Troubleshooting Brake Controller that Randomly Shuts Off

Question:

I have a 97 Dodge Ram 2500 with factory tow package. I purchased the P3 w/ a factory plug harness. I installed it and it worked perfectly. Its been 3 months since installed and Im having an issue where when I connect my trailer it sees the trailer and is fine but then after a few minutes the screen goes to the Tekonsha P3 screen like when you first turn the key on and have no trailer connected, but the trailer lights work but no brakes. Then sometimes it will show the voltage meter screen like it would with the trailer connected, and every thing work fine including the brakes. It does this intermittently while towing the trailer. It never gives any trouble codes or warnings. Any clues to what the might be. I have checked the wiring on the trailer and have found that when the controller doesnt show the trailer connected and I use a test light probe and with the alligator clip connected to the ground on the trailer and I probe the wire on the trailer side thats connects to the blue wire of the controller is will immediately shows its connected.

asked by: Paul

Expert Reply:

It sounds like either the power wire (black), or the ground wire (white), has a bad connection which is causing the controller to lose power temporarily and shut off and then come back on. I would look at how the controller is wired to your truck and check the condition of those two wires as it sounds like the connection is loose.

The other possibility is that there is corrosion on the 7-way brake output circuit that needs to be cleaned off. You can try scuffing up the brake output pin of the 7-way to clean off any potential corrosion and see if that helps.

I attached a help article on troubleshooting brake controllers for you to check out as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C