Community Forums

Refugee99 · 04-19-2022, 09:00 AM

Purchased our trailer last year. Setup my Tekonsha P3 so that it seemed adequate, especially on B1 boost. This year when I pulled the trailer out of storage, it just didn’t seem to engage as much as last year. No problem, I’ll reset it soon.

Before I do, I just wanted to reach out and see if there is any advice or thoughts on consistency. It seems like I set things up last year to be workable, but the results would vary so much that I haven’t had a lot of confidence that I’ve got it as optimal as possible. Sometimes feels good, but then lock up, and then can’t get it to lock up regardless of how high I crank the settings. Besides watching the YouTube videos, does anyone have any tips on setting these up so I can be confident in what I’ve got happening, or is it just get to where they don’t lock up and feel like normal braking without the trailer?

Hope all this makes some sort of sense.

steve52 · 04-19-2022, 09:21 AM

Almost sounds like a bad/corroded electrical connection or ground.

Wellibe · 04-19-2022, 01:02 PM

I don't have a ton of experience with brake controllers, but I can share a somewhat similar experience that I had. I used to have a Tekonsha Voyager controller, and at one point I had water get into the 7-way receptacle on my TV (without a trailer attached, but with the controller still in the vehicle). It was enough to complete the circuit between the brake power contact and the ground contact, which caused the controller to light up like it thought a trailer was connected. Happened while I was driving down the road, so I couldn't exactly not use the brakes. Next time I hooked up the trailer, the brakes would grab very hard, and adjusting the power and/or level down had very little effect. I presume driving/braking with water in the 7-way plug and no trailer connected somehow fried the controller.

Not exactly like your symptoms, but similar enough to make me wonder if your controller is malfunctioning.

Refugee99 · 04-19-2022, 02:22 PM

Thanks for the responses. I’ll see how it feels when I do the next adjustment and then look deeper if need be.

1st-tt2018 · 04-19-2022, 04:17 PM

Have you worn the rust off the trailer brakes and then adjusted the brakes so they are correct? This could be a major factor....

DaddyRV779 · 04-19-2022, 07:37 PM

Blast your contacts with electric contact cleaner, then apply dielctric grease for your 7way whip and socket

Refugee99 · 04-22-2022, 11:00 AM

Will do both those recommendations. Thank you!!

Lanny1763 · 04-23-2022, 04:46 AM

Following. I just yesterday installed my Tekonsha P3 and put the settings on 6 and Boost 2 for my trailer. Got it to brake the trailer but not lock up. Honestly it's the first time I've ever really felt the trailer help in the braking process. Hopefully everything will work out for you.