Prodigy Question

VeeMax · July 28, 2011

I have a Prodigy P2, newly installed. I've had a few occasions where the truck has sat either for several hours or over night and it won't start up from a low battery. I had the battery and alternator checked with no issues. Has anyone ever notice if their controler isn't turning off intermentently? I noticed this morning before getting in the truck and looking in the window, my P2 leds were on. I tried to start it and guess what, won't turn over. So I reasonably convinced this is my problem. I disconnected it, but it will take sometime before I know anything as it is intermentent. Anyone else had this issue?

Stevens03 · July 28, 2011

I didn't have any problems with mine. I know that there was some issues with the 07's draining the battery with factory accessories. I never experienced that issue in my 07 but i read about others having that problem. If they used the factory pig tail to plug into the e-brake setup, it shouldn't be an issue. If someone tapped into a live wire, then I'd agree with your assumption.

Since you unplugged it, you should know pretty quick whether thats your issue or not. Maybe it's a faulty e-brake controller

PGDriver · July 28, 2011

Mine is in my truck all the time and no problem.

VeeMax · July 28, 2011

I put the controller in, but it is almost as easy as the classic silvy with the plug and play socket. The wires are near the steering column and labeled. Then connect the power wires at the battery. The power is always on, not switched. The controller is suppose to shut off shortly after movement stops.

So yep I pulled the controller power wires at the battery, we shall see. If it happens again I will look for some GM tech bulletins on the battery drain.

wavery · July 28, 2011

I put the controller in, but it is almost as easy as the classic silvy with the plug and play socket. The wires are near the steering column and labeled. Then connect the power wires at the battery. The power is always on, not switched. The controller is suppose to shut off shortly after movement stops.

So yep I pulled the controller power wires at the battery, we shall see. If it happens again I will look for some GM tech bulletins on the battery drain.

I've had the P2 in my truck for a couple years. I use the truck exclusively for towing and the truck often sits for a couple weeks without starting. I've never had an issue.

Sounds like you may have a bad battery or a parasitic drain in the system somewhere.

VeeMax · July 28, 2011

I put the controller in, but it is almost as easy as the classic silvy with the plug and play socket. The wires are near the steering column and labeled. Then connect the power wires at the battery. The power is always on, not switched. The controller is suppose to shut off shortly after movement stops.

So yep I pulled the controller power wires at the battery, we shall see. If it happens again I will look for some GM tech bulletins on the battery drain.

I've had the P2 in my truck for a couple years. I use the truck exclusively for towing and the truck often sits for a couple weeks without starting. I've never had an issue.

Sounds like you may have a bad battery or a parasitic drain in the system somewhere.

Good, another person with the P2. Have you ever noticed your P2 not shut off in the mornings?

wavery · July 29, 2011

I put the controller in, but it is almost as easy as the classic silvy with the plug and play socket. The wires are near the steering column and labeled. Then connect the power wires at the battery. The power is always on, not switched. The controller is suppose to shut off shortly after movement stops.

So yep I pulled the controller power wires at the battery, we shall see. If it happens again I will look for some GM tech bulletins on the battery drain.

I've had the P2 in my truck for a couple years. I use the truck exclusively for towing and the truck often sits for a couple weeks without starting. I've never had an issue.

Sounds like you may have a bad battery or a parasitic drain in the system somewhere.

Good, another person with the P2. Have you ever noticed your P2 not shut off in the mornings?

I just went down to my truck. There were no LED's .... nothing. I turned on the ignition and it lit up. Turned off the ignitions and it went completely off, right away.

Maybe you are pulling power from a source that is live with the ignition off. I have the factory brake controller harness in my truck but mine is an '06. I know that they made changes in the controller harness in '07 but I wouldn't think that they would give you an "always hot" lead for the brake controller.

VeeMax · July 29, 2011

I put the controller in, but it is almost as easy as the classic silvy with the plug and play socket. The wires are near the steering column and labeled. Then connect the power wires at the battery. The power is always on, not switched. The controller is suppose to shut off shortly after movement stops.

