Archived No trailer connection indicated on Prodigy controller

[FATCAT]

Help,



Anyone know how to properly test a brake controller. I can not make a brake connection with either of my trailers (dump and flatbed).

I just replaced my old Commander XP with a new Prodigy this morning hoping this would fix my problem, but it has not.

Prodigy is connected properly and works as indicated in the instructions: (n. c. , b. 1. , b. 2. , b. 3. codes as well as the manual switch).

With a test light I have verified the 7-pin connector at the back of the truck for: left and right turn signal, running lights, brake lights, and the power pin to the ground pin ... all work fine).

But when I connect either of the trailer plugs to the truck I get no connection indicated!!! All I get is (. . ).

Am I doing something wrong? Is there a test I'm not doing or not doing right?



Without these trailers I am SOL on my side jobs and wood season is starting and I need to get my backhoe to specific sites for work.



Can anyone direct me as to what to look for ... both trailers worked fine only a week ago.

 

[R C Cola]

Brake connection ??

First !! Do all lites, turns, etc, work as they should on the trailer when hooked up ? Once that is right. Then, which pin is used on the trailer connector for the brake. ? If you do not know, crawl under the trailer and find the hot lead going to the backing plate on the trailer brake (usually red on mine) and trace it manually (with your eyes and fingers) all the way up front at the plug. Then open up the plug and see which pin connection location it goes to (left, top, bottom, etc. ) At this point you can tell which matching male connector pin should be hot to activate the brakes and check it with a test lite while someone steps on the brake for you, if no power check wires coming from prodigy. If the power is at the correct pin connection then you can hook a 12V wire (12 guage) directly to the battery and run a ground directly to the frame. When this connection is made with a hot 12V and ground the brakes will work. As you can tell it is a step by step process. One hot 12v wire and one ground and the brakes will work unless something inside the wheel is bad but if that were the case the Prodigy would tell you with codes. Hope this is some help !! Good Luck R C Oo.

 

[R C Cola]

Quick Brake Test !!

I will share this I learned from a dealer service rep. Disconnect trailer plug from truck!!! If you have a small 12v battery charger available that plugs into house currant (like you would use on your car battery) you can hook the hot lead to the wire that activates the trailer brakes and the ground to the frame of the trailer. With the wheel jacked up spin the wheel and make the connection. If all is well it will stop, if not check wiring front to back and then inside wheel. This test is used only for the part of the circuit that is on the trailer but can be used also for the lites signals etc. and it is quick.

 

[FATCAT]

Thank you guys for the suggestions ... here is what I found.



Like RC Cola said, I disconnected the trailer plug from the truck. I opened it up and the Blue brake line was disconnected from the screw down lug. I was all CORROADED with bluish/green crud. The screw down lug had virtually disintegrated.

Holly smokes, and I was pulling the trailers around like that!!!!



Well, I bought a new trailer plug, wrote down all the wires and colors and which pins they were attached to. disconnected all the wires and reattached them to the new plug and did a test tool test ... all was good.



Then I backed up to my trailers and pluged each one in ... THEY ALL WORKED ... WOOOPEEEE.



Now I have a new top quality Prodigy brake controler so I can see how many amps I'm accually using for braking and a manual switch that actually works (my old one hasn't worked for some time).



Thanks guys for your suggestions ... I'M BACK IN BUSINESS!!!