Prodigy RF Trailer Brake Controller Lost Connection and Will Not Pair

Updated 10/30/2012 | Published 10/28/2012

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Question:

My Prodigy RF brake controller was working fine, but yesterday I stopped at a rest area and turned off the engine. When I started up a few minutes later the hand held unit was showing .nc. It was showing .c. just a few minutes before. I checked and re-cheked all the connections and tried to re pair a couple of times, but it still shows .nc. Whats up and how do I fix it? I have 2 units that I purchased from you for my commercial trailer and rv. This is the older unit, about 3 years old.

asked by: William S

Expert Reply:

There are several possible causes that can lead to the nc error on the Prodigy RF, # TK94FR. First, make sure that the power module is connected to the tow vehicle and not loose. You can also check for dirt and corrosion in the trailer side connector, the RF connector, and the vehicle side 7-Way. Corrosion can build up at the back of connectors where the wires attach as well.

Clean out any corrosion and dirt you find. Since there are multiple connections in this system it increases the chance that something is not connected all the way or is dirty/corroded.

You will also want to check the 12-volt circuit on the vehicle side using a circuit tester like # PTW2993 if needed. If it is not showing power, then the RF is not getting the power it needs to operate. Check the fuse or circuit breaker related to the 12-volt circuit.

There could also be a bad or weak trailer brake magnet ground. Check the wiring for the magnets to make sure the grounds are attached to clean and corrosion free bare metal surfaces. You can visually inspect the magnets themselves and if you can see the windings coming through then the magnets will need to be replaced. You can further test the magnets by following the FAQ article I have linked.

There could have been interference in the area. If you can safely move the trailer to a different location, try re-pairing to determine if it was some kind of weird interference issue. If all else fails, try pairing again until it connects or until you reach a point where you are certain it just will not pair.

If you have exhausted all of these options then it could be a problem with the internal circuitry of the RF unit and it will need to be replaced.

expert reply by: Michael H