Troubleshooting Multiple Trouble Codes from a Prodigy Brake Controller on a 2007 Dodge Ram

Question:

Hi.my brakes worked fine for about 4 months. Then they work as long as i dont set to high . Its like it just cuts out and i get oL code. Now it flashes sH and C . Sometimes i get nc code. I changed breakaway battery it was kinda corroded. Idk what to do. thanks

asked by: Shawn

Expert Reply:

The OL (overload) and SH (short circuit) codes that you are seeing on your Prodigy brake controller are typically related to a short on the brake output circuit. The NC (not connected) code could also indicate a short on the brake output circuit as well because this indicates that the truck is Not Connected to the trailer. The .c that you see indicates the trailer is connected and you have the boost on.

There are a few things that you can look into that may be causing these issues. Often times, corrosion, damaged wires or poor ground connections are the culprits for these types of issues. First, inspect your vehicle side and trailer side connectors for any corrosion. If you see corrosion on the outside surface of the connectors, it is possible that the corrosion could have made its way inside the connector. You will want to clean or replace the connectors as necessary.

I also recommend checking the grounds for the connectors and brake controller. Make sure the trailer connectors are grounded to a clean, bare metal surface on the trailer or vehicle frame or to a battery. The brake controller should also be grounded to the negative battery post on your truck. If you are using a plug-in adapter, then you do not have to worry about this step.

You could also check the connections at your brake magnets. Make sure the brake magnets are grounded to a clean, bare metal surface of the trailer frame and inspect the connection between the brake wire and the brake magnets to make sure the wires are not exposed or causing a short.

Finally, inspect the brake wire for any pinched, frayed or damaged sections that could be causing a short.

If you continue to have problems after checking the trailer connectors, grounds and brake magnets, I recommend testing the brake controller. To do this, you can cut the blue wire coming from the brake controller about 6 inches back. Be sure to leave enough length to splice the wires back together after testing.

Once the blue wire is cut, use a circuit tester like # PTW2993 to test the end coming out the controller while fully applying the manual override. If it works properly, then you know the issue is not the controller. You may need to run a separate 10-gauge wire, # 10-1-1, to the trailer connector to bypass the problem, unless you can locate and repair the bad spot in the brake output wire. If the blue wire shows power all of the time or is erratic, then there is something wrong in the brake controller and it will need to be replaced.