Troubleshooting Tekonsha Voyager That's Locking Up Trailer Brakes

Question

Question:

I have a 2004 Toyota 4Runner and a 23 ft hybrid camper. The brake controller installed is a Tekonsha voyager. I have had issues with my brakes locking up when I use them, but this didnt happen until after I had driven the camper over 1,000 miles. Ive spent several hundred dollars on supposed fixes including replacing the brake magnets, the controller and all the wiring, but I still have the problem. The last serviceman came to the conclusion that its the controller and that I should get an upgraded one that automatically adjusts. I have an option to get either a Tekonsha Prodigy P2 or a P3. The P3 may be a couple years old, the model number is 90195. I had read about the upgraded accelerometer in the newer P3 and was wondering if the model number changed when it was upgraded. Im a little apprehensive about spending a lot of money on a new controller, if that may not even fix the problem. Do you have any ideas about that?

asked by: Linda B

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

Assuming that your trailer brakes are properly adjusted, I'd be leaning toward the brake controller as being the problem.

The Voyager was a pretty decent controller for its time, but technology has pretty much passed it by. The controller uses an internal pendulum to sense how quickly the vehicle is coming to a stop, instead of the solid-state accelerometer used in modern controllers like the Primus # TK90160, Prodigy P2 # 90885 or P3 # 90195. The Tekonsha Primus, Prodigy P2 or P3 all self-level, while the Voyager needs to be manually leveled. If the controller isn't correctly leveled or if the leveling mechanism was faulty, It would indeed affect the operation of the controller.

How do the brakes operate with the controller's manual lever? If you can move the lever over very slowly and feel the trailer braking progressively harder, instead of locking up immediately, it would mean that the leveling adjustment for the pendulum is in need of adjustment or that portion of the controller is faulty.

The P2 or P3 would be much more reliable, not to mention easier to use. According to Tekonsha, the P3 has had the same part number since its original release and its accelerometer hasn't physically changed, but the software has been upgraded a few times.

Have you tried towing the trailer with a different vehicle? Doing so would pretty quickly isolate the location of the problem.

expert reply by: Mike L

1

Answer 1

The green light of your Tekonsha Voyager Brake Controller part #39510 is to show that the brake controller senses a trailer being connected. If you can't get the green light to come on plus your brake output pin on your 7-way is reading full…

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Answer 2

The green light on top of your Tekonsha Voyager Trailer Brake Controller #39510 indicates that a trailer is connected to your vehicle. If this light is not turning on when connected to a trailer there are a couple things, you can check. I first…

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Answer 3

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 the Tester, part #PTW2993, you should get output…

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Answer 4

Given the testing you've already completed, power is reaching the controller and the vehicle is correctly delivering the stop lamp signal to the controller via the red wire. However, if you're not getting any power on the blue wire when…

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Answer 5

I have attached a couple helpful articles that explain how to troubleshoot your brake controller installed on your Armada. Typically, when the brake controller only works with the manual override, the problem is with the red stop light wire. That is…

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Answer 6

I have attached a basic brake controller wiring diagram for you. You will want to make sure that you ground the white wire to the negative post on the battery. The black wire will attach to the positive battery post. The red wire will tap into the…

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Answer 7

We do carry weight distribution systems with shorter spring bars, however, all of the spring bars for the Reese SC weight distribution systems are the same size. Unfortunately, they do not make shorter spring bars for this system. Instead, I…

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Answer 8

The way I would go about this is to lower your coupler height or use a coupler similar to the Bulldog Collar-Lok Coupler w/ Pin - 2-5/16 inch Ball - Adjustable Channel Mount - 12,500 lbs, item #BD028585, and mount it so that the coupler is in the…

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Answer 9

When we install weight distribution systems like the Pro Series Weight Distribution System #PS49901 that you referenced we set aside 4 hours to complete the job. We typically finish the job before the 4 hours is up, but for a first-time installer 4…

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Answer 10

According to the troubleshooting guide for the Tekonsha Voyager Trailer Brake Controller #39510 when there is no green light with the trailer connected then that means you either have corrosion on the trailer plug contact or you have a loss of power…

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Answer 11

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 12

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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