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Old 08-10-2017, 07:48 PM   #1
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Tekonsha brain hemmorage?

I have a P2 that has worked fine for 10 years or so; today on the way home it decided it was to apply the brakes at around 25 mph. Sudden pulsing of the trailer brakes (my foot off the pedal) and the display started bouncing around from 0-4 volts so fast I could barely read it. Pulled over, turned the dial all the way down to 0 volts. Unplugged/replugged the trailer cord, flipped the manual lever a few times, and nothing worked. Left the dial at zero, as the manual level still worked to apply voltage and it was an easy drive home with no traffic. Display still jumped from 0.7 to 0 volts, but didn't seem to be enough to apply the brakes. Checked wheel and lug nut temps around every 10 miles and nothing got hot. Halfway home (an hour of driving) this thing settled down and worked fine and has been fine since. I no longer trust it.

Anybody upgraded from a Tekonsha P2 to a P3? Curious if I need a new wire harness or the old connector will work with the P3.
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Old 08-10-2017, 07:57 PM   #2
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Scary sounding- didn't think a brake controller could do braking other than with the manual slide. Tekonsha (is that Cequent?) would know if wiring harness is same.
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Old 08-10-2017, 08:13 PM   #3
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I have been having an issue with my trailer brakes, that is for another post. At any rate, I called Tekonsha support. I found them very helpful. I might suggest taking a look under your trailer and be sure that all the wiring is intact, make sure none is hanging, frayed or somehow separated at the joints. Mine was inside the coiled covering and I was not able to inspect everything, more a matter of looking for the obvious.

Since yours is not failing now the following test may not help. The tech had me connect the trailer to the tow, start the tow and with someone in the tow sliding the manual lever on the Tekonsha use a multimeter to check for at least 10 volts going to the brakes. I was able to get at several of the wires and always found an adequate voltage.

Since your confidence in the unit is lost and you have received a good ten year return replacement may be best. It may not hurt to replace the harness at the same time.
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Old 08-10-2017, 08:16 PM   #4
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Call Tekonsha, they are a terrific company. I BET they'll send you a replacement, if you send in the old one. They want to know WHY the equipment fails.
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Old 08-10-2017, 08:49 PM   #5
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The harness/plug appear identical when comparing both units on etrailer.

This is odd, but weird things happen with electronics. Any chance there was a cellphone or other RF generating device near the brake controller? They warn about this in the manual.
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Old 08-10-2017, 09:05 PM   #6
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Call Tekonsha, they are a terrific company. I BET they'll send you a replacement, if you send in the old one. They want to know WHY the equipment fails.
That was my experience with them. They sent me a replacement before even receiving my old one back.
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Old 08-10-2017, 09:06 PM   #7
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Call Tekonsha, they are a terrific company. I BET they'll send you a replacement, if you send in the old one. They want to know WHY the equipment fails.
You are right; forgot to say same. Call 800 632-3290. Pete was electrical guy and was very knowledgeable and interested in solving the problem.
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Old 08-10-2017, 09:09 PM   #8
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That was my experience with them. They sent me a replacement before even receiving my old one back.
Did you get your problem resolved?
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Old 08-10-2017, 09:32 PM   #9
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Did you get your problem resolved?
Mine apparently was never was with the P3. They found a broken wire inside the brake, but apparently there is still another problem somewhere. Reace is still working with Dexter on solving it.
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Old 08-10-2017, 11:07 PM   #10
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I just ordered a P3 to replace the P2 as they share the same cable part number. Gotta be on the road for the eclipse in 7 days and don't want to waste the time to screw with it. 10 years of good service is enough for me.
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Old 08-10-2017, 11:10 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubicon327 View Post
The harness/plug appear identical when comparing both units on etrailer.

This is odd, but weird things happen with electronics. Any chance there was a cellphone or other RF generating device near the brake controller? They warn about this in the manual.
Nothing out of usual around the brake controller. It just went bonkers - glad it wasn't when rounding a curve at 65!
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Old 08-10-2017, 11:35 PM   #12
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10 years of good service is enough for me.
So, why not just get another P2?
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Old 08-10-2017, 11:55 PM   #13
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So, why not just get another P2?
The P3 was less than $15 more and has better features.
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Old 08-11-2017, 12:09 AM   #14
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Gotta be on the road for the eclipse in 7 days and don't want to waste the time to screw with it. 10 years of good service is enough for me.
Anything can happen over the next week, weather wise. But did you see this tonight Charlie: Eclipse weather outlook: Clouds, rain possible over Oregon | KGW.com

Nearly two months with no measurable rain and now there's that possibility during the eclipse!
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Old 08-11-2017, 12:14 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by Donna D. View Post
Anything can happen over the next week, weather wise. But did you see this tonight Charlie: Eclipse weather outlook: Clouds, rain possible over Oregon | KGW.com

Nearly two months with no measurable rain and now there's that possibility during the eclipse!
We'll be East of Madras. Figured the odds were better there.
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Old 08-11-2017, 12:24 AM   #16
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Well, I'd send that P3 back if you can't see the eclipse for rain clouds.
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Old 08-16-2017, 10:02 AM   #17
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I have both P2 and P3, on different trailers. P2 much simpler and quicker to adjust.

But the P3 seems to have a greater range of adjustments, and perhaps a bit more precise when adjusting, so I would go with the P3 if replacing.
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