Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller problem

David.

The istallation of this item is virtually foolproof.

(1) Power direct from Prodigy unit to the battery via circuit breaker. (Black wire)

(2) Power from Prodigy unit to Trailer plug )Blue)

(3) Earth (White)

(4) Brake light activator (RED)


If 1,2 & 3 are correct (usually so, as 5yr old could do it) it only leaves No. 4 which is where 99% of the problems occur.

This one should be connected to the brake light activation wire inthe loom either at the brake activation plug above the brake pedal or at a brake light where you can get access to.

The trick is to identify the correct wire by its colour code if you know it or by trial and eror using a test light.

What tends to happen is that the installer either fails to (a) identify the correct wire or (b) Finds it too difficult to' splice' into the correct wire under the dash so picks something eassier which in you case is probably the Cruise Control Brake activator wire or (c) can't be bothered running a wire back to the stop light loom.

Myself personaly - I would be goiung for (b) and checking which wire the brake activation wire from the unit (red) has been spliced into above the brake pedal switch.

I have installed these in three vehicles I own - JEEP, Toyota troopy and the Brand new 200 series I picked up 8 days ago - and towed with all three working perfectly.

Thats the best I can do for you.

DD

disconnect the power to the brake unit at the circiut breaker, if the brake lights are still on then it may be your brake light switch itself . it may also in the tralier plug where a wire from constant power has come loose and is shorting aginst either pin 5 or pin 6.the brake light switch has a plastic grommet on the pedal ,this rests on the switch lever, and if missing or broken will cause the brake lights to stay on.

Very interesting as I had exactly the same problem last week.

Dont know what caused it but I thought I had a short or a bad earth.

The first thing I did was disconnect the Prodigy from its loom and the lights went out so thats what made me think that the red had shorted.

What I then did was tidy up all the shonky wiring I had under the dash.
I have also been having troubles with my EGT gauge oscillating madly when it rained.

Solution from 4x4 forum was to tighten nut holding sensor to exhaust.

Did that and resoldered all the earths and checked that the red wire connected above brake pedal wasnt shorting.

Tidied up all the power wires and heatshrinked everything again.
Put it all back together and problem has gone.


There is another thread on here about similar problems.

Maybe not much help to you but thats how I fixed mine.

If it helps the wire colour to connect the red to is Green with a thin white strip and has silver bands about every 150mm Use a meter it only has power when the ign is on and you push the pedal

Dave, I had exactly the same problem. It started after I had disconnected the battery then later reconnected. Neighbor knocked on the door 8.00pm to tell me that truck tail lights are on. I cannot explain why but I fixed it by momentarily disconnecting, then reconnecting the battery. The problem reoccurred sometime later when the battery was replaced, fixed the same way. As I said, can't explain why, but it worked, at least for me.
Mark

Hi David

Had a similar issue a few months back

Linked with a whole heap of issues, starting with a burnt out rectifier on the Genuine Alt then cheap Alternator that burnt out completely
(Dual batteries flat at the airport, and a long drive home, (Travel away often and long)

Have a parasitic drain from all the gizmo's,
Thought I had it all fixed then noticed the prodigy playing up.

Could have been the source of my drain.

Anyhow the Auto lecy said they are best installed with a diode (" as prodigy's do that sometimes" Quote)

I think the diode was put on the activation wire (to the stop light)

Anyhow fixed the problem

Thank you all for your replies. I will investigate over the weekend and let you know what I find to be the problem. With your suggestions and experience I now have a start point.

Many thanks,

Dave.

Hi David,

As mentioned by others, the early Tekonsha Voyagers were notorious for this problem of lighting-up the brake lights all during the night. I, and I believe many others, have had our early black/grey label Voyagers replaced free of charge with upgraded purple label ones. (So far, so good!)

Also as mentioned, this is the first time I've heard of a similar problem with the Prodigy. Did however see a bloke in a caravan park at Innisfail a few weeks ago who had the RACQ out two mornings in a row with a flattened battery. After the second visit the prime suspect by the RACQ mechanic was the owner's Prodigy...

If you wish, please send me a PM and I can give you a useful contact in Aust.

Ian