dodge guy
Chicago, western subs.
Senior Member
Joined: 03/23/2004
View Profile
 Offline
|
I was having problems with my trailer brakes not stopping properly. the tt would push the X when stopping, I had a couple of scary monents when stopping on the hwy! the trailer brakes were not doing there share. I adjusted them, but no help. checked all wiring connections and splices, all OK.
I removed the Prodigy and installed my old pendulum brake controller. WOW! what a difference! While I still cannot lock up the brakes when adjusting the controller (it is a heavier tt than our old one) you can feel the trailer actually stopping now. it no longer pushes the X when under hard braking. I couldn`t even lock up the brakes on loose gravel with the Prodigy!!!
With our old tt and the pendulum controller, the brakes could be locked up when adjusting. when I switched to the Prodigy I couldn`t lock up the brakes during the adjustments. but it still stopped "OK". according to the Prodigy manual this was normal!
I even tried a Tekonsha Primus and had the same issues as the Prodigy!
I had to do all this because I can`t have a trailer with marginal brakes when I go to disney next month. Looks like I need to make a call to Tekonsha to see whats up! the Prodigy is only 3 years old, I wonder if the newer versions have better braking ability?
I figured I`de post this because I know there are some others out there having some braking issues with there Prodigy`s!
Just a little FYI.
Wife kim
Son brandon 7yrs
Daughter marissa 6yrs
Dog shadow
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear
Reese HP dualcam,Prodigy brake controller,
Air lift air bags.
Better to have a bad day of
camping than a good day at work!
|
wittmeba
Roanoke, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 02/02/2001
View Profile
 Online
|
Glad you are comfortable with your braking.
There are many Prodigy owners. Personally, Im not a strong supporter of the Prodigy for other reasons, but I am surprised you couldnt get it to work better for you.
The Prodigy method of sensing braking needs is similar to the pendulum - it is based on the TV braking. Prodigy removed some of the issues of the invalid pendulum sensing, such as going down a hill, etc, but should be superior to the older style.
Something I do with the Jordan is once I enter the highway, I turn the braking to the max. I dont want partial braking in the event of an emergency or have to remember to reach down and crank it up. Once back on city streets, just make the adjustment again. There isnt too much difference, but I do use slightly lower output when not on the highway.
Bruce & Carolyn Wittmeier
Viet Nam Vet 1968-69
2001 Ford F250 4X4 OffRoad, Auto ESOF, KingCab, ShortBed, Airlift Airbags, DiPricol gauges, SCT-Tuner from DP-Tuners (40/80/120HP), Bilsteins, Reese Slider, Jordan, 2001 30RKFS SunnyBrook w/personal touches.
|
chadsalt
sc
Senior Member
Joined: 04/04/2005
View Profile
Online
|
wittmeba wrote:Glad you are comfortable with your braking.
There are many Prodigy owners. Personally, Im not a strong supporter of the Prodigy for other reasons, but I am surprised you couldnt get it to work better for you.
The Prodigy method of sensing braking needs is similar to the pendulum - it is based on the TV braking. Prodigy removed some of the issues of the invalid pendulum sensing, such as going down a hill, etc, but should be superior to the older style.
Something I do with the Jordan is once I enter the highway, I turn the braking to the max. I dont want partial braking in the event of an emergency or have to remember to reach down and crank it up. Once back on city streets, just make the adjustment again. There isnt too much difference, but I do use slightly lower output when not on the highway.
I'm guessing your trailer can not lock the wheels? Have you done any 'emergency' stop testing? Youre the first Jordan user Ive read about making adjustments, caught my interest.
I thought the point of using a Jordan, Brakesmart, or Maxbrake (what I'm using) was to have balanced braking, making adjustments for driving conditions unecessary????
I never felt it necessary to adjust the Maxbrake for the TT, or horse trailer....they vary by only a few thousand pounds. The GN flatbed is 5K empty, 15K-20K loaded........sometimes I adjust the gain when loaded.
|
chadsalt
sc
Senior Member
Joined: 04/04/2005
View Profile
Online
|
dodge guy wrote:I was having problems with my trailer brakes not stopping properly. the tt would push the X when stopping, I had a couple of scary monents when stopping on the hwy! the trailer brakes were not doing there share. I adjusted them, but no help. checked all wiring connections and splices, all OK.
I removed the Prodigy and installed my old pendulum brake controller. WOW! what a difference! While I still cannot lock up the brakes when adjusting the controller (it is a heavier tt than our old one) you can feel the trailer actually stopping now. it no longer pushes the X when under hard braking. I couldn`t even lock up the brakes on loose gravel with the Prodigy!!!
With our old tt and the pendulum controller, the brakes could be locked up when adjusting. when I switched to the Prodigy I couldn`t lock up the brakes during the adjustments. but it still stopped "OK". according to the Prodigy manual this was normal!
I even tried a Tekonsha Primus and had the same issues as the Prodigy!
I had to do all this because I can`t have a trailer with marginal brakes when I go to disney next month. Looks like I need to make a call to Tekonsha to see whats up! the Prodigy is only 3 years old, I wonder if the newer versions have better braking ability?
