Troubleshooting a Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller With Trailer Brakes That are not Showing Power

Question

Question:

I purchased a Tekonsha P3 trailer brake controller from etrailer about two years ago and it has worked perfectly up until now. I tried troubleshooting it and one of your video tutorials leads me to believe that the controller might be dead. The battery and brake light voltage are normal. The brake lights come on with both the pedal and manual override lever, but no voltage goes to the brakes. The brake voltage just reads zero no matter what I do. The 7 pin connector is clean and I added some dielectric grease just in case. The trailer brake wires also have no apparent damage. What do you think the problem is? Is there something else I should try?

asked by: Andrew W

0

Expert Reply:

I am not entirely sure what process you took so I'll give you some other things to try, or maybe a different way to test the Prodigy P3 # 90195. First, sever the blue wire a couple inches from the back of your controller. Then use a circuit tester such as # PTW2993 to test the end of the blue wire coming out of the controller. It should only have power when you apply the manual override; if it shows power at idle then there is an issue with the controller, and it will need to be replaced.

You will also want to test the brake output pin on the 7-way socket; it should only show power with the manual override. If it shows power any other time, then there is a short somewhere between the connector and the brake controller you will need to find.

It could also be the brake magnets themselves.You'll want to visually inspect the magnets; if you can see the copper windings coming through the magnets will need to be replaced. To test the magnets you can follow the help article I have linked. I have also attached some help articles on testing and troubleshooting brake controllers for you to check out.

expert reply by: Kyle S

0

Walt K.

4/15/2020

Hooked the trailer up, when I stepped on brake the controller did not come on and when I felt the controller it was very warm to the touch. Disconnected controller, and plugged it in the next day and it worked. So does that mean there is nothing wrong with it and why was it very warm to the touch?

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Chris R.

4/16/2020

Since the controller seems to be working properly now, it's hard to decipher what could have been the issue after the initial install and hookup. I know it's kind of a vague answer, but at this point I think it's best to just keep an eye on it to see if any problems pop back up, and go from there. It may have just needed to be reset (which is what unplugging it accomplished). It might be a good idea to take the trailer out to an empty parking lot a couple times just to test everything out - if nothing else to at least set your mind at ease.

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John M.

6/30/2020

My control will lock up the brakes when jacked up with the manual lever but not when you push the pedal brake but when on the ground the lever don't engage the brake.

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Chris R.

7/6/2020

If you're testing the Prodigy P3 while parked, it won't send much (if any) power back to the trailer brakes when stepping on the brake pedal. This is because it's a proportional controller that sends back power based on deceleration. Have you tried actually taking the trailer out for a test drive to see how the controller performs?

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Answer 1

There are many things that can affect the voltage on the brake output wire from your brake controller to your trailer brakes such as the power setting on your brake controller, how you are testing the wire and if you are testing it with the brakes or…

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Answer 2

Hey Butch, since you're getting power to the device and it still won't power on, that would tell me that the brake controller itself is defective and would need to be replaced. Since you already have all the Tekonsha wiring in place, I'd…

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Answer 3

You said you checked the brake magnets. When inspecting them did you notice if the windings inside the magnets are showing? If so this is most likely the reason that the short is showing up on the controller when the vehicle is moving. This would…

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Answer 4

That is the only way you'd be able to install the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller #90195 on your 2023 Ford Transit T350 since there is no custom fit wiring harness. To install this, you'll first need to find the cold side of the…

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Answer 5

The trailer hitch (Curt, Draw-Tite, B&W) for a 1996 Ford F-250/F-350 that fits closest to the bottom of the bumper is the B&W Heavy-Duty Trailer Hitch Receiver part #BWHDRH25122 which measures 5" from the top of the flange to the top of…

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Answer 6

You are correct, you should only be getting output when the brake is applied, or the override switch is activated. It sounds like the controller might be bad, but to make sure, you should probably bench test it before tossing it. Use a circuit…

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Answer 7

Your Hydrastar actuator is not cycling on to build pressure to apply the brakes when needed. This could mean that there is an electrical problem or a malfunction with the motor, or even a problem with the brake controller. I have included a picture…

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Answer 8

The B&W Tow & Stow Adjustable Ball Mounts will either fit a 2 inch receiver, #BWTS20048B, or a 2-1/2 inch receiver opening, like #BWTS20049B. None will fit both a 2 inch and a 2-1/2 inch receiver hitch opening. Normally. Class IV trailer…

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Answer 9

All the brake controller needs to sense a trailer connection so that you can test it is a slight amperage draw on the output circuit. For that you can use a circuit tester like the part #PTW2993 with one pin grounded and the other on the output pin.…

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Answer 10

The humming sound you hear from your trailer's electric drum brakes is a good sign. It means that the brakes' magnets are being energized by the output from the trailer brake controller in the vehicle. The issue with the brakes not applying…

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Answer 11

The nc code on the Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller indicates that no trailer is connected. When you step on the brake pedal though it should still say that the trailer is not connected. It is possible that there is a short being caused by a dirty…

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Answer 12

I would start by inspecting the connector on your trailer and the vehicle to make sure there is not corrosion in the connector which could be causing a bad or weak connection. If there is corrosion in the trailer side connector, you would need to…

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Troubleshooting a Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller With Trailer Brakes That are not Showing Power

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