I have a prodigy brake controller.

My trailer brakes do not work anymore.
No humming, no lock ups, nothing.
When connected, prodigy looks fine with the meter when braking.
When pushing slider over, it works meter wise till you get 3/4 ways over and it goes down to 1.2. Also note trailer brakes never come on when flipping slider.

Now sometimes i noticed going down highway cruising, it will throw a nc code.

Please tell me where to start. Im thinking it has something to do with trailer but, who knows???

I need to get this fixed ASAP, cause if DOT found out, I would be in a world of trouble let alone not being able to drop my loads off.. I tried swinging by a truckstop mechanics shop but they were to busy, but i will do that again next trip..

Please throw me any tips cause trailer brakes are completly new to me

 

Sounds like you have a ground problem.

 

Thats the first thing everybody says. Where would I check for ground??? lol sorry, im a dummy when it comes to mechanics, especially big@$$ trailers and there brakes

 

Check all your wiring connections to the brakes. I've been having that problem with my trailer and I've traced it down to a bad connection on a scotchlock near the wheel.

If it's not connecting right it'll usually show the NC, sometimes it'll connect enough for the controller to recognize a connection but still wont have enough power to activate the brakes. If I get a good connection the brakes will work normally. I really need to rewire the whole thing. The builder needs a lesson in wiring.

 

Trailer brakes do not auto adjust like older auto drum brakes. Over time you will need to adjust the starwheels. Also the magnets that work the electric brakes wear out intentionally and need periodic replacment.

Quick electric brake test: Plug them up and have someone hold the brake pedal down. Place a compass next to the hub. If the magnets are working the needle will move torward the hub.

 

What kind of a trailer? Also has any work been done to it recently? Or any place where wires might have worn through and be grounding themselves out?

I had a problem here the back half of my trailer lights they wouldnt work, well turned out that when I had one of my axles replaced when the mechanic torched the old one off and spot welded the new one on at some point it got hot and melted one of the trailer light wires an was grounding out inside the frame cut the wires leading past and it was fine.

I also had another problem with lights where there was nothing protectingthe wire from the edge of the frame where it came out wore through the wire covering and was grounding that way as well.

One way to check if it is a ground is take some really longer jumper cables connect one right to your batteries ground and the other to the trailer if it fixes the problem then you know its a ground issue if not there is something else.

 

Trailer brand is in my sig. I checked the wiring and it all looks good to my knowledge. Trailer has never been worked on in my hands. All wiring looks stock. im just gonna bring it to a truck stop next run.

 

We have a winner
Those dang magnets were wore out completly
Thanks for the good info

 

Correction, SOME trailer brakes do not auto-adjust, and maybe even MOST trailer bakes do not auto-adjust, but I can attest to trailer brakes that do auto-adjust as I have them on my GN.
Wanna see pics of it?

http://www.stamey.info/Truck/Trailer/Default.htm

Chris

 

Trailer brakes are like rear drums brakes on cars/trucks (heck like the emergency brake in our trucks) there are SUPPOSE to self adjust when going into reverse however they barely work. I have the same brakes on my trailer as you do and I have tried going into reverse to adjust them but rarely works plus the fact how often and how far do you go in reverse with your trailer? I know I for one dont do much in reverse plus some brake controllers dont even work in reverse for some reason??