Pinched cord/ No Brakes

[ChuckD]

I have one quick question I pinched my Front light cord in the tailgate. Now when I apply the brakes.....no brakes...... but I can activate the manually and all works fine. I have all my lights, turn signals, btakelights and so on. Just no brakes on the pedal anyone know what to look for. My brake controler is a prodgy. Chuck

[Countryfolks]

Front light cord in the tailgate?

[ChuckD]

Yep, pinched it when I raised the tailgate. Now all I have in trailer brakes when I apply them manually. All other electrical seems to work okay.

[Countryfolks]

Sorry, what I meant is I don't know what a front light cord is.

[HughM]

Is it the 12v cord connecting the R/V to the truck?

[ChuckD]

oops sorry Yes the cord that connects the truck to the RV. I was thinking that besides a ground that was all there was in there. The Black Cord the connects the truck lights/brakes etc to the camper. I am sorry about not being clear. Chuck

[racerjoe]

Is it possible to have two separate power sources for the controller? One for the manual use and one for normal braking? I would check the cord for a broken wire.

[bigmurf]

Chuck: Since the brakes will work in the manual mode would this not tell us that the wiring is good since auto & manual both use the same wire to the trailer?
Now, do your brake lights work on the truck when you push the pedal?
If not, is there a fuse for the brake lights?
What about the brake light switch itself? Anything loose there?

[Countryfolks]

Here is the Tekonsha troubleshooting site. Maybe it can help.

http://www.tekonsha.com/product/faq.asp

Support page

http://www.tekonsha.com/product/support.asp

[Art-n-Marge]

I agree with Bigmurf, that if the only thing connecting the TV and RV is the RV wiring harness (aka front light cord), and the brake wire is the same for manual and automatic application of brakes. Pinching the harness and that wire being a problem would not work for either braking case. Your running lights, blinkers, hazard all run through the same RV harness, I don't think the RV wiring harness is the problem.

When you say you use the manual brake, do you mean the slide switch you use to force the trailer to brake on the Prodigy? I would check to make sure the setting you use for the automatic brake is not set too low. If it is set too low it may not work while the manual brake switch could work because the manual brake switch would go to maximum voltage where the automatic setting will apply only enough voltage as the switch is set to.

If your truck has two plug-ins for the harness, check the other one and the problem should be the SAME if the Prodigy or Prodigy setting are the issues. (I have two, one at the bumper receiver and another one installed by the RV dealer right next to the 5er hitch.)

In any case, let us know what you find when you fix it. Us members are always curious of failure possibilities and how they get solved.

[Art-n-Marge]

I forgot to mention the story why I have that suggestion. One time I was testing my manual brake on the Prodigy and I did not realize I had accidentally "hit" the automatic setting and turned it way too low. In the model of Prodigy I had, there was a rotary switch right next to the manual slide switch and with my clumsiness another finger knocked the setting out of whack. I noticed pretty quick at the first I tried to hit the brake. I readjusted the rotary setting and the problem was taken care of.

I hope your problem is just as easy.

[sreigle]

Chuck, I wonder if there is a fuse for the brake wiring between pedal and trailer that is perhaps outside where the prodigy connects? I may be all wet on this but you might check the fusebox. I assume your Chevy has one inside the cab and one under the hood?

Art's suggestion about accidentally lowering the setting might be it, too.

[ChuckD]

Thank you for the advise, I am at work today but I will check for settings and fuses tonight when I get to camp. I will let you know what I find.