Towing problems
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 62
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From: Calgary
Towing problems
So, had the factory brake controller installed on Monday by the dealership, drove 400 miles yesterday to pick up a travel trailer. When I went to hook up the trailer, truck did not see a trailer connected nor did the trailer brakes work. Took the truck to the local dealer and had them look at it, after they installed the correct relays and fuses the trailer brake worked on their simulator. Went back to the trailer and nothing. Hmmm. Next step get trailer looked at, everything is fine on the trailer side. What am I doing wrong? Truck still doesn't see a trailer when it is connected. I'm m at a loss here. Is it possible that the original dealership didn't flash the computer and thats what the problem is.
Colin
Colin
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
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From: Isanti, MN
Hi Colin,
On my brand-new 2013 I had an issue with the connection at the trailer plug. I fixed it by taking a file to the outside of the contacts socket that the pigtail plugs into. I also bent the contacts out a little to make better contact with the trailer plug.
That's all I can suggest though.
On my brand-new 2013 I had an issue with the connection at the trailer plug. I fixed it by taking a file to the outside of the contacts socket that the pigtail plugs into. I also bent the contacts out a little to make better contact with the trailer plug.
That's all I can suggest though.
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,512
Likes: 394
From: W. Central FL.
So, had the factory brake controller installed on Monday by the dealership, drove 400 miles yesterday to pick up a travel trailer. When I went to hook up the trailer, truck did not see a trailer connected nor did the trailer brakes work. Took the truck to the local dealer and had them look at it, after they installed the correct relays and fuses the trailer brake worked on their simulator. Went back to the trailer and nothing. Hmmm. Next step get trailer looked at, everything is fine on the trailer side. What am I doing wrong? Truck still doesn't see a trailer when it is connected. I'm m at a loss here. Is it possible that the original dealership didn't flash the computer and thats what the problem is.
Colin
Colin
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,710
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From: Central Florida
The Ford factory brake controller requires the dealer to program the truck otherwise the controller won't work. It sounds like they did this if the simulator works. Do you know if the Ford brake controller is compatible with the trailer? When I bought my car hauler, the dealer told me I had to have drum brakes because my factory controller would not work with their disk brakes. Maybe you could try your truck on a different trailer? If it's just the brakes not working check the output voltage. It should vary based on how hard you push the brake pedal. If there is no voltage it's the truck, if there is voltage make sure it is enough for the trailer.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 62
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From: Calgary
The Ford factory brake controller requires the dealer to program the truck otherwise the controller won't work. It sounds like they did this if the simulator works. Do you know if the Ford brake controller is compatible with the trailer? When I bought my car hauler, the dealer told me I had to have drum brakes because my factory controller would not work with their disk brakes. Maybe you could try your truck on a different trailer? If it's just the brakes not working check the output voltage. It should vary based on how hard you push the brake pedal. If there is no voltage it's the truck, if there is voltage make sure it is enough for the trailer.
Colin
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,710
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From: Central Florida
Did your truck come with a trailer tow package? If not you might have to run the 12V constant wire & the 12V for the brakes. Your Ford dealer should know if this is needed.
I would check a couple of the simple things first. Check for voltage on the connector pin for the brake & 12V constant. I think it is the bottom right on your connector (when you are facing the back of the truck). If there is no voltage when the brakes are applied, then the issue is with the truck. Check the fuse for the brakes, it is in the fuse box under the hood. If that is good, chances are the dealer didn't flash the computer properly, the relay is bad or you don't have a trailer tow package on your truck.
If there is voltage I would spray some contact cleaner on the connection to see if that helps. I don't know which pin tells the truck the trailer is connected, I would guess it's either the 12V constant of the brake pin. There is probably a pin diagram for your truck online someplace. As a stop gap you could buy a cheap controller from some place like etrailer.com just to get your trailer home. There are also some places that rent controllers.
I would check a couple of the simple things first. Check for voltage on the connector pin for the brake & 12V constant. I think it is the bottom right on your connector (when you are facing the back of the truck). If there is no voltage when the brakes are applied, then the issue is with the truck. Check the fuse for the brakes, it is in the fuse box under the hood. If that is good, chances are the dealer didn't flash the computer properly, the relay is bad or you don't have a trailer tow package on your truck.
If there is voltage I would spray some contact cleaner on the connection to see if that helps. I don't know which pin tells the truck the trailer is connected, I would guess it's either the 12V constant of the brake pin. There is probably a pin diagram for your truck online someplace. As a stop gap you could buy a cheap controller from some place like etrailer.com just to get your trailer home. There are also some places that rent controllers.
