I installed my new prodigy myself, using the proper GM harness. Simple, plug & use. The controller acts as it should, and while the trailer was parked, I connected it to my truck. The brakes hum, and click off and on when the brake is depressed and released. But then it gets interesting....
On our Prodigy's maiden voyage to the nearby dump station, I saw every error that the durn thing could put out. NC OL SH and all the rest. When the brakes were fully depressed, and I was attempting to come to a complete stop, the OL would come on. As I went down the road, it would occasionally read SH or NC. Then it would return to C. When the brake was depressed the numbers would only go up to about 3 despite the controller being set to 6.0.
Upon arrival to the dump station, I noticed that the hub of one wheel was very hot compared to the rest. The bearing seems good, we popped off the cap and there's still blue grease in it. The brake drum was very hot, and all the rest were cool. The tire was not hot. Out of fear of a brake problem, I disconnected my prodigy (trailer was empty) and poked home. At slow speeds it sounded like a brake was squealing or sticking at times.
I noticed NONE of these problems before the prodigy. The brakes clicked off and on freely and rather loudly. My old controller was a Redline brand. Perhaps there was a problem brewing and the prodigy was smart enough to tell me? Maybe the stupid thing screwed up my brakes...I don't know. Suggestions? I have a big trail ride this weekend. We are going to try taking the wheels apart and make sure the brakes are properly adjusted. Aside from that, I know the wiring could stand to be completely redone, but time is a factor here too.
What on earth does the OL overload signal from the prodigy mean? Of course it means that it "sees an overload" but does that mean that the wiring is insufficient, or is a brake sticking and it can't force anymore juice to it? I was under the impression that if brake wiring was crappy it would not work properly...if at all. They worked fine before. The only problem is that when the brakes were good and warm, sometimes the trailer would stop a little harder than the truck and I'd feel a bit of tugging. That's why I wanted a prodigy "unified braking between trailer and tow vehicle" PHOOEY!
Suggestions? Or does anyone want a free prodigy? Or perhaps a nice 12,000lb Lazy-N with huge LQ and no brakes?
Posted 2008-06-16 10:12 PM (#85782 - in reply to #85778) Subject: RE: Prodigy Problems Galore
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
Listen to your prodigy, it is telling you the truth. The Redline controller you had was a time based piece of junk suitable for a farm flatbed that pulls hay twice a year. That hot brake is telling you something also- either it is too tight, or maybe it was the only one working. You will spend some time working through all of the codes, but it will be worth it. Safety knows no time limit. I've had both controllers, trust me. And my new Ford IBC found issues my prodigy didn't...Oh, and the prodigy is inertia based, so set it on 6, and it won't go to 6 until you are stomping it enough to cause inertia to merit six. Use the boost feature- you'll really like B2 with a trailer like ypurs.
Posted 2008-06-16 11:36 PM (#85787 - in reply to #85782) Subject: RE: Prodigy Problems Galore
Expert
Posts: 2614
We bought the P-3 proportional control by Tekonsha and my husband says it is the best thing he's ever used.We've had 2 before,one was a Tekonsha,and don't know the other,both were inertia based.We love the P-3. You might think about selling yours on EBay and checking it out.
Posted 2008-06-17 7:18 AM (#85792 - in reply to #85778) Subject: RE: Prodigy Problems Galore
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
The Prodigy is right 99% of the time. The NC, SH, and OL codes say it all, you have a bare/broken brake wire on the trailer. A bad ground can cause problems.......although I doubt it due to the SH and OL codes.
You also need to pull the one hot drum and see whats going on there........actually I would pull them all. Need to find the bare/broken wire anyway.
Posted 2008-06-17 12:06 PM (#85824 - in reply to #85792) Subject: RE: Prodigy Problems Galore
Expert
Posts: 2614
well that shows how much I know about brake controllers! I just know we really like the P-3 but,had no other problems.My husband said: the brake controller is picking up on the brake/wiring problems that were there beforehand.Me= DUH!of course!
Posted 2008-06-17 3:26 PM (#85843 - in reply to #85778) Subject: RE: Prodigy Problems Galore
Veteran
Posts: 144 Location: Hickory Hills, IL
I too thought I had problems with my Prodigy (trailer worked fine with other brake controller, or so I thought). Turns out I only had two working brakes on the trailer the whole time. Prodigy gave me error codes, I returned it (hey, it was new!)- got another one that did the exact same thing. Looked into trailer and found the problem.
Never have any issues with my trailer tugging or pushing my truck now. Used it with two different trailers and my Prodigy is excellent.
Prodigy Problems Galore