So yep I pulled the controller power wires at the battery, we shall see. If it happens again I will look for some GM tech bulletins on the battery drain.

I've had the P2 in my truck for a couple years. I use the truck exclusively for towing and the truck often sits for a couple weeks without starting. I've never had an issue.

Sounds like you may have a bad battery or a parasitic drain in the system somewhere.

Good, another person with the P2. Have you ever noticed your P2 not shut off in the mornings?

I just went down to my truck. There were no LED's .... nothing. I turned on the ignition and it lit up. Turned off the ignitions and it went completely off, right away.

Maybe you are pulling power from a source that is live with the ignition off. I have the factory brake controller harness in my truck but mine is an '06. I know that they made changes in the controller harness in '07 but I wouldn't think that they would give you an "always hot" lead for the brake controller.

Yes, its an always hot lead, non switched. I was very surprised by this. NBS's(atleast '07) have to rely on the controller sensing non movement for several minutes to shut itself off. The classic's are plug and play and (I believed) switched like your describing. Someone chime in if I'm off the mark.

VeeMax · August 1, 2011

Well, I will post what I found and what seems to have fixed it. After I was told my battery was good, I disconnected some accessories(no change), I did the parasitic test(looked good). So last night I took it to get the battery checked again, it checked good(96%). I told the guy, damn what is going on here! He hooked up the battery tester again and it tested bad (70%). So I put a new battery in and it cranks faster and cranked just as fast this morning. I was going to put a battery in anyway even if it didn't show bad. But it appears to be fixed now.

I still need to see why my P2 doesn't shut off intermentently...

xPosTech · August 11, 2011

It's been a few days but I'll add my thoughts on the P3. I installed my controller to the factory blunt-cut pigtail on my 2010 1500. I also connected the brake controller 30 amp brake supply and 40 amp camper battery supply wires to the studs on the power distribution box under the hood.

My P3 powers off 10-15 minutes after the brake pedal is released when the truck is shut off. It does not sense movement from the accelerometer but 12 volts from the brake to turn on/off. Whenever the brake pedal is depressed it will power up and control the brakes on my trailer if it is connected. This is a safety feature so you will have trailer brakes even if you're in a runaway Toyota and have to turn the key off coming down a mountain. Or any unforeseen emergency with the ignition off.

I kinda like that feature. But, if yours doesn't power down some time after shutting down the truck you might have a defective unit that needs checking.

As I said mine is a P3. I think Tekonsha makes other non-proportional controllers so they might be different.

EDIT: I just checked my truck. I have a P3 not a P2. The operation is the same on both but did not want to mislead anyone. Sorry for the mistake.

Ted

VeeMax · August 11, 2011

Thanks for the feedback. I have not hooked my P2 back up as of yet. Just making sure there is no more battery issues. As of today the battery issue is fixed with the new battery. I will reconnect the power wires back onto the studs next to the fuse box tomorrow and test my P2. I have some towing to do this weekend. If it doesn't power off(intermentently or otherwise), I will send it back.

xPosTech · August 11, 2011

Thanks for the feedback. I have not hooked my P2 back up as of yet. Just making sure there is no more battery issues. As of today the battery issue is fixed with the new battery. I will reconnect the power wires back onto the studs next to the fuse box tomorrow and test my P2. I have some towing to do this weekend. If it doesn't power off(intermentently or otherwise), I will send it back.

I stated above that I have a P2. That was incorrect; I have a P3.

Sorry for the inconvenience if any. I did edit the post above yours to reflect the correct controller. Your P2 should also time out after about 15 minutes.

EDIT: I checked Tekonsha's website. For the P2 it states "power-saving mode due to no motion

for 15 minutes."

http://www.tekonsha.com/content/downloads/...tion/N90885.pdf

For the P3 it states "no motion or activity for at least 15 minutes".

http://www.tekonsha.com/content/downloads/...tion/N90195.pdf

So apparently the accelerometer does come to bear for the time out.

Just trying to be accurate.

Ted