I figured I`de post this because I know there are some others out there having some braking issues with there Prodigy`s!
Just a little FYI.
Come on Dodgeguy, there is nothing wrong with the vast majority of Prodigys', old or new. I had a v2.4 I actually liked better than the v2.6 and then P3 that followed.
Yours apparently is broken, I dont know why its taken you this long to call Tekonsha? Glad to see you at least have a working controller for your trip though.
|
mkirsch
Rochester, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 04/09/2004
View Profile
|
IMHO, you didn't fix anything. The old pendulum controller is "burning through" whatever problem is actually going on with your brakes. It's masking the issue, which will continue to get worse and worse until even the pendulum controller won't work.
It's highly unlikely that two different controllers would be faulty.
|
|
|
wittmeba
Roanoke, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 02/02/2001
View Profile
Online
|
Chadsalt,
You are correct - I cannot lock the wheels on asphalt, but can on gravel.
Balanced braking is right and I normally have this. Making an adjustment isnt for comfort of stopping. It is pure safety. I have played a little while stopping on gravel and can skid the wheels so the brakes do work OK. My concern is in an emergency stop (truck throwing a tire, or me not paying attention coming upon stopped highway traffic, etc). Knowing my wheels wont lock, I dont want to take any chances. I want all the braking available from both the truck and trailer.
My max is 11.7 on amp output. I usually run about 10.5 - 11.0 on my output so it is close to max anyway. The lower numbers provide the balanced braking you are referring too.
|
dodge guy
Chicago, western subs.
Senior Member
Joined: 03/23/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
chadsalt wrote:Yours apparently is broken, I dont know why its taken you this long to call Tekonsha? Glad to see you at least have a working controller for your trip though.
It`s taken me this long because I was told by everyone here and the Prodigy instructions that it`s normal for the Prodigy to not be able to lock up the brakes! so i tried everything else before the Prodigy.
mkirsch wrote:IMHO, you didn't fix anything. The old pendulum controller is "burning through" whatever problem is actually going on with your brakes. It's masking the issue, which will continue to get worse and worse until even the pendulum controller won't work.
It's highly unlikely that two different controllers would be faulty.
Well both controllers were made by Tekonsha! and as far as masking a problem. wiring is OK from the plug under the dash to the brakes at each wheel. shoes and drums are OK. like I said, I`ve had this problem from day one with this trailer and from the day I got the Prodigy for the first Cherokee. it was never as good as the pendulum brake controller.
* This post was
edited 10/07/08 07:04pm by dodge guy *
|
chadsalt
sc
Senior Member
Joined: 04/04/2005
View Profile
Online
|
dodge guy wrote:chadsalt wrote:Yours apparently is broken, I dont know why its taken you this long to call Tekonsha? Glad to see you at least have a working controller for your trip though.
It`s taken me this long because I was told by everyone here and the Prodigy instructions that it`s normal for the Prodigy to not be able to lock up the brakes! so i tried everything else before the Prodigy.
??? I dont believe anyone told you that the trailer pushing the truck was acceptable....
The instructions say that with the manual lever you MAY not be able to lock the wheels, but you should still be able to get trailer braking to the point where it is not pushing the truck with the foot brake.
You say you have the same problem with the Primus? Did you use the same wire harness?
|
Toy Haulerz
NH
New Member
Joined: 03/15/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
I would also make sure you have a heavy enough guage wire from the TV to the controller. Even though it is OK with you Pend. style, the Prodigy may not output maximum current.
I just switched to a Prodigy and towed my 10K plus # bike hauler 2K miles to Myrtle Beach and back and cannot say enough good things about it. Before you give up, call Tekonsha.
TV: 1999 F250SD 7.3 PSD with ZF6(LUK Ceramic Clutch), Superchips 1705, Leer fiberglass topper, guages, Reese WD/DC.
Trailer: 2008 CargoPro 32' aluminum enclosed tag.
|
dodge guy
Chicago, western subs.
Senior Member
Joined: 03/23/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
chadsalt wrote:??? I dont believe anyone told you that the trailer pushing the truck was acceptable....
The instructions say that with the manual lever you MAY not be able to lock the wheels, but you should still be able to get trailer braking to the point where it is not pushing the truck with the foot brake.
You say you have the same problem with the Primus? Did you use the same wire harness?
Soory. what I meant was, I was told it "could" be normal operation not to be able to lock the brakes! and yes I did use the same harness, but I also jumped the battery lead to the brake wire at the Prodigy connector and the truck and trailer stopped "now" with the just the trailer brakes. so that tells me everything from connector to magnets is working properly. and yes I still did physically check everything.
Toy Haulerz, I did call Tekonsha and I`m getting a new controller. hopefully that will work better, but I`m not holding my breath! seeing as how I had the same problem with the Primus and also a previous trailer.
One thing I was thinking about today while driving to work. I know I`m getting the full 13.5 volts to the trailer, but I never checked to see how many amps I`ve got. that is about the only thing left to check. I guess it`s possible to have some resistance in one the connections.
* This post was
edited 10/08/08 07:33am by dodge guy *
|
|
|
|
