trailer brakes pulsating...

[mrcyrus16]

Hello all, I have a 08 Toyota FJ Cruiser towing a Fun Finder 189FBS, I installed a Prodigy 2 brake controller to help it all stop. I've noticed that if I push a little hard or ease into the brakes sooner on the brake pedal the trailer brakes start pulsating from mild to wild, if I don't release it'll get pretty violent. Any ideas of what could be causing this issue, I'm afraid to drive it until I know what can be done to fix the issue.

Regards,
Jim

[mrcyrus16]

Thanks for all the advise, lowered the boost and played with the adjuster and they now work perfectly! thanks again all!

Jim

[rode2nowhere]

I had a prodigy which now rests in toolbox drawer, I never could get it to stop pulsing, now drawtite, much better

[2littletime]

When I am towing through slow traffic I normally drop the boost down 1 notch. Stops the brake chatter. Then at normal speed, I increase up one. I have the P2

[gmw_photos]

I agree with fly for fun....go back to the beginning and go through ALL of the steps in the prodigy instruction manual for setting it up.

For whatever it's worth, I tow a FF 189FDS with a Frontier, and a prodigy P2 and it all works correctly. Just saying that it's all a good combo when all the pieces are right and adjusted properly.

[RCMAN46]

You have a brake problem such as out of round drums. If the pulsing is worse at low speed and not as noticeable at high speed the drums may not be concentric or out of round. Pull the drums and check for concentricity and or for grease on brake shoes.

I had a new trailer with Lippert axles that had two drums that were not concentric by about 1/8 inch but were round. They were not machined correctly when manufactured.

If it is not the brakes you have a defective controller. A prodigy should not do what you describe regardless of the gain setting. Give Tekonsha a call as they are very helpful with controller problems. I am sure they will agree a Prodigy that is not defective will not do what you describe. If the controller is defective they will replace it at no cost to you.

[FLY_4_FUN]

I would suspect your boost is set too high. For sure go back to the owners manual on the Prodigy and set it up again according to rv size vs tv size and the level ground 25mph stopping test.

Daryll

[mrcyrus16]

rrupert wrote:
I don't have the answer but I do have a question. Did you use the made for Toyota wire that plugs into the wiring harness?

No, the wiring harness only fit the Tacoma and Tundra's, couldn't find one to fit the FJ so I wired direct.

Jim

[donn0128]

Mis adjusted brakes or mis adjusted brake controller. Go to a level flat parking lot, accelerate to about 25 and manually apply the trailer brakes hard. If they lock up you are not adjusted correctly. When your controller is set correctly you should just feel the trailer brakes in a normal braking situation pulling very lightly on your TV.

[rrupert]

I don't have the answer but I do have a question. Did you use the made for Toyota wire that plugs into the wiring harness?

[301TBS]

I had a similar problem, and from advise on here I determined the controller setting was too high. I had it set per instructions but the trailer brakes were overheating and shaking badly.
I was sure the drums were defective. They have worked great for 2 yrs and many miles now. Hope this is of some help.