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shawnct450r's avatar
shawnct450r
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014

Need advise - trailer brakes not working!

Evening All!

Hauler has been sitting on the RV pad next to my house for the last 3 years. 5 camping trips during that time, with less than 1000 miles total. Prior to those trips (after arriving in SC), the brakes were cleaned/inspected/adjusted and the bearings/seals were replaced. Wiring connections were inspected and most were re-done (because they sucked).

Last time we took the trailer out (30 miles round trip), the Prodigy brake controller gave me the "P.F." (power fault?) several times but worked fine the majority of the time.

Fast forward to now:
-All wiring and connections inspected
-Brake fuse block replaced (it was crappy and suspect)
-Trailer end and Truck end of plug were cleaned and inspected.
-Pigtail was plugged in in the bed and below the bumper as well to validate the issue.

Problem: When attached to the truck, the prodigy BC displays "N.C." (not connected?) and I also get the two red dots. I also get the same indications with no trailer connected, and the controller continues to read "NC" overnight (?).

I have to tow 2500 miles for our upcoming move across country next month, and I will have about 1 week to get it fixed when I arrive home at the end of this month before that trip.

What should I check, and in what order? Thank you in advance!
  • From South Carolina to Ventura? Now that's a relocate! Culture shock I'd say.

    Hope you enjoy Ventura, family has a beach house there and my son/daughter-in-law live/work in Camarillo.
  • Trip report. Made it to Ventura alive! Happy about that.

    About 30 minutes out of Charleston (day 1), the brake controller started giving me the faults again. Damnit, it's not fixed!!! Continued for the majority of the trip across I-10.

    Spent Monday night working in the trailer tongue, and Tuesday morning working under the trailer (Walmart parking lot - in the rain). Thank God I had the creeper with me.

    Additionally, 5 new tires on the trailer and a new brake controller as well. Pin-holed a turbo boot hose and had some degas bottle leakage as well. Me thinks the engine is in line for a little work at this point.

    All-in-all, a very rough and stressful trip. Took several days to wind down from it.

    All is good now, and I'll be addressing every issue prior to any more towing!
  • dedmiston wrote:
    shawnct450r wrote:
    Just wanted to report in and say - problem solved!!!

    Corroded/dirty contacts on the 7-pin @ the truck and the pigtail. Spent about an hour with a jewelers file polishing them clean. Also cleaned all the ground connections I could find, as well as the trailer ball and adapter receiver.

    Cross-country trip is back on! Thanks to all who provided advise in here, as well as Bill @ Bill's Trailer in Ventura CA. That guy knows everything!


    Go, Ventura! You're pretty close to me. Glad you got some help. Drive safe.


    Thanks Brother! Not close to you at the present time. hehe I'm back in Charleston getting ready to head that way. I talked to Bill while I was out there for work. Will be back end of next week if all goes well.
  • shawnct450r wrote:
    Just wanted to report in and say - problem solved!!!

    Corroded/dirty contacts on the 7-pin @ the truck and the pigtail. Spent about an hour with a jewelers file polishing them clean. Also cleaned all the ground connections I could find, as well as the trailer ball and adapter receiver.

    Cross-country trip is back on! Thanks to all who provided advise in here, as well as Bill @ Bill's Trailer in Ventura CA. That guy knows everything!


    Go, Ventura! You're pretty close to me. Glad you got some help. Drive safe.
  • Just wanted to report in and say - problem solved!!!

    Corroded/dirty contacts on the 7-pin @ the truck and the pigtail. Spent about an hour with a jewelers file polishing them clean. Also cleaned all the ground connections I could find, as well as the trailer ball and adapter receiver.

    Cross-country trip is back on! Thanks to all who provided advise in here, as well as Bill @ Bill's Trailer in Ventura CA. That guy knows everything!
  • make sure the trailer is properly GROUNDED to tow vehicle. this a very common problem
  • I'd say either the controller is bad or the connector at the truck.
  • A VOM is your friend. From what Iread, the problem is with the truck connections. You can test it by pulling the break away cable on the trailer and see if the brakes come on.
  • I have a seven prong tester that tests the TV connection. After that you need to find if you have continuity between the pigtail and brakes. I replaced the cord on our trailer and discovered that the wiring color code in the plug was incorrect and was not correct, Took a LONG time to figure out what the problem was. I have a trailer wiring junction box where the pigtail plugs into and wires for brakes tail-lights etc. It was a simple matter to use a multimeter and check for continuity.
  • can you get another truck from a friend that has a prodigy and hook up to see what it says.