Troubleshooting Prodigy P3 Brake Controller that Doesnt Sense Trailer Connection
Updated 06/30/2015 | Published 06/28/2015 >
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Question:
unit is showing no trailer connected even though trailer is connected and all lights are working, could the unit have gone bad with lack of use?
asked by: Luis
Expert Reply:
Sounds like there is some corrosion on the 7-way of either your vehicle or the trailer. Corrosion on either connector would prevent the controller from sensing a trailer connection. However, you can still test the controller to make sure it is functioning properly.
Testing the brake controller is fairly easy. Sever the blue brake output wire near the brake controller leaving enough room to reconnect it and then apply the manual slide. Using a circuit tester like part # PTW2993, you should get output to the controller side of the wire you severed. If the manual slide activates the trailer brake output wire properly, try the brake pedal. If the brake pedal activates the brake output properly also then the problem is farther back either in the vehicle wiring or on the trailer.
If either the brake pedal or the manual slide are not functioning properly you will need to test the wires going into the brake controller. Make sure you have power entering the brake controller on the black wire. On the red wire you will only want power when the brake pedal is pressed.
If there is power on the red wire before the brake pedal is pressed you have connected the red wire from the brake controller to the wrong circuit. You would then need to find the brake switch wire that has power ONLY when the brake pedal is activated.
If these connections check out and the brake controller is properly grounded then there is possibly a problem inside the brake controller.
I am including a link to a video that will show you how to test the wiring on a brake controller.
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