Troubleshooting Tekonsha Prodigy RF Brake Controller with 2010 BMW X5

Question:

I purchased a Prodigy RF Brake controller a few years ago to use with my VW Tuareg. It worked great on my car trailer. Now I plugged it into my 2010 BMW X5 and it will only work manually from the hand held receiver. It will not apply the trailer brakes when I push on the brake pedal. I have narrowed it down to my trailer and my prodigy RF. The prodigy RF will work with other trailers and my trailer will work with other vehicles hard wired brake controller, but not together....of course. I have a 2018 Keystone passport 239ML. Do you have any suggestions or ideas?

asked by: Robert D

Expert Reply:

The Prodigy RF Trailer Brake Controller # TK94FR must detect a brake light switch signal at your X5's 7-way connector in order to generate braking signals (unless you press the manual override). The brake signal should appear on both the left and right stop/turn circuits on the X5's 7-way, the contacts at the 3:00 and 9:00 positions. Please refer to the linked photo.

If you have a circuit tester like # PTW2993 apply it to these contacts one at a time while a helper presses the brake pedal. If the brake signals are present on the vehicle as they should be then move to the 7-way socket on the RF box. Apply the tester here in the same way to the contact at the 5:00 position, which is the one for brake power, while the manual control is pressed. You should detect voltage for powering the brakes.

My contact at Tekonsha suggested testing again with everything hooked up as it would normally be. What happens on the controller display when you press the pedal? The "C" should change to a number.

Can you also expand on how you tested the RF with other trailers. Did you actually install the complete unit on another trailer?

Please also confirm that the unit is mounted on the trailer in one of the approved locations and in the correct orientation as shown in the linked image. The end of the box with the cable must face forward.

expert reply by: Adam R