Troubleshooting Electric Trailer Brakes When Controller is Adjusted Up All the Way

Question

Question:

I have noticed over time that I have had to increase the settings on my tekonsha prodoigy brake controller. I am now up full in order to have the trailer brakes work and it still does not see, strong enough. Not exactly clear as the the exact model number of my controller but it was installed about 8 years ago or so. Thanks

asked by: Rowland B

0

Expert Reply:

It sounds like you have adjusted the brake output on your controller but may need to perform some other maintenance for your brakes to work properly. If you have a Prodigy brake controller, you most likely have the original or the P2 # 90885. To test your controller, you can use a circuit tester like # ALL640595 to test the brake output pin of your 7-way at the 5 o'clock pin while using the manual override. If this increasingly gets stronger, your brake controller is not the issue. You can alternatively put a multimeter like # BTMT15 on it to check for voltage as it should be delivering 12V at the max override position. If you are not getting that reading, you will want to check directly behind the controller on the blue output wire. If you don't have the correct voltage there when testing, the controller is bad. If you have the correct voltage in that location but not at the 7-way then you have a wire short to track down or a wire to replace with # 12-1-1.

Next, I recommend checking your brake assemblies by first checking the ground connection of the magnet to your trailer and then using the circuit tester in the same way as you did on the 7-way. Finally, check the brake shoe adjuster screw as the brake shoes if not properly adjusted won't have the braking power you desire.

If the issue is with the magnets or the assemblies, I recommend replacing them with the Electric Trailer Brake Kit - Self-Adjusting - 12" - Left and Right Hand Assemblies - 5.2K to 7K # AKEBRK-7-SA. This will remove the maintenance portion of the assemblies for you.

expert reply by: Jason S

0

Jason S.

1/28/2019

It sounds like you have adjusted the brake output on your controller but may need to perform some other maintenance for your brakes to work properly. If you have a Prodigy brake controller, you most likely have the original or the P2 # 90885. To test your controller, you can use a circuit tester like # PTW2993 to test the brake output pin of your 7-way at the 5 o'clock pin while using the manual override. If this increasingly gets stronger, your brake controller is not the issue. You can alternatively put a multimeter like # BTMT15 on it to check for voltage as it should be delivering 12V at the max override position. If you are not getting that reading, you will want to check directly behind the controller on the blue output wire. If you don't have the correct voltage there when testing, the controller is bad. If you have the correct voltage in that location but not at the 7-way then you have a wire short to track down or a wire to replace with # 12-1-1. Next, I recommend checking your brake assemblies by first checking the ground connection of the magnet to your trailer and then using the circuit tester in the same way as you did on the 7-way. Finally, check the brake shoe adjuster screw as the brake shoes if not properly adjusted won't have the braking power you desire. If the issue is with the magnets or the assemblies, I recommend replacing them with the Electric Trailer Brake Kit - Self-Adjusting - 12" - Left and Right Hand Assemblies - 5.2K to 7K # AKEBRK-7-SA. This will remove the maintenance portion of the assemblies for you.

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