Tekonsha Prodigy indicating Short fault

Submitted: Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 22:01

ThreadID: 44851 Views:7217 Replies:6 FollowUps:11

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Joondalupgerry

Hi guys..I have just installed a Prodigy brake controller.
I had no apparent problems wiring it in. On hitching up the van it is showing..SH..which indicates a short in the trailer brake wiring.
Just a question though..when I disconnect the van the ...SH...display remains. Does this indicate the tekonsha just keeps on displaying the last signal it received..or does it maybe indicate the fault is in the car rather than the trailer?
Any thoughts or ideas appreciated
Cheers
Gerry

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Reply By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 22:28

Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 22:28

My previous vehicle had this unit and when disconnected from van it showed up as a single "dot" only from memory.

Pedro

AnswerID: 236504

Follow Up By: Joondalupgerry - Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 22:38

Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 22:38

I think the single dot is Ok...this fault message is an...SH....which means a short somewhere on the trailoer brakes circuit..just wondered if anyone else had had asimilar event or how they solved or traced it.....I am not the best with electrics....takes me ages to figure things out.
Gerry

FollowupID: 497586

Follow Up By: Angler - Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 22:49

Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 22:49

This does not sound normal to me. Mine does not show SH at any time. I would go back through your wiring and double check everything. I know the hard one is the brake switch. Very hard to get at and check.

Pooley

FollowupID: 497589

Follow Up By: Joondalupgerry - Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 23:04

Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 23:04

It could well be...it had to be wired to the "cold"side of the switch...so I had to take an educated guess...one wire was green and white...one was white...it's in a Toyota Camry...I put it into the green and white wire...
The switch is a devil to get at..I haven't been so contorted in the front seat since my teenage years...!
The Prodigy does show voltage/assist going to van..but lapses back to...SH....immediately after the brakes are released.
Cheers
Gerry

FollowupID: 497591

Follow Up By: rolande- Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 15:56

Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 15:56

G'Day Gerry,

Had mine wired to the worng side of the brake switch.

This will show a "PL" fault rather than a "SH" fault.

Regards

Rolande

FollowupID: 497702

Reply By: Member - GeeTee (NT) - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 08:42

Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 08:42

Interested in this thread as I am about to wire in a Prodigy in our 2007 Nissan patrol (1st one on the road in Darwin). Anyone give me some clues as to where to pick up an easy access Batt + and an Aux + under the dash. It was sugested to pick up the brake wire from the brake light at the rear. I also need to find the same (Aux and Batt +) under the bonnet for my solar charge set up.
Thanks.

AnswerID: 236532

Follow Up By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:01

Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:01

Hi Gee

Prodigy controllers require a clean earth as the will show up a poor earth as a fault. The instructions tell you to run a new (+)(-) to the battery and not to use the body as an earth.

You will get fault codes any other way. Also with new stop light switches having computer and cruise control added it is best to bring a stop light signal back from the tail light.

Regards

Derek.

FollowupID: 497637

Follow Up By: Gerhardp1 - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:26

Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:26

You mean back from the stop light, don't use the tail light !

That would stop you driving at night .....

FollowupID: 497644

Follow Up By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:30

Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:30

Ha ha :-)

Yes of course. I should have been clearer on that but most would understand.

FollowupID: 497646

Reply By: Joondalupgerry - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 08:53

Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 08:53

Hi..
I ran my powerfeed and earth thru from the engine compartment, Took quite a bit of fiddling etc, my controller is mounted in its slipper in the ashtray recess...so I took the the fascia panel around my radio/Cd player came off and it gave me a bit of room to move
Yes I also ran a blue wire to the boot and tapped in to the brake line at the trailer plug.
But crikey...if I only knew where there MUST be an easier way to tap into the brake switch...but I didn't have awiring diagram.
Cheers
Gerry

AnswerID: 236534

Reply By: Ray Bates - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 09:35

Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 09:35

Check the magnets in the brake drums. If they are worn down the prodegy will show SH

AnswerID: 236544

Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:04

Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:04

Hi Joon

Are your brakes magnet type ?

Hydroelectric brakes show a SH on the Prodigy in some cases and it is best to use the Voyager unit.

Regards

Derek.

AnswerID: 236553

Follow Up By: Joondalupgerry - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:07

Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:07

Thanks derek..yes electric..not hydromagnetic.
I think it may be my earth as it goes to the car body under the bonnet...not the battery. i'll play with that and see what happens.
Cheers
Gerry

FollowupID: 497638

Follow Up By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:23

Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:23

Check your 7 pin plug for wires that may be touching as well.

Regards

Derek.

FollowupID: 497641

Reply By: Joondalupgerry - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 14:52

Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 14:52

Thanks guys..I re earthed it to the battery...no difference in the...SH...error display.
Checked the new 7 pin plug..installed last week by the towbar supplier. Blue brake wire not connected...or the black auxiliary/reversing signal wire....!
Tekonsha now displaying correct signals...will take for test this arvo.
CHeers and thanks
Gerry

AnswerID: 236614