Prodigy Brake Control ?

[mike-uswest]

I have a Prodigy brake control on my truck and having a problem with it. I tried calling the company to ask some questions and they won't talk to you if you don't have the prof of purchase. I have had it probably 15 years, so there is no way. When towing my travel trailer it seems to work fine. When I attach the 7 way plug the light comes on showing the C that it is hooked up on the unit under the dash, and the numbers come up when applying the brake showing the level of brake application. I also have a large work trailer that has always worked before, but I was hauling some material yesterday, and there was no response on the control when the plug was attached. I had never tested it before, but when I checked the pin in the plug it did not show any charge coming back to the plug on the truck 7 way when I had my wife pull the lever on. I went back and hooked it up to the travel trailer and it is still working fine on it. The wires look fine in the work trailer 7 way plug, and back to the brakes at the wheels. Shouldn't there be a charge at the truck pin in the 7 way plug when the brakes are applied? I'm just trying to figure out how this works and where to go to get this working again. Thanks.

Mike

[jerem0621]

I had a P2 on my last TV. It was okay. Not a bad controller at all. I’m really a Tekonsha Voyager fan. I like how the Voyager works much better and once set up it’s much smoother and more simple than any other controller I have owned. I just bought another Voyager for my latest TV and it works great with our new TT. After thousands of miles I like the simple little light telling me what’s going on.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[CharlesinGA]

P3 has memory for four trailers, max brake level, number if axkes, etc, so you can get a trailer set up, save the info and not have to go thru that on the trailer later on if you are switching back and forth.

Charles

[time2roll]

mike-uswest wrote:
I checked the wires in the work trailer plug, and everything looked good. The hookup end of the plug was not looking as clean, so I will flush it out and dry it well. More things to play with. Thanks.

Mike

Get out your clamp-on DC ammeter and verify each wheel is getting 3 amps when the controller is applied manually.
(any excuse to get a new tool)

[deltabravo]

time2roll wrote:
If your RV trailer works, the controller works. I think you have a problem with the construction trailer.

Ditto.

You've already troubleshot the problem by testing the brake controller with another trailer, the TT, so that rules out the problem being the brake controller, so the problem is the construction trailer.

[mike-uswest]

I checked the wires in the work trailer plug, and everything looked good. The hookup end of the plug was not looking as clean, so I will flush it out and dry it well. More things to play with. Thanks.

Mike

[blt2ski]

I agreeing with those that think it is the trailer issue, not prodigy issue.
I've had and owned multiple trailers in the past. If one is working, next is not, 99%of the time, the trailer connection is usually the issue. Dirt grime or equal on trailer plug us usually issue. Sometimes the wire connections in plug.......check the trailer first.

Marty

[carringb]

I also found the P3 to be less sensitive to minor faults, and also a little smarter with the Boost feature. It's a worthwhile upgrade.

That said... Make sure the back of the connector on the truck isn't full of crud. If it is, and it's wet, that can pass enough current between the contacts to cause intermittent faults.

[Bipeflier]

Your problem is in the work trailer, NOT THE CONTROLER.

[RCMAN46]

"Simply unplug P2 from wiring harness and plug in P3, simple as that!!!"

Unfortunately not entirely true. The P3 uses a different mounting bracket than the P2 but changing the brackets should not be very difficult.

The P3 has better diagnostics than the P2. I like the current reading the P3 gives you. If you have the standard electric brakes as most of us have the current delivered with most 4 wheel brakes systems is 1 amp for each volt applied. From this a broken wheel magnet wire can be detected.

I check my current reading vs voltage with the manual lever before my trips each morning along with all of my TPMS readings.

[Cummins12V98]

mike-uswest wrote:
Thanks for the answers, what is there about the P3 that makes it better? If I go back to another P2, it is a 5 minute job to take one out and put the new one in. It has worked fine for years.

Mike

I have owned BOTH, I hated the P2 with having to reset the boost depending on whether you were driving slowly thru a campground or on the highway.

P3 is much better all around.

Simply unplug P2 from wiring harness and plug in P3, simple as that!!!

[mike-uswest]

Thanks for the answers, what is there about the P3 that makes it better? If I go back to another P2, it is a 5 minute job to take one out and put the new one in. It has worked fine for years.

Mike

[wski]

mike-uswest wrote:
I have a Prodigy brake control on my truck and having a problem with it. I tried calling the company to ask some questions and they won't talk to you if you don't have the prof of purchase. I have had it probably 15 years, so there is no way. When towing my travel trailer it seems to work fine. When I attach the 7 way plug the light comes on showing the C that it is hooked up on the unit under the dash, and the numbers come up when applying the brake showing the level of brake application. I also have a large work trailer that has always worked before, but I was hauling some material yesterday, and there was no response on the control when the plug was attached. I had never tested it before, but when I checked the pin in the plug it did not show any charge coming back to the plug on the truck 7 way when I had my wife pull the lever on. I went back and hooked it up to the travel trailer and it is still working fine on it. The wires look fine in the work trailer 7 way plug, and back to the brakes at the wheels. Shouldn't there be a charge at the truck pin in the 7 way plug when the brakes are applied? I'm just trying to figure out how this works and where to go to get this working again. Thanks.

Mike

Sorry to hear about your Prodigy brake controller, but I would not give up. I had a Prodigy P3 that started throwing a PL code. I contacted the company through their website and obtain a new controller under warranty. My controller was 10+ years old and I did not have a receipt. I was told to send them a photo of the controller along with the serial number. They sent me a new one with instructions on how to return the old one. They even paid shipping on the return. However, due to the current lock down, I have not had the opportunity to use it. I wish you the best of luck...

[time2roll]

Ok if it is acting up at 15 years I would simply grab a new P3 and get on with my day.

[BenK]

Take a picture of the receipt...as many receipts are printed on thermo paper, which fades over time

I then put the receipt in the manual. Along with writing the date, where, $$, and serial number on the manual