LouZ

I was setting up my trailer for the first time since I got it. Measured the tongue weight at 475#, so that was good.



The problem is that when I turned on the Prodigy Controller, it kept displaying that there was NO TRAILER hooked up! After a lot of troubleshooting with a digital ammeter, I determined that all of the connections on the trailer are "hot", I even get all of the lights, signals and brake lights working on the trailer.



On my '06 Explorer with the Class III/IV hookup, the 7 pin connector has power to all but 2 connectors, with (1) being the electric brake circuit. I've tried the circuit with and without the Prodigy, both to no avail.



Any additional thoughts to troubleshoot: 1) the Explorer wiring, 2) the Prodigy, 3) the electric brakes (I pulled the disconnect pin, and voltage from the trailer battery was present to the trailer brake circuit).

ZBlue996Kam

Buy Chevy

amondc

I think that fords have seperate fuses for the trailer connectors. Check the fuse block under the hood and there should be one for trailer brakes there.

Chris

Big6Dad

When you pulled the pin, did the electric brakes work? If they did not work, then I would guess it is the brakes themselves that are the problem.

LouZ

Trailer was parked at the time, but based on the initial battery voltage of ~8V (it wasn't charged much), it continued to drop to under 7V, which would imply that the electromagnets were drawing current.

LouZ

Checked it - 30 amp in engine compartment!

LouZ

A question........won't the brakes work (full on) if a brake controller is NOT used? I ask, because I don't get any power (voltage) at the trailer brake wiring with the brake applied.

Larry Herman

Lou, it sounds like your trailer wiring is in order. Since you can operate the brakes with the emergency battery, try doing so with a battery charger from the trailer plug (both the power feed and the ground point). That would totally eliminate the trailer. I would then verify the integrity of the electric brake conductor (from the controller to the plug socket) and the ground connection. If that is ok, then it's time to question the brake controller itself.

LouZ

Just checked the plug socket (in the rain).
Ground - OK - ohm check
Power - OK - 12V
Brake input - OK - 12V when brake is depressed
Brake output - OK - put 12V to line and read Voltage at rear connector plug

Looks like a bad controller! Will the trailer brakes work WITHOUT a controller?

Larry Herman

No, because the controller varies the voltage output to the trailer brakes in proportion to the rate of retardation. If you ran 12v to them, they would lock up immediately on every application. Last step is to borrow one from a buddy & see if the new one works, or try yours in his setup to confirm that it is defective,

Veloce Raptor

...........spoken by the expert on the subject!!

sleder

I had experience with 2 different controllers that were defective.