Im wondering if anyone has any ideas for a fix. Ive scrolled through and read the post regarding the error message displayed on the dash regarding "trailer wiring fault" and the TSB ford published. This weekend my truck displayed the error message and when I went to investigate the 7/4 connector was full of water. I cleaned it out with some WD-40 but after a phone call to ford I ordered a new and improved 7/4 connector. That problem is fixed but the wiring that connects to the 7/4 connector has a flimsy retainer clip that was broken half off. I called ford again and they want 309.00 dollars for a replacement wiring harness. I know Im not the first person to encounter this problem and wondered what the best fix would be.

 

Most Everytime it rains, as it did this weekend, I get the fault message. It is just cheaper for me to take it off, dry it out. I have tried dielectric grease, sealing it in silicon as well as shrink wrap. At least here in Texas, it does not get damp that often so its not a big deal. For folks in more moisture prone areas, I feel for ya.
I had added a 7 prong plug in the bed for my 5er, even though I had the fault before the install of the plug, once that plug went in, Ford denied anything to do with the plug. That is why its just as easy for me to dry it out on my own.

 

I ordered the additional plug for the bed from E-trailer. My issue is the plug that connects at the bumper to the 7/4 connector is messed up. The tab on the truck side connector is broken off and Ford wants $309 dollars for the replacement wire harness. The harness encompasses everything for the backside of the truck, what i am in need of is a fix for the 7/4 wiring that connects to the 7/4 plug connector.

 

Ford doesn't sell a replacement pigtail for that connector? I thought they had a replacement pigtail for just about every plug on the truck?

Reader's Digest version - cut the bad plug off and splice in a replacement.

 

Yeah ford completely dropped the ball between the water intrusion problem (TSB) and no replacement plug.

 

What year is your truck? Go to car-part.com and try to find a truck in a yard that would be willing to cut that connector back about 12" for you. Some will, some won't. I would bet you can do better than what the dealer is asking, even if you have to buy the whole section of harness.

 

FWIW, I just fixed mine last weekend with the same problem - the harness clip that the socket mounts to was broken on mine as well. I believe eTrailer has a new harness to keep it plug and play for less than Ford but it was still too much for me. I just got a new socket off amazon for less than $10 and cut the wires at the back of the connector w/ the broken clip. I'm far from a mechanic and even less of an electrician but it was really pretty easy. There's diagrams on e-trailer for what color controls what and the new socket gave the number and corresponding color next to the connecting screws. They all matched except one I think, and it was easy enough to figure out by process of elimination. I've got it written down but can't remember if off the top of my head.

If you go this route let me know and I'll tell you which wires it was. Like I said, it was really pretty easy, just cut, strip and crimp on eyelets and then screw them to the new socket. I put heat shrink tubing over all the crimp connections and put some di-electric grease on the screw connections. I don't think this one will leak b/c the whole harness w/ the loom goes into the back of the new socket and I wrapped the entry really good w/ eletrical tape. The whole job start to finish took me about 2hrs. The new socket didn't match the old one exactly so I had to drill 3 new holes in the mounting bracket but so far so good.