Prodigy P3 Brake Controller is Showing 4.0 Power Setting Constantly  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Your trailer brakes should not be activate just by connecting your trailer to your tow vehicle while using your Prodigy P3 # 90195 brake controller. The controller should read 0.0 until the brake pedal is pressed or the manual override is used. The first thing that you will want to do is to check both the connector on your tow vehicle and your trailer to make sure that there is no corrosion or debris that might be causing a short.

If that all looks good then you will want to use a Circuit Tester # PTW2993 to test the connector on your tow vehicle. If it is the common 7-Way then you will want to pay close attention to the pin in the 5 O'clock Brake Controller Output (see attached picture). If you are getting significant power to the brake controller pin without setting the P3 to max and using the manual override switch then you will need to check the wiring on your tow vehicle.

Since your P3 is reading a 4.0 without the trailer connected the problem should be on your tow vehicle. Check the wire that runs from the brake controller to the pin in the 5 O'clock position and look for any signs of damage including bent wire, corrosion, or any exposed wiring. This will cause a short on that circuit and could very well be causing the problem. You can replace any damaged wire with 10 Gauge Wire # 10-1-1 and Butt Connectors # DW05745-5.

The other thing you will want to check is the Red wire at the back of the P3. If the controller was hardwired in then the problem could be that the Red wire is connected to the HOT side of the Brake Light Switch when it should be connected to the COLD side. The Red wire should be connected to the COLD side and should only be getting power when the brake pedal is pressed.

Let me know if this doesn't fix your problem and I can help you troubleshoot further.

expert reply by: Jon G

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