NO BRAKES ; 2019 Oliver Elite II-Hull #448

[BoondockingAirstream]

Tomorrow will be my "BLUE MONDAY".  

Because I am an Ornery Old Coot:    "An elderly person, typically a man (Neanderthalman in my example), who is seen as grumpy, stubborn and out of touch with modern society".  (The fastslang.com definition.). 

I can easily pull a 12 to 18 gauge 'good copper wire'...  pull it under the Oliver, with the possibility of dying in the process.  I am a former 'Safety Man' without a cape.  I can also jump over 16 inch Michelin tires on wheels in one mighty leap... if my arms do not hurt.  And avoid hitting my forehead on my FOUR LEAF SPRING SUSPENSION...  Read that line over backwards, Pilgrims.

Already upgraded all the Electric Brake Wires, installed a new Break Away Switch (as the original was frozen up) AND the Wheels LOCKED UP like a constipated Angus Blue Bull north of Harrison, Nebraska. (Beautiful area west of Fort Robinson, Nebraska.)

 I will call it "Tickle the Oliver Belly Blue Wire Job". 

Boogie Man Night Time Story:  If  kids do not get to sleep right away, "the Boogie Man is coming..."   I am now the Oliver Elite II Boogie Man.

...and if this idea works or not... this will be my FINAL POSTon My Own Thread. (The Ornery that my Wife can appreciate.)

"Just for Kicks... Drive Route 66"... I say.

I will raise the price of #448 and look for a person who appreciates, "thinking outside the cage".  Maybe $5,000, more or less, will make the sweat equity.... Sweeter than Honey.  🙂

Edited yesterday at 01:31 AM by BoondockingAirstream

[Tom and Doreen]

The braking system in our Olivers is inherently simple and designed as such for reliability.  Like all things components can and do fail on occation but in most cases the failure is easily found.  Olivers have electric drum brakes, a description of which can be found here. Olivers do not have an ABS unit but otherwise the diagram contained in the link is correct. I think you've established that by pulling the brake-away pin that the brakes do in fact work which eliminates most of the wiring, magnets,  and the brakes themselves. That really just leaves connectors and your proportional controller ( truck side ).  There are methods for trouble shooting the remaining components one of which is to use a DVM to assure that voltages and connections are correct. There is a method to simulate the brake controller but unless done properly can cause more damage than good so in that case I would enlist the help of a friend with another truck / controller and see if that works. Do you have another Oliver or trailer owner near you, most are willing to help. 

[Ronbrink]

9 hours ago, BoondockingAirstream said:

Tomorrow will be my "BLUE MONDAY".  

Because I am an Ornery Old Coot:    "An elderly person, typically a man (Neanderthalman in my example), who is seen as grumpy, stubborn and out of touch with modern society".  (The fastslang.com definition.). 

As any remaining Neanderthal would likely seem! Perhaps the Neanderthal’s legacy will be conquering the BLUE WIRE, second only to the harnessing of FIRE for the good of all mankind, that is! 

[katanapilot]

With DC systems, 9 times out of ten the issue is with the ground wire(s).  Not always, but after 50+ years of working on cars and other things with DC power - this advice has served me well.  

[BoondockingAirstream]

Thank you for your suggestions.  

Where would this Ground Wire be found?  One bar has 14 or so, Yellow and White wires attached to it under the seat looking towards the mirror.  I checked those and all nuts were tight.  If it is not there,  good.  But... if it is in this group... I need to look closer.

 I know it is a WIRE ISSUE.  The problem is not the 7 Pin.  Not the Brakes attached to the Axles.  Something buried in between.  This will help others in the years to come.  I am just the one to... toss it out and see if someone hits a Home Run.  Thank You.  🙂

The wiring diagram of an Oliver Elite II leaves a lot for imagination... or to an employee of Oliver Inc. who can easily wire Olivers in HIS SLEEP.  As it has been done hundreds of times, and no doubt, all Olivers are pretty much alike. with Brakes.

My Question:  Does the Blue Brake Wire from the Seven Pin Plug to the front outside wheel... have a FUSE in line?  OR... is it hard wired from the Seven Pin Plug to the front outside wheel?

If there is a fuse. Where?

If is hard wired from the Seven Pin Plug directly to the Front Outside Wheel?

The ALL FOUR BRAKES WORK FINE.  All lock up pulling the Break Away Switch.

Again:  Does the Blue Wire inside the Olive run directly to the rear axle.  The ground is most likely at the Axle.

This Thread WILL HELP OTHERS, as well, if I am successful in using Neanderthal Logic of A to B and no detours from A (7 Pin) to the B (street side wheel wiring).

It will be a sad day in Oliver World, if I have to take my Oliver to my local Airstream Dealer who sold the 2019 Airstream to me and it remains... PERFECT.  I want my OLIVER to BE PERFECT.

Obvious to me this was a problem for the original owner and could not get it solved in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He did not respond to my phone call when discovering this issue.   That told me that IT was an ISSUE in 2019.  I want to give this Ollie... testicles... called Electric Brakes. 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by BoondockingAirstream

[CRM]

6 minutes ago, BoondockingAirstream said:

My Question:  Does the Blue Brake Wire from the Seven Pin Plug to the front outside wheel... have a FUSE in line?  OR... is it hard wired from the Seven Pin Plug to the front outside wheel?

If there is a fuse. Where?

If is hard wired from the Seven Pin Plug directly to the Front Outside Wheel?

The ALL FOUR BRAKES WORK FINE.  All lock up pulling the Break Away Switch.

Again:  Does the Blue Wire inside the Olive run directly to the rear axle.  The ground is most likely at the Axle.

