Troubleshooting Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Brake Controller that Doesnt Recognize Trailer

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Question:

2004 chevy 2500HD with Prodigy 2. With 7-pin plug plugged in I get all trailer light functions turn, hazard, running, brake, but brake controller no longer shows .C. for trailer connected signal, and trailer brakes do not activate. Was working before a 30 min stop, when turned truck back on everything works but not brakes...bad controller?

asked by: Steve

0

Expert Reply:

It's possible the brake controller is bad, but you definitely want to check some other things before you purchase a replacement. The first thing to do is inspect both the truck's and the trailer's connectors to make sure the pins are clean and free of debris.

On the trailer connector at the rear of your 2004 Chevrolet Silverado test the pin at the 5 O'clock position with a circuit test like # PTW2993. You'll need someone to engage the manual lever on your P2 for this. If this checks out then the problem is on the trailer side, and you'll need to inspect the trailer's wiring from the 7-way on back. I've attached a help article on testing the brake magnets as well.

If you don't show any power on the brake circuit while testing the 7-way the next thing to look at is the fuse. I found an online copy of your truck's owner's manual and according to it the fuse you want to find is underneath your instrument panel in your truck, to the left of the steering column. It's labeled TRAILER. This is the fuse for your trailer brake wiring. You might want to verify the location with your owner's manual to be sure.

If the fuse is fine test the power wire (black wire) going to the controller and inspect the wire running from the controller to the 7-way (blue wire). Make sure there aren't any signs of damage or extreme wear. If the wire checks out finally you'll want to test the brake controller itself. The best way to do this is by performing a bench test with a 12 volt battery and test lamp.

expert reply by: Charles S

0

Jason T.

7/9/2020

I have the prodigy P2, and when mashing the brakes and the blue adjustment wheel on the left is in the middle, I get different readings from 1.5 to 6.7 ish, it is all over the board and not the same twice. when I move the prodigy controller, that affects it majorly but cannot find the "sweet spot" where it will read the same 2 times in a row. thank you for your help.

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Chris R.

7/14/2020

Definitely make sure the Prodigy P2 is mounted at an appropriate angle (per the installation manual). If that is fine though, I almost wonder if there's an internal issue. I'm not sure of a wiring problem that would cause something like this. You could try disconnecting it from power, letting it sit for a bit, and then hooking it back up just to rest the unit. Let me know if this doesn't help.

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David L.

12/19/2020

@ChrisR i have an issue as well. Everything is mounted correctly and I have power and boost dots. When I press brakes should the numbers adjust? All mine shows is the ( .c. ) when I move the manual brake on the bottom my brakes kick in. My settings are in the highest number which is 11 I believe. Do you know what could be the issue? Thank you for your time.

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Jon G.

12/21/2020

@DavidL The Prodigy P2 is a proportional controller that uses an internal inertia sensor to determine the speed of the tow vehicle. If you are sitting still when you are doing this testing then the P2 senses this so it doesn't send power back to your trailer brakes.

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Answer 1

The Redarc Tow-Pro Elite #RED44FR functions the same as the P3 #90195 though the operations are a little different. There is a manual override which is what that lever is on the bottom of the P3. The Tow-Pro Elite manual override works by pressing in…

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Answer 2

The RedArc Tow-Pro Elite #RED44FR is comparable in reliability and performance to the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 #90195. The difference is really in the design and features. One of the greatest aspects of the P3 is the LCD screen and presets. One of the…

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Answer 3

Are there any visible signs of wear on the magnets like exposed windings then that would indicate they need replacing. Magnets can go bad without showing visible signs of wear though. To see how to troubleshoot them check out the help article I…

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Answer 4

The first error code, SH, you are seeing on the Prodigy Brake Controller (instructions linked below) means the brake wire sees a short circuit during idle condition. The second code, OL, indicates an overload condition during operation. For the first…

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Answer 5

You are correct, you should only be getting output when the brake is applied, or the override switch is activated. It sounds like the controller might be bad, but to make sure, you should probably bench test it before tossing it. Use a circuit…

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Answer 6

The calibration or adjustment process of the Tow Pro Liberty part #RED24FR isn't quite the same as the standard brake controllers like you mentioned. Basically Redarc recommends a more vague process of starting with a low output and then ramping…

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Answer 7

I would check the power distribution box under the hood of your 2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD . The box is located under the hood and on the inside of the drivers side fender. Remove the cover, and locate the two auxiliary power posts on the inboard side of…

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Answer 8

There are several items you might want to try using for removal of corrosion in your 7-way trailer connector, like part #HM48480. White Vinegar A wedge shaped, slip on pencil eraser or art gum eraser Pipe cleaners PB Blaster If the corrosion is…

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Answer 9

There are certainly a few troubleshooting steps that we can try that will tell us where the issue lies. Changing or charging a vehicle battery with the brake controller connected can cause different and random issues. It could be possible that…

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Answer 10

I took a look at the instructions manual for your Draw-Tite I-Command Trailer Brake Controller #5535. It looks like the "P.L." error code you are seeing indicates a power interruption while the brake pedal is depressed, and the…

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Answer 11

Since wire color codes are NOT universal, we always recommend wiring by function, rather than wire color. If you look at the Trailer Wiring FAQ article I have linked you to, you can see some diagrams showing the proper way to wire a vehicle and…

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Answer 12

The nc code on the Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller indicates that no trailer is connected. When you step on the brake pedal though it should still say that the trailer is not connected. It is possible that there is a short being caused by a dirty…

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Troubleshooting Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Brake Controller that Doesnt Recognize Trailer

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