Troubleshooting Prodigy P2 Brake Controller that Drained Vehicle Battery
Question:
Hello, I have a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 with I think a Prodigy P2. Yesterday I noticed while driving with no trailer and without applying the brakes the brake controller was reading 1.0 - 1.3. This morning I came out and the battery was dead but the brake controller was still showing active readings??
asked by: Tom M
Expert Reply:
Most likely there is corrosion on the brake output circuit of your truck's 7-way which is tricking the controller into detecting a trailer connection. Since this typically only causes a controller to say that it has connected to a trailer you may have other problems as well. You will need to test the controller to determine where the problem is.
Testing the brake controller is fairly easy. Sever the blue brake output wire near the brake controller leaving enough room to reconnect it and then apply the manual slide. Using a circuit tester like part # PTW2993, you should get output to the controller side of the wire you severed. If the manual slide activates the trailer brake output wire properly, try the brake pedal. If the brake pedal activates the brake output properly (should be just a small spike in voltage),also then the problem is farther back either in the vehicle wiring or on the trailer.
If either the brake pedal or the manual slide are not functioning properly you will need to test the wires going into the brake controller. Make sure you have power entering the brake controller on the black wire. On the red wire you will only want power when the brake pedal is pressed.
If there is power on the red wire before the brake pedal is pressed you have connected the red wire from the brake controller to the wrong circuit. You would then need to find the brake switch wire that has power ONLY when the brake pedal is activated.
If these connections check out and the brake controller is properly grounded then there is possibly a problem inside the brake controller.
I am including a link to a video that will show you how to test the wiring on a brake controller.
Products Referenced in This Question
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional
- Trailer Brake Controller
- Proportional Controller
- Electric
- Electric over Hydraulic
- Automatic Leveling
- Under-Dash Box
- Dash Mount
- Up to 4 Axles
- LCD Display
- Up to 360 Degrees
- Tekonsha
more information >
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