Brake Controller has No Power

[dustertwister]

I have a problem that I hope someone can help me with. I recently purchased a prodigy brake contoller to assist me in stopping my travel trailer. I purchased the specific cable from them that connects the controller to my 01 truck.

My truck did not come with the tow package so I pulled down the 6-wire harness by the spare tire and wired up a 7 prong plug. Everything works as far as lights go. In fact, the brake wire (light blue) works also - if I press on the brakes when the trailer is plugged in it locks up the trailer brakes.

So, just install a brake contoller and I would be good to go right?? Wrong....I cant get any power to the controller. If I plug it into my 01 tahoe it lights up and works. I added the 40amp fuse and checked every other fuse both under the hood and by the door. Any ideas?? The manufacturer of the Prodigy is no help, they say I dont have power to the controller and I need to get power to it - no sh--!

Also, my truck won't charge my batteries on my trailer when I am driving because I dont have the hot wire (orange) at the back of my truck. Can I just run a wire from the battery to the 7th prong on the plug and put a fuse inline? Is it more complicated then this?

Thanks for your help.

[Sonny01]

Just take your truck to a good trailer rental shop like U Haul. Call first just to make sure they'll do service work if you aren't renting from them. Trailer wiring is not something you want to mess around with. They will have a break-out box that they plug into your jack and can tell in about 2 seconds what needs to be done.
You will be happy with the Prodigy...I have one and it works great...the best part is not messing with it going up or down hills like other controllers.

[jeep_cj4x4]

I'm not sure about running the hotwire question but the light blue wire is your CHML (Center High Mounted Light). In other words, your 3rd brake light. It will be full 12v only when you step on the brake and isnot the one you want to use for your trailer brakes (they will lock up every time you step on the brake).

I also had trouble hooking up my brake controler through the factory wireing and used the adapter under the dash also. I ended up taking the truck to a trailer place and they knew exactly what to do with our trucks, took about 20 min. Check out this link I'm posting to another thread relating to this. I am the las one to post on it and have pictures of what the hooked up to get mine to work....

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=573718

[dustertwister]

Jeep,

Thanks for all the help. You're right, I checked my owner's manual and the light blue is the CHML. I thought I only needed to run one wire - the 12 v+ (orange) when actually I need to run two wires - the 12 v+ (orange) and the electric brake (dark blue) to the back of my truck. I am not sure why chevy makes the CHML a blue wire and the electric brake a blue wire, granted the shades are different but I bet lots of people try to use the CHML wire as the electric brake wire (as I did).

As for the brake controller, I think if I run the two "new" wires to the back of my truck and route them through the under-dask junction box (similar to the pictures you provided) that will power my brake controller and provide braking power to my trailer. As for the CHML (light blue) wire, this needs to be disconnected and abandoned. Probably 1 in a 1000 people really need this wire for anything.

I plan to going to a local trailer dealer to make sure that I am on the right track. I will update this tread at that time.

Thanks again.