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Troubleshooting a Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller With Trailer Brakes That are not Showing Power  

Question:

I purchased a Tekonsha P3 trailer brake controller from etrailer about two years ago and it has worked perfectly up until now. I tried troubleshooting it and one of your video tutorials leads me to believe that the controller might be dead. The battery and brake light voltage are normal. The brake lights come on with both the pedal and manual override lever, but no voltage goes to the brakes. The brake voltage just reads zero no matter what I do. The 7 pin connector is clean and I added some dielectric grease just in case. The trailer brake wires also have no apparent damage. What do you think the problem is? Is there something else I should try?

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Expert Reply:

I am not entirely sure what process you took so I'll give you some other things to try, or maybe a different way to test the Prodigy P3 # 90195. First, sever the blue wire a couple inches from the back of your controller. Then use a circuit tester such as # PTW2993 to test the end of the blue wire coming out of the controller. It should only have power when you apply the manual override; if it shows power at idle then there is an issue with the controller, and it will need to be replaced.

You will also want to test the brake output pin on the 7-way socket; it should only show power with the manual override. If it shows power any other time, then there is a short somewhere between the connector and the brake controller you will need to find.

It could also be the brake magnets themselves.You'll want to visually inspect the magnets; if you can see the copper windings coming through the magnets will need to be replaced. To test the magnets you can follow the help article I have linked. I have also attached some help articles on testing and troubleshooting brake controllers for you to check out.

expert reply by:
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Kyle S
Walt K. profile picture

Walt K.

4/15/2020

Hooked the trailer up, when I stepped on brake the controller did not come on and when I felt the controller it was very warm to the touch. Disconnected controller, and plugged it in the next day and it worked. So does that mean there is nothing wrong with it and why was it very warm to the touch?

ChrisR profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Chris R.

4/16/2020

Since the controller seems to be working properly now, it's hard to decipher what could have been the issue after the initial install and hookup. I know it's kind of a vague answer, but at this point I think it's best to just keep an eye on it to see if any problems pop back up, and go from there. It may have just needed to be reset (which is what unplugging it accomplished). It might be a good idea to take the trailer out to an empty parking lot a couple times just to test everything out - if nothing else to at least set your mind at ease.
John M. profile picture

John M.

6/30/2020

My control will lock up the brakes when jacked up with the manual lever but not when you push the pedal brake but when on the ground the lever don't engage the brake.

ChrisR profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Chris R.

7/6/2020

If you're testing the Prodigy P3 while parked, it won't send much (if any) power back to the trailer brakes when stepping on the brake pedal. This is because it's a proportional controller that sends back power based on deceleration. Have you tried actually taking the trailer out for a test drive to see how the controller performs?

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