix that).

**JRTJH** · 05-01-2021, 10:41 AM

That looks about like the junction box in my Cougar pinbox. It's a 2014, so things haven't changed much over the years... While maybe no "preferred status" at least Keystone is "consistent".....

**JRTJH** · 05-01-2021, 10:55 AM

If you really want to do it the "right way" you can buy a 7 teminal waterproof junction box to replace what's on your trailer tongue. Easy to install and makes for a much more "organized mess of wires"... Honestly, I've never felt the need to have something "sealed away from sight but looks super nice"...

Here's the link to one such junction box on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/MICTUNING-Way...a-759801914040 For $10, not a bad price if you're looking for the "right box for the job".

timw61 · 05-01-2021, 11:47 AM

JRTJH- Thanks for your help. Your tip saved the day. I now have brakes again! Thanks also for the link to the terminal board. I'm for sure ordering that. As an ole Navy aircraft mechanic/flyer I like things to look neat and uniformed, so this mess is definitely bringing out my OCD.

Thanks you too Chuck!

All is right with the world again.

LHaven · 05-01-2021, 01:00 PM

So I'm curious -- what color was the right wire in the box that wasn't the same color as the wire at the brakes end?

timw61 · 02-22-2024, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LHaven

So I'm curious -- what color was the right wire in the box that wasn't the same color as the wire at the brakes end?

Haven- Sorry it's been THREE YEARS since you posted your question, but my answer is that I have no idea. I had some local guys stop by and figure that out. THEN I had my camper in to have a 2nd a/c installed and I had them install the junction box and clean all of it up. But I DO know this group is a blessing!

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