Troubleshooting Tekonsha P3 Output Shorted No Brakes When Not Connected To a Trailer

Question:

Tekonsha P3 reads: inch Warning Output Shorted No Brakesinch with a red screen while NOT conected to the trailer. Is the controler faulty? This condition occured after hooking up to the trailer. Screen did NOT clear after disconnecting from trailer. I recently replaced all four backing plates, drums and bearings. After completetion brakes worked fine. Trailer sat for two months before attempting to use. Thank You!

asked by: Emmett M

Expert Reply:

The Output Shorted No Brakes is a sign that there is either a short on the blue wire leaving the Prodigy P3 Brake Controller # 90195 for in the 7-way connector on your vehicle. You can check this by disconnecting the 7-way connector from your vehicle wiring to see if the error goes away. If this happens the issue is likely in the 7-way. Otherwise you will then be able to back trace the vehicle wiring from both the trailer connector and brake controller to determine where there might be a damaged wire. Do note even if the wiring is protected by some type of conduit it could still fail internally and short to another wire or ground on the vehicle.

expert reply by: Bud M