This Thread WILL HELP OTHERS, as well, if I am successful in using Neanderthal Logic of A to B and no detours from A (7 Pin) to the B (street side wheel wiring).

It will be a sad day in Oliver World, if I have to take my Oliver to my local Airstream Dealer who sold the 2019 Airstream to me and it remains... PERFECT.  I want my OLIVER to BE PERFECT.

Obvious to me this was a problem for the original owner and could not get it solved in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He did not respond to my phone call when discovering this issue.   That told me that IT was an ISSUE in 2019.  I want to give this Ollie... testicles... called Electric Brakes. 

 

The fuse for the blue wire is in your tow vehicle. Likely a auto reset breaker powering your brake controller. 

Have you tried running a ground wire from the frame of your tow vehicle to the trailer frame as I suggested? This will tell you if it's a ground issue or not without digging in to your wiring looking for an issue that might not even exist. 

[BoondockingAirstream]

1 hour ago, CRM said:

The fuse for the blue wire is in your tow vehicle. Likely a auto reset breaker powering your brake controller. 

Have you tried running a ground wire from the frame of your tow vehicle to the trailer frame as I suggested? This will tell you if it's a ground issue or not without digging in to your wiring looking for an issue that might not even exist. 

Your comment helps me a lot and I will be 'onto' the Blue Wire from the Tow Vehicle to Travel Trailer this AM.  Airstream... works.  Olivier... does not.  Not the Tow Vehicle in my Opinion.  But will not know until this is... solved.

The 2019 Airstream has operated perfectly since 2019.  

Obviously the previous owner who bought the 2019 Oliver new... never would respond to my inquiries left on phone calls, the day after purchase. My radar was done after seeing this Wonderful Boondocking Ready Travel Trailer.  🙂

The Ball on the Tow Vehicle use to be the Ground between the Tow Vehicle and Trailer.  I also have the two Chains, as well.  

I will try to find a possible cut Blue Wire hidden among the massive bundles of wires.  The only option after running the Blue Wire Direct... is my Airstream Dealer in Henderson, Nevada. They added Solar, 3" Lift and went through the entire trailer on the lot. Still 100%.

The Oliver is almost... 100%.  Your point of the  "fuse for the Blue Wire is in your Tow Vehicle" helps me more than you can imagine.  This will also help others check for a Fuse in the Tow Vehicle, first.  Mine works for one 2019 trailer, but not this 2019 trailer.  I tow with a 2016 F350 Diesel 4x4 and easily tows and brakes the Oliver... but the brakes were... not cooperating at all.  

The previous owner's service provider is not talking.  They really ruined the Truma Hot Water unit.  My wife is a Human Bean and they are not interested in commenting about any work.  I just need to know... but left to figure it out on my own.

 If the work today does not FIX this Issue... I will be making an appointment with Las Vegas Airstream in Henderson, Nevada.

Anyone else had a Blue Wire Brake Issue?  You are helping everyone to understand.

 I am a Geologist... in the Open Country of Wyoming an individual has to fix, repair and understand.  Reading a quadrangle Map is a must.  Worked Two Years for OSHA in the remote work places in Wyoming... surprise inspections and investigate fatalities in the Lumber and Oil Patch in 1970-1972.  I was just out of the US Army after 1 year 9 months 28 days getting an Early Out after Vietnam was not needing more of us.  Been there.  Done it.  Now... need to Done IT again, by learning, doing and asking questions.

 Today has to be the day.  Next... Airstream Las Vegas.

 

 

 

Edited 20 hours ago by BoondockingAirstream

[CRM]

3 hours ago, BoondockingAirstream said:

The Ball on the Tow Vehicle use to be the Ground between the Tow Vehicle and Trailer.  I also have the two Chains, as well.  

The ball and emergency chains are not suitable grounds for an electronic braking system. Might be enough to operate LED taillights but then fail to provide a good enough ground with the amperage required to operate the brakes. 

Could be the reason why your controller recognizes the trailer when you first plug it in and then doesn't anymore once you manually activate the brakes at the controller?  

 

[Townesw]

I’ve not read the entire thread. @BoondockingAirstream when you apply the brakes in the tow vehicle do the brake lights light up on the rear of the Oliver?

Bill. 

[BoondockingAirstream]

8 minutes ago, Townesw said:

I’ve not read the entire thread. @BoondockingAirstream when you apply the brakes in the tow vehicle do the brake lights light up on the rear of the Oliver?

Bill. 

Yes.  All lights work.  Brake lights operate.  That is what fooled me several years ago... apply brakes... tail lights work.

[BoondockingAirstream]

52 minutes ago, CRM said:

The ball and emergency chains are not suitable grounds for an electronic braking system. Might be enough to operate LED taillights but then fail to provide a good enough ground with the amperage required to operate the brakes. 

Could be the reason why your controller recognizes the trailer when you first plug it in and then doesn't anymore once you manually activate the brakes at the controller?  

 

Going to try that right as soon as I get the F350 out and plugged to the Oliver.

[CRM]

8 minutes ago, BoondockingAirstream said:

Going to try that right as soon as I get the F350 out and plugged to the Oliver.

And if this doesn't work, there's one more thing you can try before I would recommend calling in a mobile mechanic to diagnose it for you- disconnect your blue wire from the 7 pin connector and run a new temporary one to the load (brake) side of the emergency disconnect switch. You know the wiring from the disconnect switch is good since your brakes work when the pin is pulled. If the brakes then work you know the problem is between the 7pin and where the blue wire is spliced to the disconnect switch wire.