Can the Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless Brake Controller Be Used on a 2014 Audi Q5

Question:

Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless Trailer Brake Controller. I need a brake Controller for a 2014 Q5 TDI with factory installed trailer hitch and had the above mentioned controller in mind. Reading through your QandAs and looking for Audi, it seems its problematic. Is it really? Do I need more Equipment than the Contents of the box? The Audi Q5 has LED tail lights which seems to matter as well. Thank you for your prompt Response very much!

asked by: Felix F

Expert Reply:

The Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless Trailer Brake Controller, # TK94FR, can be used on your 2014 Audi Q5 TDI.

The brake controller requires a working 7-way connection at the rear on the vehicle. If your Q5 is only equipped with a 4-way, you will need to install the 4 Pole to 7 Pole Adapter, # 37185, along with the Modulite Installation Wiring Kit, # 118151.

There have been pairing problems noted on some European made vehicles with factory tow package wiring. During the pairing process, the trailer is not connected to the tow vehicle and some tow packages will not activate unless it senses a load from the trailer. To work around that, you will want to put a piece of tape over the 5 o'clock pin in the the 7-way socket on the RF unit. This isolates the brake circuit so the light functions will still work. Again, you will only need to do this if you have factory trailer wiring and have problems pairing the RF.

Some owners have had a problem with the LED tail lights not supplying enough voltage for pairing. In this case I recommend using a different vehicle to complete the pairing process. You will want to hitch your trailer to your Audi and back another vehicle, with a functioning 7-way connection, right next to it. When it comes time to plug in the connector to the 7-way, plug it into the second vehicle instead of the Audi. Then proceed with the pairing process by plugging the remote into the 12 volt outlet in your Audi. Once everything is paired, you can unplug the connector from the second vehicle and plug it into your Q5 and everything should work properly.

Although you might have to take a couple extra steps to get this unit paired with your Audi Q5, the # TK94FR is still a great choice because you will not need to repeat the process the next time you use the controller and it can easily be transferred between multiple vehicles.