Troubleshooting Primus IQ Brake Controller that Shows N.C. After Two Hours of Use

Question

Question:

Hello. I have a 2006 dodge 3500 with a 1.5 year old primus iq controller it’s Hooked to a 2 axle trailer that is 2 months older than the controller. On a trip this past weekend hauling a car to Boise from missoula I stopped to check my load, about an hour into the trip and had no trailer brakes. Controller had the 2 dots showing, slid the manual slide said n.c. Tried disconnecting and reconnecting the trailer nothing. Got to Boise delivered the car went end to end on the trailer everything appears sound. Went under the dash to Double check things,I’m using the harness provided disconnected the controller everything looked fine. Reattached the controller and it was working again. Disconnect the trailer went on about my business when I Re hooked a day later to come home?? N.c. Code. Disconnected the controller and reconnected had brakes. For about 2 hour’s and then bam they were gone again. Any ideas where to start??? I got home disconnected the controller and reconnected and it is again working. If I unhook and rehook the trailer n.c. Thank you. John.

asked by: John G

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Expert Reply:

When you disconnect or unplug a brake controller you are "reseting" it so what you are most likely encountering is an internal problem with your brake controller that once it gets reset it starts to work again till the internal problem comes back.

Since every time you reset the controller it works for a period of time that is a very strong indicator that the problem is the controller. I'd recommend replacing it at this point.

For a brake controller I would recommend the Prodigy P3 Brake Controller part # 90195. This is our best selling brake controller because of how well it works and how easy it is to setup. This is a proportional brake controller that senses the amount of braking the tow vehicle is applying and applies a proportionate amount to the trailer brakes. This will be the last brake controller you buy. It can easily be transferred to future vehicles as well and will plug right into the connector your Primus IQ plugged into.

expert reply by: Jameson C

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Answer 1

Although the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 #90195 and Primus IQ #TK90160 electric brake controllers are very similar they do have some key differences as well. For one the P3 is designed to work with electric and electric over hydraulic brake systems. The…

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Answer 2

The controller is only putting out voltage when the manual switch is applied on the brake controller, but not when the vehicle brakes are applied, is that correct? The most likely problem is that the controller is not getting the input that the…

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Answer 3

I have a suspicion about what might be causing the problem you mention. Do your trucks have 6-way trailer connectors? Or, do the trucks have 7-way connectors, but you are using a 6-way to 7-way adapters because the trailers use 6-way connectors?…

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Answer 4

Something is obviously causing a voltage drop between the brake controller and the trailer connector. The usual culprit in this type of situation is a break in the wire or a corroded wire. Check the wiring under the truck. You should be able to trace…

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Answer 5

The red wire on a brake controller signals the controller that you are stepping on the brake pedal, so it has to be connected. It does not operate the brake lights on the trailer. It attaches to the cold side of the brake switch. The brake switch is…

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Answer 6

Testing the brake controller is fairly easy. Sever the blue brake output wire near the brake controller leaving enough room to reconnect it and then apply the manual slide. Using a circuit tester like the Quickee Tester, part #PTW2993, you should get…

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Answer 7

With the brake controller gain turned all the way up, you should be seeing closer to 12-volts at your trailer connector. You are losing voltage somewhere between the brake controller and the trailer connector. I am assuming that by electric brake…

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Answer 8

Its not uncommon for there to be slight voltage drop off over a certain distance but with the brake controller set to the maximum you should still be getting 12 volts at the brake magnets. We need to determine if the low voltage is coming from the…

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Answer 9

If you are only getting 1.5 volts at your brakes then there is an issue, but there is not a fuse that controls the brakes. There are a number of possible issues so you will need to find out if the issue is on the brake controller, truck, or trailer.…

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Answer 10

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 11

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 12

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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