I bought a Tekonsha Prodigy brake control today, hooked it up with the Ford harness and proceeded to pull our trailer out of storage. I got home, unhooked and smelt something funny but didn't think much of it. I unhooked the unit and drove to the store and when I got home notice smoke billowing out from under the wheel wells. It appears my brakes were locked and I have no idea why, the only thing different today is the brake controller I used.

Any suggestions?

I wasn’t about to pay $495 for the Ford OEM Controller when Tekonsha makes one for $129 that’s plug and play. Please help…I’m supposed to be heading out to the coast camping tomorrow evening.

Thanks in advance.

 

I've done something like that, with my previous 01' diesel auto. When unhooking up the trailer a applied my emergency brake, and though I pulled the release handle the brakes didn't release because I never used the emergency brake. I'd take it to a dealer ASAP, wheather it was the controller or something else, that truck is not working at is should. And for a new F-350 even!

 

There's a good chance the wiring in the plug on the truck doesn't match the wiring in the plug on the trailer. I don't know much about the 7 prong flat plug, but on the 6 prong round some wire the brakes to the outside plug labeled s and some wire the brakes to the center. I'm sure something similiar happens with the 7, too. I recently bought a 7 to 6 converter plug, and on the package there were directions on how to switch the brake wire plug - takes a screwdriver and about 5 minutes. Just be careful not to lose those tiny screws.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I’m stumped trying to figure this out and I’ll be taking her in tomorrow to the local dealer. I thought the truck controlled the trailer and not the other way around. How can the Prodigy’s ground wire, stoplight wire, +12volt wire and trailer brake wire mess up my trucks brake system? I washed my truck on Sunday and I have more brake dust on my rims and tires than I’ve ever had on any vehicle. I only drove 5 miles.

When the trailer was hooked up, the controller functions perfectly. It was after I unhooked and removed the Prodigy that the symptoms came about.

 

Ah...Sorry ClubDrof, I wasn't paying close enough attention to your original post. I was picturing the trailer brakes locking up, not the trucks. I agree with you, don't see how that could be the cause, especially if they functioned properly with the trailer. I'd be headed back to the dealer, too.

Good luck.

David

 

yea, if its the trucks brakes, it couldnt have anything to do with the trailers. maybe either you left the parkign brake on, or the parking brake drum mechanism is hung up inside the mini drum.

either that or a bad caliper?

 

Neither your Prodigy electric brake controler nor your trailers electric brakes have anything to do with your trucks brakes locking up. Something else must be going on. Take it back to the dealer ASAP

 

Ford alluded to a 'bad caliper' too and I quickly replied, "yeah but all 4 calipers...at the same time?" All 4 calibers were smoking with the most heat and smoke at the front. The Ford Service person then started questioning the weight of the trailer and the non-Ford controller...they're already trying to deny responsibility already.