Troubleshooting Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Sending Same Power to Brakes with Manual Override or Brake Pedal

Question

Question:

i have a p3 takonaha controller. when i pull manual handle i get the same volts to trailer, that on controller setting.

asked by: Nick

0

Expert Reply:

There are a couple of reasons why you might be getting the same power/voltage to the trailer brakes both when using the manual override and when applying the brakes on your vehicle with the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Brake Controller # 90195.

First, check to see what you have the power set to on the controller. If the brake controller is set to maximum power, you will indeed get the same power to the brakes whether you use the manual override or are actually applying pressure to the brake pedal. If this is the case, simply turn down the power adjustment a bit and this will allow for a more proportional braking power between the two methods. I have attached the installation instructions for the P3 that you can take a look at that explains how to adjust the power setting.

Otherwise, it's possible that the P3 has been wired to the wrong side of the brake light switch in your vehicle. If it is connected to the hot side of the brake switch wire, there will be constant 12V power or constant brakes on the trailer. You can check the pin located at the 5 o'clock position on the vehicle's trailer connector. Check to see if there is 12V power at the pin even when the brakes are not applied in the vehicle. The red wire on the controller should be connected to the wire that ONLY receives power with the brake pedal pushed and no power when any other circuit is activated. This is the cold side of the brake switch. You can use a circuit tester like # PTW2993 to determine the correct wire to use in your vehicle.

expert reply by: Chris R

0

Answer 1

I am not entirely sure what process you took so I'll give you some other things to try, or maybe a different way to test the Prodigy P3 #90195. First, sever the blue wire a couple inches from the back of your controller. Then use a circuit…

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Answer 2

The Tekonsha Prodigy P3 #90195 has the ability to show a few different voltages when your vehicle is parked. The first option is your tow vehicle battery voltage which should be at least 12V if not more. The second is output power from the…

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Answer 3

The issue is the red wire of yoru brake controller. It's only supposed to see voltage when the brakes are applied which then tells the P3 #90195 to start looking for deceleration and apply proportional braking power. If there is a short on…

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Answer 4

If you sever the blue wire leaving the P3 controller part #90195 leaving enough room to reconnect it and test the end of the wire leaving the controller with a circuit tester like part #PTW2993 you should see voltage when you slide the manual…

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Answer 5

The overload warning you are seeing indicates that the P3, #90195, detects an excessive current overload condition during operation. This means that there is most likely a short in the brake output wire. The P3 has diagnostic troubleshooting…

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Answer 6

Your Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller #90195 when flashing Warning! Overload No Brakes, is detecting an excessive current overload condition during operation according to the installation details I've attached. This means there is a…

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Answer 7

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 8

If your Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller, part #90195, displays the error message OUTPUT SHORTED NO BRAKES, the potential causes are a short in the brake output circuit somewhere between the brake controller and the trailer brake assemblies, or a shorted…

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Answer 9

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 10

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 11

If you just need a 4-pin to 7-pin trailer wiring adapter, then you can use part #C57672. This will plug into the 4-pin trailer connector on your brother's vehicle and give him the 7-pin socket for the trailer. Keep in mind, this will only give…

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Answer 12

You do have the option to utilize the air brakes on your 2023 Freightliner Cascadia to control electric trailer brakes using the Hayes Air Actuated Trailer Brake Controller, part #HA100400C. However, we mostly recommend just using an electric brake…

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