Prodigy Wiring Harness - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

Parshal · #1 (**permalink**) 05-01-2005, 09:47 PM

Does anyone know the difference between the 3040 and 3040-P wiring harness for the prodigy brake controller? The 3040-P says clam shell but I don't know what exactly that means. I've always used the clam shell mount in my other vehicles but still don't see how either mount (clam or pocket) could use a different harness. I found the toyota wiring harness in the truck but can't find the harness that came with the controller (bought years ago and installed in a dodge) so I figure I'll just buy the harness for the toyota.

RockyMtnRay · #2 (**permalink**) 05-02-2005, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parshal

Does anyone know the difference between the 3040 and 3040-P wiring harness for the prodigy brake controller? The 3040-P says clam shell but I don't know what exactly that means. I've always used the clam shell mount in my other vehicles but still don't see how either mount (clam or pocket) could use a different harness. I found the toyota wiring harness in the truck but can't find the harness that came with the controller (bought years ago and installed in a dodge) so I figure I'll just buy the harness for the toyota.

Call Tekonsha (1-800-STOP-YOU) and ask them...and let us know what they tell you. It appears that they have this "-P" differentiation on the clamshell harnesses for other brands of trucks as well but I have no idea what the difference is. Getting the Toyota specific harness (3040) will save you some time by avoiding having to solder the universal harness's wires to the pigtail provided by Toyota.

I can say that I used a generic harness (allegedly only for clamshell mounts) along with a pocket mount when I mounted the Prodigy in my truck and it seems to work fine.

Parshal · #3 (**permalink**) 05-02-2005, 10:46 AM

I see that you're the towing moderator. I was looking for a towing forum on this board but couldn't find one.

I called Tekonsha and found out the difference and you're not going to believe this one. The only difference is packaging. The -P has a clear box and the other does not. The lady said she's been trying to get them to discontinue the two numbers but they haven't listened. I have no idea why they are listing clamshell, maybe that's the type of packaging.

RockyMtnRay · #4 (**permalink**) 05-02-2005, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parshal

I see that you're the towing moderator. I was looking for a towing forum on this board but couldn't find one.

Yeah, towing was sorta a "redheaded stepchild" in times past. Until I came along last year, there wasn't even a towing moderator as none of the other moderators regularly did any serious towing. So none of the TS staff had any first hand knowledge of towing issues and towing threads just got dumped into the Handling/Suspension/Brakes forum for lack of a better place. But I'm proud to say that progress is being made...a dedicated towing forum should soon make an appearance.

Quote:

I called Tekonsha and found out the difference and you're not going to believe this one. The only difference is packaging. The -P has a clear box and the other does not. The lady said she's been trying to get them to discontinue the two numbers but they haven't listened. I have no idea why they are listing clamshell, maybe that's the type of packaging.

Thanks for making the call.

And you're right...this one definitely deserves a

. I was wondering why the "-p" designation was for the "clamshell" SKU...logic would have said it was for use with the pocket mounts. And that explains why the universal cable (allegedly "clamshell") worked just fine with my Prodigy's pocket mount. Anyhooo, just order either variant of the Toyota harness and you'll be good to go.

Steve97TT · #5 (**permalink**) 05-03-2005, 09:12 AM

The vehicle specific harnesses that Tekonsha sells with the Prodigy are pathetically short. In the two installations I've done (Sequoia and Chevy) I ended up using the harness that came with the vehicle in combination with the generic Prodigy harness just to get the required length for a nice installation that runs to the middle of the dash (to the ashtray in the Sequoia) instead of to the driver knees.

Steve

file014 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-03-2005, 09:26 AM

Where is the "pigtail" that you can just plug in to in a Tundra? FWIW I have a 2003 V6 regcab that came with factory hitch and trailer light wiring...

RockyMtnRay · #7 (**permalink**) 05-03-2005, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by file014

Where is the "pigtail" that you can just plug in to in a Tundra? FWIW I have a 2003 V6 regcab that came with factory hitch and trailer light wiring...

The factory hitch/trailer wiring you have is probably not the true "tow package" as I kinda think the tow package was only offered on the V8 models. And the pigtail being discussed was only provided with the true tow package.

If the plug you have in the back for trailer wiring is the flat 4-pin type, then you only got the "hitch" option (not the same as the tow package option)...and you won't have the pigtail for the brake controller.

OTOH, if the trailer wiring plug is permanently attached to the side of the hitch and is a round cylinder, 7 pin, "Bargmann" or "Pollack" style with a spring loaded cover, then you have the true tow package. If you do have the tow package, then the pigtail (along with instructions) should have been inside a plastic envelope inside the glove compartment when you bought the truck.

Parshal · #8 (**permalink**) 05-03-2005, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve97TT

The vehicle specific harnesses that Tekonsha sells with the Prodigy are pathetically short.

The one for my Dodge was way too long. I had to coil it twice and zip tie it to the underside of the dash. I shoulda kept that one when I traded it and sold it later. At least, I would have had a pigtail for the Prodigy to solder to the Toyota pigtail. I can't seem to find the generic pigtail that came with the Prodigy now.

Parshal · #9 (**permalink**) 05-05-2005, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve97TT

The vehicle specific harnesses that Tekonsha sells with the Prodigy are pathetically short.

Although the one for the Dodge was long, the one I just received for the Toyota does appear to be short. It also has an extra ground coming off the Prodigy end plug. I just called that Tekonsha said that they believed the Toyota ground was not sufficient so they began adding an extra ground wire to those harnesses. Interesting.

RockyMtnRay · #10 (**permalink**) 05-05-2005, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parshal

Although the one for the Dodge was long, the one I just received for the Toyota does appear to be short.

Just how long is the Toyota specific harness? It would be helpful to have the length (in inches) so others can make the "too short" or "long enough" decision WRT where they'll put their controller. For those who mount their controllers where I did on the very left side of the dash pic--scroll down, you don't need a very long harness at all.

Quote:

It also has an extra ground coming off the Prodigy end plug. I just called that Tekonsha said that they believed the Toyota ground was not sufficient so they began adding an extra ground wire to those harnesses. Interesting.

Interesting indeed. I kinda wondered about that...the stock Toyota harness has a very small (~16 gauge) wire for the brake controller ground, much smaller gauge than Tekonsha recommends. And it could be that some Tundras have bad grounds in the factory wiring harness. But my controller seems to work well. Hmmmmm.

Parshal · #11 (**permalink**) 05-05-2005, 04:15 PM

It's 38 inches from in total including the plugs.

I'm planning on putting mine in the little space above my right knee. It should be long enough to reach but it will be interesting to see how much slack there is in order to get it up and out of the way.