Flashing Vehicle/Trailer Brake Lights After Installing Tekonsha Primus IQ Brake Controller # TK90160  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Some vehicles have a quick-connect port under the dash to allow direct plug-in installation of a brake controller, but it sounds as though you did a hardwired installation of your Primus IQ brake controller # TK90160 which would require you to access the brake light switch above the brake pedal.

When hard wiring a brake controller it is critical that the signal input to the controller (carried by the red wire) be connected to the cold side of the brake light switch. This is the side of the switch that carries voltage only when the pedal is pressed. A circuit tester such as # PTW2993 can help you identify the correct wire; you want the wire that carries a signal only when the brake is pressed, and this connects to the red input wire on the Primus.

You can also check that your white ground wire is solidly affixed to a clean bare metal surface on the vehicle, or to an existing grounding point. You can also connect the ground wire directly to your tow vehicle battery negative terminal if this is the best option.

A number of different fault conditions can cause the Primus display to flash. These include among other potential causes a loss of ground, an overload condition on the trailer or a short in the brake circuit wiring.
The installation instructions, which are attached for your reference, indicate the various causes for a flashing display. If you wish to let me know specifics about your vehicle (year/make/model/version) and exactly what the display shows I can try to further assist.

In the meantime, I have attached an article on trailer brake controller troubleshooting that might be helpful to you.

expert reply by: Adam R

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