Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Brake Controller Installation for 2008 Toyota Highlander

Updated 07/29/2019 | Published 07/26/2019

Products Featured in This Question

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

(2763)

$159.97

T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector

(942)

$46.68

Mounting Pocket for Tekonsha Prodigy Proportional Brake Controller

(175)

$17.05

Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires

(3397)

$121.18

Replacement Mounting Bracket for Tekonsha Prodigy and P2

(46)

$10.59

Question:

I have a 2008 Toyota Highlander Limited and had a Tekonsha P2 Brake Controller installed that I moved from another vehicle earlier this year. I brought the camper home from storage earlier this summer, then two weeks ago we pulled our Scamp a a campsite a few hours away, both w/o any problems. Last weekend, halfway back home the dash lit up like a Christmas tree with warning lights and warning messages claimed all sorts of systems had failed - brakes, traction control, ABS, Power Steering, VCS, etc, and the electric power steering was on and off. Otherwise the car drove fine, except the speedometer was dead! The service writer at the local Toyota dealer assured me it was safe to drive home and have looked at by my regular mechanic, so we did. My mechanic plugged in his analyzer and saw a code for a bad speed sensor and a found a blown fuse for it. He also saw some Tech Bulletins which advised about the right way to wire a brake controller on this vehicle, but the drawing of the right way was missing! I see your post re: 2008 Hybrid Highlander, but some of the documents you mentioned are not linked to... Is a P2 Controller on the Non-Hybrid wired the same? HELP! Thanks!

asked by: Brian P

Expert Reply:

The tech bulletin you were referring to is likely one that simply says there is no plug available for a brake controller like the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 # 90885, which means this particular brake controller must be hardwired into your vehicle. This controller is wired the same for all Highlanders, which means the white is ground, black is 12V power, blue is brake controller output and red gets connected to the cold side of the stoplight switch (which means there is only power to this wire when the brake pedal is depressed).

If you don't have the factory tow package you'll need 4-flat # 118449 and Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller # ETBC7 for the install.

I have added links to video installs of a brake controller on Toyota Highlanders for you to take a look at as well as a link to a help article on brake controller installation which I recommend reading. Additionally, to mount the P2 in your car you may need Mounting Pocket # 7686 or Replacement Mounting Bracket for Tekonsha Prodigy and P2 # P7685.