Bluetooth trailer brakes, fried wiring

[JeepMom]

Anyone had problem with using the bluetooth trailer brakes & it frying the tail light wiring? 2021 Jeep Gladiator, bought a new small camping trailer. since we don't have trailer brakes, added the bluetooth trailer brakes. RV dealer had trouble getting the bluetooth to work, determined it was a blown fuse. Towed the trailer home, smelled slight burning smell, couldn't find anything, then Left tail light out message popped up on dash. Got home, unhooked trailer, bought new fuses, tail light still out. changed the bulb, tail light still out. Crawled under the jeep & discovered the wiring from the trailer light connection forward is fried (that was the burning smell!). we've towed a trailer before, so we believe the bluetooth trailer brakes fried the wiring. Anyone had a similar problem?

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[Blade1668]

No I haven't but sounds like the place that installed the BT brake controller hooked up something wrong and should be on the hook for it. "IMHO"
I installed my own brake controller using the factory wiring harness and harness for the brake controller. It's kinda hidden under the steering column up on left side it made it a plug and go. Sorry it's a day late and dollars short information.

 

[JeepMom]

No I haven't but sounds like the place that installed the BT brake controller hooked up something wrong and should be on the hook for it. "IMHO"
I installed my own brake controller using the factory wiring harness and harness for the brake controller. It's kinda hidden under the steering column up on left side it made it a plug and go. Sorry it's a day late and dollars short information.

Thanks!

 

[Blade1668]

There is a few threads here on the brake controller installs, I got pointers from other members here to find the wiring too.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The blown fuse should have been a clue - the trailer brake controller only connects 12v power to the trailer brake wiring and thus the trailer brakes.
Some, again unknown since you didn't name names, will put power onto the vehicles lighting system when brakes are applied (as per law in California for example) but if it's 12 volts, that should be no issue.

The Curt Echo trailer brake controller has no installation - it simply plugs in. Much more needs to be known to know what's going on.

To be clear, you are stating the TRUCK's wiring is burned but the trailer wiring is fine?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

There is a few threads here on the brake controller installs, I got pointers from other members here to find the wiring too.

If it's bluetooth, all I can think of is the Curt Echo - there's no install. You simply plug it into the 7 pin connector and then plug the trailer into it, and connect your phone to control it.

Not enough info here - not the brand or model of controller, etc.
If the TRUCK wiring is burned, then it's a problem from that connector on back (the controller OR THE TRAILER itself has a SHORT)
Burned wires almost always have the source of the problem downstream. Not forward of the burn. So if the trailer wires themselves were burned, the trouble is with the trailer. With the truck wires burned, the trouble is behind the burned area, electrically speaking.
And if it's TAIL LIGHT WIRES burned, it's likely the trailer wiring, etc.
No brake controller touches the tail lights, only the brake lights.
Again, without knowing - are the burned wires TAIL LIGHT or BRAKE LIGHT?
IF tail, it's not brake controller - it's likely trailer.
IF the burned wires are brake lights - could be controller or trailer shorted things.

 

[Blade1668]

If it's bluetooth, all I can think of is the Curt Echo - there's no install. You simply plug it into the 7 pin connector and then plug the trailer into it, and connect your phone to control it.

Not enough info here - not the brand or model of controller, etc.
If the TRUCK wiring is burned, then it's a problem from that connector on back (the controller OR THE TRAILER itself has a SHORT)
Burned wires almost always have the source of the problem downstream. Not forward of the burn. So if the trailer wires themselves were burned, the trouble is with the trailer. With the truck wires burned, the trouble is behind the burned area, electrically speaking.

Good catch I missed that.

 

[JeepMom]

The blown fuse should have been a clue - the trailer brake controller only connects 12v power to the trailer brake wiring and thus the trailer brakes.
Some, again unknown since you didn't name names, will put power onto the vehicles lighting system when brakes are applied (as per law in California for example) but if it's 12 volts, that should be no issue.

