brake light switch delay to bulbs & Trlr brakes

[woof]

I just had a Prodigy trailer brake unit installed at a qualified trailer and hitch place. When the peddle is pushed there is a delay of about 1 to 1.5 seconds before the brake lights come on ( and power to the brakes too). Having never looked prior to the installation, I have no way of knowing if this just started or if it is a new develpement. He (the installer) has the same brake unit in his vehicle and being a plug in deal he took mine out and plugged his in with the same results thereby eliminating the possibllity of a faulty unit.
The installers only suggestion was possibly a faulty brake light switch which I had my mechanic replace today. That did not improve the situation. He even took the old switch apart and changed the throw to maybe compensate for the time delay by being activated sooner and put it back in place. No difference was noted from the new switch or the old switch or the old modified switch.
Does this sound familiar to anyone? I hope my sig is displayed, if not , my truck is a 2003 6spd quad cab 4wd long bed.
Thanks for listening, all responses are appreciated!

[millco]

Well,
Now I'm going to have to look. I thought mine comes on pretty soon; but, just stays on for quite a while after I let off..... I will look and see.
Dan

[AK RAM]

You never know, but that doesn’t sound like a "designed characteristic". If you were to hit the brakes in a crunch, that 1 to 1.5 second delay can add 50+ feet to your braking distance. Not good. You might can give Prodigy a call and make sure it is designed to function like that before you go throwing any more money at it. It may be a simple bug they are aware of and can tell you how to take care of it over the phone. I don’t recall hearing anyone else with a Prodigy complaining of that either.


Prodigy web site: http://www.tekonsha.com/faq.html

Sounds like they are very proactive about working customers' problems…..
"Q.) If you need further assistance or are experiencing a concern not listed here.
A.) Please call Tech Support at 888-785-5832 or go to Contact Us to fill out the form and we'll figure it out for you—without the hassle of a phone call."

[millco]

They seem to come on pretty quick (The only delay is the time it takes the incandescent bulbs to light up). The LEDs I made for the Int'l make these seem 'slow'!!
They are a little slow going off; but, I think it is the pedal being a little slow coming back up.
All in all they seem fine.

Didn't you say yours are the same with the controller unplugged? You may want to unplugg it and make sure. If they act the same with the controller out of the picture, it has to be the truck. I would blame the switch on the pedal. It is adjustable. I could try to find pics for you if you like.
I had an 05 Cummins that didn't disengage the cruise with the brake pedal. The dealer said they adjusted it as far as the dare. It didn't change any until I did it myself. It can be done!
Good luck,
Dan

[hammerman3406]

sounds like a situation where your brake lights might be backfeeding through the controller because of a bad ground somewhere.... it can happen, and the delay is your controller's modulation of the electric brake current... make sure the module and light harness both have good grounding.

[millco]

Sorry I wasn't very clear. I haven't plugged in my brake controller yet. Still trying to figure where to mount it........ I'm currently toying with taking the dash apart, making my own center section and putting it (and some other toys) in there. We will see.
Thanks for the idea though,
Dan

[CD in NM]

I noticed the stop lights stayed on briefly after I release the pedal when I first got the truck. I checked my truck after reading your post, seems to come right on when the brakes are applied. There has been no change since installing my Prodigy and with their harness. Must be about the travel and the need to adjust/calibrate the switch or a ground problem or both in yours.

CD

[woof]

I will definitelt visit Tekonsha web site. Thanksfor the great idea. However in my original post I mentioned the installer had the same unit in his truck so we swapped 'em with the same delay thereby isolating the actual unit from being the culprit.
Also concerning the brake switch, We replaced it wqith the same result and even altered the old one to compensate for pedal throw, blah blah blah no change. Goin to the site now, thanks to all.

[Revolution]

i got a brake light delay when i take my foot of the pedal. seems to be 1.5 to 3 seconds some times my brake lights stay on? it seems like the pedal isnt comeing up fast enough?

[Shibbyutman]

I think the delay of the lights coming on is something to do with the early 03 trucks. My truck used to do it quite bad (also have a tekonsha digital brake controller). My tail light circuit boards went bad, a quite common occurance on the 03's, and I swapped them with a test truck at work that was an 06. The delay of the brakes lights seems to have dissapated but there is still a lag in the brake controller. I don't know what model you have, but on mine there is a compensation for this that ramps the trailer brakes faster, it might be as simple as adjusting that...

[rock-rod]

i have too noticed a delay in the brake lights turning off when the pedal is released. it's funny but i got down there with the truck running a pushed the pedal with my hand, and then released and watched the pedal slowly come back up. I think it's just the characteristic of the hydroboost system- there is no return spring on the pedal and it depends on the hydro pressure to push the pedal back up.

also, I get an error code on my prodigy every so often....I thinks is a code 9...not sure what it is and it does it with the pedal pushed or not pushed....just sort of randomly.

[Revolution]

yeah it seems like the pedal just isnt comeing back up quick enough?