Tekonsha Prodigy wont light up

[Gifford]

My new Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller has never worked right. One day, after hitting a bump in the road while towing my small motorcycle trailer (14' enclosed) it started working, WOW, that was nice-- trailer brakes! THen I hit aother bump and it quit again. Sometimes when the trailer plug is plugged in it lights up with a "dot" sometimes nothing at all. When I push the manual lever it flashes "NC" (Not Connected) even though I know its connected. Lately it doesnt even light up at all anyone know which fuse in the fuse box controls the factory brake-controller circuit? I called Prodigy "tech support" and got an older woman, who frankly wasnt familiar with brake controllers, much less troubleshooting electrical problems (to put it mildly)... .



I think it may be a grounding problem between the trailer and the truck, I thought the trailer was grounded through the hitch, so if the trailer is on the ball mount it should be grounded right??

 

[Joe G.]

How was the wiring done? Were t-taps or scotch locs used? If they were there is your problem. If the wiring connections were crimped look for a bad crimp. If a bump make it work right and then another bump turned it off again then you have a bad connection somewhere.

 

[nfox]

brake Controler

That style of brake control will take a ground when the trailer is plugged into the truck to make it work. Your trailer should ground through the truck plug other wise grounding on the hitch ball it might work off and on. My thoughts.

 

[CPG]

As the old saying goes, "when everything else fails, read the instructions". Nothing is like a solder connection.



Chuck Goode

 

[Shooter]

NO you do not get a reliable ground through the ball.



should have bought a Dodge .

Does your brand x have a factory trailer harness??

 

[Gifford]

tekonsha problem

Well, I didnt use any scotch locks nor crimp connectors-I have the factory tow package (Dodge OEM) AND i bought the wiring harness for the Dodge from Tekonsha which has pre-terminated plugs on BOTH ends elimnating the need for splices or solder connections. (one end plugs into Tekonsha, the other goes directly into the electric brake controller plug under the dash) I always thought that trailers got grounded through the hitch ball- but it sounds like the ground is in the 7 pin plug. This trailer is brand new (well, 6 months old now) and I believe that there is a problem in the trailer wiring. The brakes only worked briefly once, but it hasnt really been a problem since it weighs less than 3000lbs when loaded, but if I tow something bigger I'm gonna be in trouble...









1997 Dodge 12v auto w/188,000 miles (still on original transmission!)

 

[Shooter]

check the ground wire on the trailer and trailer plug. could be that it is broken or never terminated. Sounds like a fairly small trailer so tracing the wiring harness should not be to difficult, unless it is a low trailer. You might take it to the dealer and let them do it if it has a warranty. Other wise make sure it is blocked or on secure jack stands if you need to go underneath.

Good luck.

 

[jgil104]

check allyour trialer wireing for wire nuts i f you have them take one off my bet your connection is green /also if you have dexter axles with the wire going through the axle tube is another area for rubbing

as was said no substatutoot for a solder joint did all mine this year cant belive the diffeance

 

[PaulCreamer]

Try your fuses!

Check the hot line to the brake controller fuse. It'll be in the fuse box under the hood and should be at least a 30 most likely a 40 amp fuse. It sounds like you are not getting juice. The new style fuses that the O. E. M's are using can short out and make contact over bumps again. These critters arn't cheap to replace either

 

[DKizerian]

Do yourself a favor and start at the trailer... checking the wiring on it should be way easier than on the truck, and from my experience with trailer wiring there is approximately a 123. 8% chance that the problem is in the trailer... .



I've never had good luck with trailer wiring, no matter how much I've spent on the darn thing...



Good luck