Troubleshooting Prodigy P3 Brake Controller No Longer Sensing Connection with Trailer
Updated 07/02/2019 | Published 07/01/2019
Question:
I have P3 controller installed in a 1988 f-350. It used to be when I hooked up a trailer it would lightly blipinch the brakes enough to activate them but not enough to trigger the stop lights. I could see the output voltage jump between .12 volts and 0 volts, output amperage would alternate as well, in a rhythmic pattern. Now when I connect a trailer it does not show a connection. I can maually activate the controller and it will send power to a test light hooked to the brake pin of my 7-way vehicle side plug. Do I have a bad trailer ground all other trailer lights work as they should or does the controller have an internal issue? Anything else I can do to check/test this unit? Thanks
asked by: Cody R
Expert Reply:
The small pulses of power you used to get on the blue wire of the Prodigy P3 # 90195 in your 1988 Ford F-350 is the controller's way of looking for a trailer connection. If the P3 is no longer showing a connection with the trailer and these pulses aren't happening then the controller itself could indeed be the problem but there are a couple of things you can check first to be sure.
The first thing I recommend doing is simply resetting the P3 which you can do by unplugging it from power and letting it sit for 10 minutes or so before reconnecting it.
If doing this doesn't resolve the issue go back to the 7-Way on the F-350 and inspect it for any debris or corrosion that might be built up around the pins, cleaning it out as needed. It could be that there's some debris preventing a good connection with the trailer's 7-Way.
Lastly you will want to test the brake controller. Sever the blue wire coming from the back of the P3, leaving a length of just a few inches. Test the wire here with your circuit tester to see if you can detect the pulsing power that you had before. If you do then you know there's an issue on the blue wire somewhere between the controller and the 7-Way. Simply inspect this wire the length of the truck and look for any pinched or exposed sections that need to be repaired/replaced.
If none of the above fixed the issue and you didn't get the pulsing at the severed wire then there is an internal fault on the controller and it will need to be replaced. Keep in mind that the P3 does come with a limited lifetime warranty.
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on Trailer Brake Controller
