Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes Not Working with Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Showing Connection and Voltage

Question:

My 2006 Chevy Silverado using a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 controller quit working. The control shows power to the brakes and I have conferred the voltage on the trailer side of the pig tail at the junction box on the trailer. But I have no brake. I can hear the brakes make noise when I apply the brakes. I have used it on two different trailers with the same results. I have switched the plug from the connection in the bed of the truck and at the bumper. The Tekonsha Prodigy P3 shows it to be working. What should I look for?

asked by: Buster52

Expert Reply:

It really sounds like everything on the brake controller side of the trailer brakes is working properly. It's showing a connection, voltage, and you can hear the brakes apply. I'd assume at this point the problem is the brakes on the trailer. Most likely they are out of adjustment or a blown grease seal is causing them to not be effective.

On electric drum brakes there is a star wheel at the bottoms of the assemblies that you can turn using a flat head screw driver or brake adjusting tool # W80630. Turning the wheel one way will bring the shoes closer in and turning it the other way pushes the shoes out more.

You will adjust the brakes using that wheel until there is a slight but constant drag of the shoe pads on the drum. I have included a link to a video and at about the 4:39 mark our installed begins adjusting the brakes.

expert reply by: Jameson C