Hi Folks,


I just installed a Tekonsha Prodigy on my 2003 Chevy Silverado CC 2500 HD 4X4. I followed the instructions for 'adjusting power to the trailer brakes prior to setting boost'. The instructions state that you should hold the manual lever on the prodigy full left and set the power Knob to 6.0. Then you should travel at 25 mph and fully apply the power manual knob. If trailer brakes lock up then you should adjust from there using the power knob. My problem is that I can't make the trailer brakes lock up even at the highest setting which is 13. In fact I could not even feel the trailer brakes slow the truck at 25 mph. I decided to just travel in neutral at about 7 mph and then applied the manual knob on the prodigy to see if anything happened. I did feel the brakes function but just very little. So I know that prodigy is working (so to speak) but it would appear that there is not enough juice getting to the trailer brakes. I contacted Tekonsha and they suggested that I check the voltage going to the trailer brakes. She mentioned that it should not be more than 2 volts less than what the battery puts out. Which brings to mind a few questions. What is the best way to check the voltage that the battery is spitting out in the first place? Should I check the truck to trailer connection there first? Then should I go back to the trailer wheel and check the wire going to the brake next? Even if I do find that the voltage drops significantly from the truck to the trailer, how should I resolve that issue???? Has anyone else experienced this same problem?


Thanks for any help. This is a great site!


Gene


2003 Silveado 2500 HD Crew Cab 4X4 w/Duramax, 285 Yokahoma Geolander tires, Perma finish coating, Shredder graphics, Racer stainless grill insert, Westin Stainless Bull Bar, Westin Stainless Nerf Bars, Elk in fog mural on rear window.

I have a prodigy in my rig and it wont lock up the brakes, but thats fine, it WILL slow me right down. I would look at perhaps your trailer brakes may not be in tip top shape. I havent heard of any trouble like that with the controls.

The trailer is brand new and so are the brakes. I even checked the brake adjustment and all was fine there. This is a 16 ft heavy duty 6 inch channel framed dovetail trailer with 2 axles. It really doesn't matter to me if the brakes don't lock up at the highest setting. It feels like the brakes are hardly working at all. Feels like the brakes are just barely making contact with the drums. Which is when Tekonsha support said there is not enough juice supplying power to the brakes from the truck to apply the correct amount of pressure to the brakes.


Gene

I've not tried pulling anything heavy, but my Prodigy will lock the brakes on the trailers I have pulled.


Just based on past experience, I'd say you've got a power problem if the brake shoes on the trailer are correctly set as you've said. Generally, and we're not talking all the time, the power loss will be with the ground circuit. If it were me, I'd start by checking all the connections looking for obvious problems like corrosion. Then start at the brakes looking for the proper voltage and go forward from there if the voltage isn't high enough. If you've got good power at the brakes, then you'll have a better idea how to proceed.

I had the same problem and thought it was the prodigy. but after inspecting the trailer's brakes, I found that the brake wires were disconnected on one side of the trailer. now I can lock them up at 25mph.

First, Double check your connections and grounds. Then check voltage at back of truck with lever applied and then at brake drums with lever applied. Main goal in trouble shooting is to isolate items and take them out of the check loop.


Good luck.


P.S. I would take major stopping power over locking the brakes up. The braking power is much higher on tires that are right at the limit of slip rather than squealing away...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif

Good suggestions. I'll give them all a try. I hope it's something after the connection on the trailer wiring side.


Thanks,


Gene

If you are using the "factory installed" trailer/towing harness (dash to bumper) the wire size should be more than adequate. Please be sure you have the 03 harness under the dash. Pre 03 is wired differently, and will not work with 03 and later.


However, if the Prodigy was installed by another individual it is possible that the wire size to the "plug" is not big enough and will SERIOUSLY reduce the voltage to the brakes.


My Prodigy works great for my 12,500 lb 5th wheel. I had to adjust the voltage up to 12v in order to do it however.


Prodigy's tech support is great.

kbstinky,


I installed the Prodigy myself. I used a Chevy/GM harness and spliced the wires to the pigtail harness that came with the Prodigy. I know I spliced the wires correctly because I contacted Prodigy to figure out the color coding of the wires from the Prodigy the the Chevy harness. How will I know if my Chevy/GM harness is an 03 harness?


I plan on tackling this baby this evening to see what I can come up with.


Thanks, Gene

do a search on the harness, it may bring up the differences.


If that doesn't work, call the stealer and ask which two wires are reversed.


This is not an new problem, and may be the answer to yours.


Good luck.


Lyle

Gene,


The easy way to tell if the harness is an 03 is by the color of the plug. 99-02 harnesses have an orange plug and 03-04 harnesses have a white plug. Also if using an old harness on an 03-04 two things will happen: with lights off you will have no brakes and with lights on your brakes will be on all the time.


Also we have a 23500 GVW gooseneck on our farm. My friend's truck has a Prodigy and it will lock up the brakes when trailer is empty (6500lbs) and will bring the trailer to a quick stop when heavily loaded.


Good luck,


John

How will I know if my Chevy/GM harness is an 03 harness?





I bought the harness from the Prodigy folks that has the connectors already installed on both ends for my truck.


IIRC, there is a diagram on Tekonsha's web site showing the wiring differences on the two years of GM trucks...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif


It is just a reversal of two wires in the plug and you can change those in the plug if need be.

Yep don't make the same mistake I made.


When we got our fifth wheel, I just pulled the controller and harness out of the wife's 02 and put it in the 04. It seemed the truck had an awful big load on it, thats when I discovered they had swaped wire positions in the harness plug. And with the brakes continually "on" it was a heavy load.http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif


Doug