I installed my Prodigy brake controller and I have some issues. The brakes on my trailer don't work right now, so I am having trouble diagnosing them, but whenever I pull on the manual brake lever with the trailer connected, it says "NC" on the screen. However, if I pull the lever with the brakes on (on the truck) it doesn't give me the error code.

Does this still mean the brakes aren't connected, or that it only works when you are using the truck's brakes as well?

 

You should be able to slide the manual lever without touching your brakes on the truck and they should only activate the trailer brakes.

That's the main reason for the manual lever, so that you can hit only the trailer brakes if needed.

The thing to check would be is the trailer brakes activating when you do hit the truck brake pedal? The controller is activated when the trucks brake light switch is activated, then the controller does it's thing for the trailer.

Did you use wire up the controller yourself or use the optional Prodigy wire harness for Fords and just plug it in? If you did it yourself, a wire connection might be loose or you just happened to get the wrong ones spliced together... Not a dig, just a thought..

Good luck!

Mitch

 

The problem I have is the brakes aren't working at all. I just wanted to make sure what I'm seeing is normal and that it's not really my truck. I will use a test light on it tonight to see if the 7 pin is sending power.

My controller came with the Ford harness for free, so no missed connections there, asshole...

 

Might have to check the wiring inside the trailers brake drum directly too.....

On my trailer, I found two of the wheels had the wires routed wrong and they got cut, so those two wheels had no power going to them. I wondered why my trailer did not seem to brake as well as it did before.....

I only discovered it when I repacked the bearings and had the drums off...

So, you get a NC on the controller when you use the slider, but not when you press on the pedal. Do you get any volt numbers on the display when you hit the brake pedal??

Do the trucks brake lights work when you hit the pedal??

Good luck from the A-hole!

Mitch

 

Yup, but before I go into that (all the wiring is inside of conduit), I wanted to make sure this was normal BC operation...

Yup.

No voltage. Maybe it just doesn't say anything when it's not connected when you push the brake in. Probably less annoying that way since most people leave theirs plugged in all the time...

All lights work.

Thanks!

I think I will just have to bite the bullet and check the wiring. I hate wiring.

 

Yes, the trailer needs to be connected to get any voltage readings on the display. If no trailer connected, all you'll see is one or two dots on the display. These will go away after about 15 mins of non use after you shut off the engine.

If you hit the slide bar with no trailer connected, you will get the NC on display.

I thought you did have the trailer connected and were getting these results... Sorry about that....

Sounds like the wiring on the trailer is mucked up.... I guess i know what your weekend project is going to be!

Good luck!

Mitch

 

You're right, I did have the trailer hooked up. Which tells me the trailer's wiring is shot.

Great...

 

Tekonsha makes a 7-pin tester that plugs into back of truck. Costs around $25. I have one and use it to test mine and others trucks. Ford trucks need to be running to supply +12v to the tester to run it's electronics during brake controller testing.. It acts just like the brakes on a trailer. It's shown at www.tekonsha.com...

 

Just bought a Prodigy on Ebay. Is it an easy install when you have the tow package? I got a 2000 tow job coming up where I need the BC.

 

Thanks for the tester link, that's exactly what I need.

The controller is cake to install if you have the harness. It's still easier than a stereo install if you don't.