Troubleshooting Older Curt Triflex Brake Controller Draining Vehicle Battery

Updated 04/27/2018 | Published 04/26/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

(2763)

$160.71

Tekonsha Plug-In Wiring Adapter for Electric Brake Controllers - Honda

(440)

$16.77

Question:

I just bought a new 2017 pilot. I installed my old triflex brake controller on it. My battery drains to a point my car will not start when the car sits for a week. The dealer tells me the controller is drawing 133 mly amps when not in use which is draining the battery. The dealer says 11-21 mly amps drain is ok. What does the controller draw when not in use. Can i install an on and off switch to the harness to solve the problem if indeed the controller is supposed to draw 133 mly amps. Hope you can help. Thankyou

asked by: Ken M

Expert Reply:

Trailer brake controllers need to be connected to a constant power source so that its settings are not lost. With this in mind, your older Curt Triflex controller will have a power-saving mode built-in that should minimize the power draw to a point that it should take months on end of the vehicle sitting for it to drain its battery. The power draw you are getting from your Triflex controller is not normal, and indicates that the unit may need to be replaced.

It is likely that the controller has an internal short, which is causing the extensive draw even with the vehicle turned off and no trailer connected. You can try disconnecting the controller to see if the battery drain stops, which would confirm that the controller itself is the issue.

For a replacement brake controller, I highly recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 # 90885. This is an excellent, proportional controller that features an easy-to-read digital display, 3 boost levels, and continuous diagnostics that will alert you to any potential issues. If your Pilot came with the factory 7-Way connector, you can use the Plug-In Adapter # 3070-P for a simple, "plug-and-play" installation.

expert reply by: Chris R