Troubleshooting Tekonsha Voyager Trailer Brake Controller by Running a Bench Test

Published 10/21/2016

Question:

Testing controller on the work bench with 12VDC Battery and an old tail light bulb. I can only get green light on controller to come on when applying power to the stop light wire when actuating manual LED changes from green to red and old tail light bulb lights up in this configuration. Connections are as follows: +12VDC - Black Wire, Red Wire -12VDC - White wire, negative side of old tail light bulb +side of old tail light bulb - Blue Wire Note: With Red Wire disconnected no green light comes on

asked by: Dan L

Helpful Expert Reply:

It sounds like you have everything wired correctly to bench test.

To bench test a brake controller you need to connect the black wire from the Tekonsha Voyager Trailer Brake Controller # 39510 to the positive terminal of a 12 volt battery and the white wire to the negative terminal. Then ground the test light to the negative terminal as well. Now connect the blue wire to the positive side of the test lamp. If at this point you do not have the green LED light on the Voyager, and all the connections are good, the brake controller needs to be replaced.

There's an exception to this. If the wiring on the controller has been modified then the color code could be different. This sometimes is done when hardwiring a controller and instead of using the pigtail coming from the controller, an installer might remove them and run the wires from the vehicle into the back of the controller. This could possibly be why you're getting power only when the red wire is connected. If it's been modified and the red wire is now what's powering the controller. Of course, you'll only run into this situation if you've purchased the controller used.

If you do find that you need a new brake controller I recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 # 90885. It's our most popular controller because of how easy it is to use and set up. And it's also extremely reliable. It can be hardwired into your tow vehicle or there may be a plug and play wiring harness available for you.

expert reply by: Charles S