Troubleshooting Prodigy P2 Brake Controller Install on 2018 Honda Odyssey

Question:

The Prodigy shows 6.1 and turning the blue dial only changes it to 6.2 or 6.3. But the real problem is the car started losing power 2 days after installation. I checked all the wire connectors and they are good and to the right color wire. Is there any way the electronic box that came with the 4 wire kit is feeding back to the car computer? We disconnected the prodigy and the car started running fine again. I cannot see anywhere that the wire may be rubbing. I watched the videos you provide for installation of the 4 wire, and then the universal 7 wire kit.

asked by: Jerry C

Expert Reply:

I suspect your issue is related to the red wire of the controller. It needs to be connected to a circuit that only sees 12 volts when the brake are depressed. My theory is yours is connected to at circuit that is hot all the time but you can test the controller to verify it's not the problem.

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 part # PTW2993, you should get output to the controller side of the wire you severed. If the manual slide activates the trailer brake output wire properly, try the brake pedal. If the brake pedal activates the brake output properly also then the problem is farther back either in the vehicle wiring or on the trailer.

If either the brake pedal or the manual slide are not functioning properly you will need to test the wires going into the brake controller. Make sure you have power entering the brake controller on the black wire. On the red wire you will only want power when the brake pedal is pressed.

If there is power on the red wire before the brake pedal is pressed you have connected the red wire from the brake controller to the wrong circuit. You would then need to find the brake switch wire that has power ONLY when the brake pedal is activated.

If these connections check out and the brake controller is properly grounded then there is possibly a problem inside the brake controller.

I am including a link to a video that will show you how to test the wiring on a brake controller.

expert reply by: Jameson C