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From: Sioux Falls Area
xr7 makes a good point.
if your truck did not come with the towing package, and the factory installed 7 prong plug, then you are going to be short on wires at the rear of the vehicle to make it work.... even if you had an aftermarket hitch and plug installed, if they didn't run the wires all the way back it wouldn't work.
other than that, Tom's suggestion to check your plug for proper contact is spot on. IIRC, Tom had quite a bit of trouble with his at first.
if your truck did not come with the towing package, and the factory installed 7 prong plug, then you are going to be short on wires at the rear of the vehicle to make it work.... even if you had an aftermarket hitch and plug installed, if they didn't run the wires all the way back it wouldn't work.
other than that, Tom's suggestion to check your plug for proper contact is spot on. IIRC, Tom had quite a bit of trouble with his at first.
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 62
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From: Calgary
xr7 makes a good point.
if your truck did not come with the towing package, and the factory installed 7 prong plug, then you are going to be short on wires at the rear of the vehicle to make it work.... even if you had an aftermarket hitch and plug installed, if they didn't run the wires all the way back it wouldn't work.
other than that, Tom's suggestion to check your plug for proper contact is spot on. IIRC, Tom had quite a bit of trouble with his at first.
if your truck did not come with the towing package, and the factory installed 7 prong plug, then you are going to be short on wires at the rear of the vehicle to make it work.... even if you had an aftermarket hitch and plug installed, if they didn't run the wires all the way back it wouldn't work.
other than that, Tom's suggestion to check your plug for proper contact is spot on. IIRC, Tom had quite a bit of trouble with his at first.
Colin
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,710
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From: Central Florida
The lights will work with or with-out a brake controller. The brake controller only controls the voltage for the brake pin on the plug (and maybe the 12V constant). I would get my multi-meter (or test light) and check for voltage on that pin.
My truck will show "no trailer connected" the first time you try to manually apply brakes on the brake controller. On the second attempt it doesn't display anything. In the truck apps menu it shows trailer disconnected when no trailer is present. It also shows no trailer present when I'm using a 4 (or 5) pin trailer connection.
My truck will show "no trailer connected" the first time you try to manually apply brakes on the brake controller. On the second attempt it doesn't display anything. In the truck apps menu it shows trailer disconnected when no trailer is present. It also shows no trailer present when I'm using a 4 (or 5) pin trailer connection.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
Seriously CDone, you are experiencing the EXACT symptoms my truck did. All my lights worked, but I was showing "Trailer Disconnected" and had no brakes when I pulled the hand lever. After cleaning the contacts and bending them out a bit they started working. I never had any trouble from the trailer brakes after that.
Elder User
Joined: May 2011
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When I got my 2011 f-150 it did not have the FBC, but the dealer added it before I picked up my truck. I went to pick up a new travel trailer for my father-in law the next weekend and did not have any brakes. Lights worked but could not get the truck to recognize that a trailer was connected. It turns out that the dealer did not flash the computer on the truck so the brakes would work.
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,512
Likes: 394
From: W. Central FL.
Not to hijack the thread, but what year did Ford start the "flash" requirement for the brake controller to work? And, is it only with the factory towing package with factory controller?
Can an aftermarket controller be successfully installed on one of these trucks?
BTW, I've been using brake controllers for many years and agree, most of the problems have been in the connection to the trailer,,,,,except when the dog chewed the trailer wiring.
Can an aftermarket controller be successfully installed on one of these trucks?
BTW, I've been using brake controllers for many years and agree, most of the problems have been in the connection to the trailer,,,,,except when the dog chewed the trailer wiring.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Sioux Falls Area
you only need to have the truck flashed if you add the factory brake controller and the truck did not originaly come with it.
there is no problem adding an aftermarket brake controler to any truck that has the towing package from the factory. no flash is required for an aftermarket brake controler.
there is no problem adding an aftermarket brake controler to any truck that has the towing package from the factory. no flash is required for an aftermarket brake controler.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,710
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From: Central Florida
OEM controllers are integrated into your trucks electronics. You get a towing trip odometer, trail brake gain and the trailer connected/disconnected messages on you dash. Your trucks computer needs to be flashed to recognize the device. I'm not sure but I think this started in 2009. After market controllers are not integrated, you don't get the above features so no flash required.