The Curt Echo trailer brake controller has no installation - it simply plugs in. Much more needs to be known to know what's going on.

To be clear, you are stating the TRUCK's wiring is burned but the trailer wiring is fine?

yes, truck's wiring fried, to the left tail light, right tail light is fine. it's an Echo wireless brake controller. and now I'm not sure about the trailer. I'll have to check in the morning. Thank you for the info you provided.

 

[JeepMom]

If it's bluetooth, all I can think of is the Curt Echo - there's no install. You simply plug it into the 7 pin connector and then plug the trailer into it, and connect your phone to control it.

Not enough info here - not the brand or model of controller, etc.
If the TRUCK wiring is burned, then it's a problem from that connector on back (the controller OR THE TRAILER itself has a SHORT)
Burned wires almost always have the source of the problem downstream. Not forward of the burn. So if the trailer wires themselves were burned, the trouble is with the trailer. With the truck wires burned, the trouble is behind the burned area, electrically speaking.
And if it's TAIL LIGHT WIRES burned, it's likely the trailer wiring, etc.
No brake controller touches the tail lights, only the brake lights.
Again, without knowing - are the burned wires TAIL LIGHT or BRAKE LIGHT?
IF tail, it's not brake controller - it's likely trailer.
IF the burned wires are brake lights - could be controller or trailer shorted things.

Thank you so much for your info! it wasn't the BT controller, there was a short in the trailer ground wire. Your info helped me in discussing the issue with the rv dealer. They took the trailer back & are paying to fix the jeep!!!!! Thanks to all that reaponded!

 

[dcmdon]

No I haven't but sounds like the place that installed the BT brake controller hooked up something wrong and should be on the hook for it. "IMHO"
I installed my own brake controller using the factory wiring harness and harness for the brake controller. It's kinda hidden under the steering column up on left side it made it a plug and go. Sorry it's a day late and dollars short information.

Bingo - far more likely they screwed up than the controller fried it.

Take lots of pictures of how they installed it. Before you bring it back.

 

[Gren71]

My JT trailer power harness was messed up from the factory.

i thought it was the echo at first. Then after chasing the problem a bit found out the plug in the JT wasn’t powering all then connections to the trailer. Then took it to my dealer who discovered a loose connection in the harnes its self. Had it rep under warranty.

Zero issues since then. All i use is the curt echo.

build date is July 2019 (ish) if that helps.

 

[theMantheLegend]

Anyone had problem with using the bluetooth trailer brakes & it frying the tail light wiring? 2021 Jeep Gladiator, bought a new small camping trailer. since we don't have trailer brakes, added the bluetooth trailer brakes. RV dealer had trouble getting the bluetooth to work, determined it was a blown fuse. Towed the trailer home, smelled slight burning smell, couldn't find anything, then Left tail light out message popped up on dash. Got home, unhooked trailer, bought new fuses, tail light still out. changed the bulb, tail light still out. Crawled under the jeep & discovered the wiring from the trailer light connection forward is fried (that was the burning smell!). we've towed a trailer before, so we believe the bluetooth trailer brakes fried the wiring. Anyone had a similar problem?

You should have just bought the mopar trailer brake. It's easy to install and works with factory wiring.

 

[sharpsicle]

You should have just bought the mopar trailer brake. It's easy to install and works with factory wiring.

Why? Nothing was wrong with his brake controller.....

 

[theMantheLegend]

Except that it's bluetooth which is somewhat unreliable. And you said it fried wiring. Plus, if there's a factory option always go with the factory option.

 

[sharpsicle]

Except that it's bluetooth which is somewhat unreliable. And you said it fried wiring. Plus, if there's a factory option always go with the factory option.

Thank you so much for your info! it wasn't the BT controller, there was a short in the trailer ground wire. Your info helped me in discussing the issue with the rv dealer. They took the trailer back & are paying to fix the jeep!!!!! Thanks to all that reaponded!

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