Trailer Brake Controller
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Trailer Brake Controller
Hello Everyone. I have a Tekonsha P3 brake controller. It is nice. Last weekend we were on the way home and started down a hill for an exit and had no trailer brakes. Released the pedal hit it again and had brakes. The rest of the way home they would work or not work...depends on how it felt like acting. Checked the connection and it was very tight into the truck plug. I constantly monitored the fifth wheel and the marker lights brake lights turn signals et cetera all worked throughout the trip even when there were no trailer brakes.
When I got home and parked the screen on the display would flash WARNING SHORT TO BATTERY NO BRAKES. I looked that up on the Tekonsha website and it says what I pasted below. I have NO wiring experience. Is that a problem on the truck or on the RV based on what the website says below?
The P3 detects a short to power on the brake wire (Blue wire).
Possible causes:
Brake wire shorted to an external power supply
Moisture in trailer connector
Contamination in the trailer connector
Faulty control
When I got home and parked the screen on the display would flash WARNING SHORT TO BATTERY NO BRAKES. I looked that up on the Tekonsha website and it says what I pasted below. I have NO wiring experience. Is that a problem on the truck or on the RV based on what the website says below?
The P3 detects a short to power on the brake wire (Blue wire).
Possible causes:
Brake wire shorted to an external power supply
Moisture in trailer connector
Contamination in the trailer connector
Faulty control
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 4
From: Connecticut
Imo I would put some dielectric gel on the 7 pin plug and take it for another drive and then start checking wireing if its not right.Sounds like its the plug to your trailer.Where are you a medic?Im a firefighter/paramedic in connecticut..
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 580
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From: Chippewa Falls, WI
I have the same controller. Seems like it is very sensitive to water in the connector on the back of the truck. I have had mine do it with and without a trailer for a day or so after a hard rain or a carwash. I sprayed all the connections with some WD40 as someone here suggested and it hasn't acted up since. However it is kind of freaky to see that message with a big load behind you..
IF it keeps up or starts doing it all the time might be a good idea to have a trailer shop have a look at your system.
IF it keeps up or starts doing it all the time might be a good idea to have a trailer shop have a look at your system.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,712
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From: BoCoMo
Trailer brakes are electric and it is saying that there may be a short or low voltage or other problem from the connector on the truck to the actual electric brakes on the trailer. Is there a dial to adjust the tension of the brakes on the controller? it may need to be turned to 'add' more brake tension....
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It is a digital controller with up and down arrows. No dial on this one particular unit to adjust.
Trailer brakes are electric and it is saying that there may be a short or low voltage or other problem from the connector on the truck to the actual electric brakes on the trailer. Is there a dial to adjust the tension of the brakes on the controller? it may need to be turned to 'add' more brake tension....
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UPDATE SO FAR-->Thought I would report back what has happened so far for those who are following or may be interested. Checked the pig tail connections under the truck and everything seemed to be tight.
Checked both axles and both sides for chaffing/rubbing and nothing was noted on any of the 4 wires as they came out the holes of the axles.
My brother brought a tester over and checked each of the prong-things inside the connector on the truck and each one did what it was supposed to do.
He then turned his attention to the end of the cord that comes out the kingpin of the 5th wheel and he said that the spades down inside that round end were all spread out and worn out. It is the original end as far as I know.
I bought a new cord with a new end on it this morning and he is going to stop by and install it for me on his way home from work as he has done this before.
In order to duplicate the problem for him while sitting still in the parking lot I barely inserted the round cord end into the truck connector and when we turned the flashers on the controller would very rapdily blink between red and green meaning connected and then unconnected.
I am going to pull it around tomorrow evening and test his work from tonight.
Thanks
RC
Checked both axles and both sides for chaffing/rubbing and nothing was noted on any of the 4 wires as they came out the holes of the axles.
My brother brought a tester over and checked each of the prong-things inside the connector on the truck and each one did what it was supposed to do.
He then turned his attention to the end of the cord that comes out the kingpin of the 5th wheel and he said that the spades down inside that round end were all spread out and worn out. It is the original end as far as I know.
I bought a new cord with a new end on it this morning and he is going to stop by and install it for me on his way home from work as he has done this before.
In order to duplicate the problem for him while sitting still in the parking lot I barely inserted the round cord end into the truck connector and when we turned the flashers on the controller would very rapdily blink between red and green meaning connected and then unconnected.
I am going to pull it around tomorrow evening and test his work from tonight.
Thanks
RC
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Chippewa Falls, WI
I still think this is one of the best controllers on the market but they are really sensitive. After spraying mine at first I ended up replacing the 7pin truck end too. It was fairly corroded inside and the door cover was cracked anyway. No problems at all since.
Good luck, if the trailer end doesn't end up fixing it try picking up a new truck end. Most places have them in stock, mine was around 19$ I guess they fit Ford Chevy, and Nissan so quite common. Curt #55415 (if you still have the factory plug arrangement where the harness plugs in the back of the 7pin.)
Good luck, if the trailer end doesn't end up fixing it try picking up a new truck end. Most places have them in stock, mine was around 19$ I guess they fit Ford Chevy, and Nissan so quite common. Curt #55415 (if you still have the factory plug arrangement where the harness plugs in the back of the 7pin.)
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Yeah I beleive i am on my second one. I broke the door off of the first one 3 summers or so ago...
I still think this is one of the best controllers on the market but they are really sensitive. After spraying mine at first I ended up replacing the 7pin truck end too. It was fairly corroded inside and the door cover was cracked anyway. No problems at all since.
Good luck, if the trailer end doesn't end up fixing it try picking up a new truck end. Most places have them in stock, mine was around 19$ I guess they fit Ford Chevy, and Nissan so quite common. Curt #55415 (if you still have the factory plug arrangement where the harness plugs in the back of the 7pin.)
Good luck, if the trailer end doesn't end up fixing it try picking up a new truck end. Most places have them in stock, mine was around 19$ I guess they fit Ford Chevy, and Nissan so quite common. Curt #55415 (if you still have the factory plug arrangement where the harness plugs in the back of the 7pin.)
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UPDATE#2
UPDATE #2-->My brother changed the main cord for me that came out of the kingpin with brand new instead of just cutting the end off and replacing the end.
I plugged it in and did a light check and everything was OK. I did a drive test for several miles on town roads, crappy bumpy roads, and a four lane state highway. Every time I hit the brakes they worked and the controller stayed green with no issues.
We are leaving West Virginia next week headed to Pigeon Forge and on to Talladega for the NASCAR Race. Hope that is good as the test drive.
I plugged it in and did a light check and everything was OK. I did a drive test for several miles on town roads, crappy bumpy roads, and a four lane state highway. Every time I hit the brakes they worked and the controller stayed green with no issues.
We are leaving West Virginia next week headed to Pigeon Forge and on to Talladega for the NASCAR Race. Hope that is good as the test drive.
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Sebastopol
Thank you for posting that as I was towing back from the Sands Sport Show in Costa Mesa and mine started to go red when I applied the brakes. I am very glad I have an exhaust brake for the Grape Vine. I will be replacing mine this weekend and hope it cures it as I leave for the Off Road Expo in a couple of weeks.
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