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1968-Present E-Series Van/Cutaway/Chassis Econolines. E150, E250, E350, E450 and E550

Trailer Brake Controller Programming

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Old Feb 20, 2021 | 04:33 PM
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Trailer Brake Controller Programming

I connected my laptop to the OBD port on my 2016 E450 and searched the IPC module, using Forscan. I was looking for the trailer brake programming lines prior to installing a OEM TBC.
I did not see any TBC programming lines. My questions is, does the TBC need to be installed for the programming lines to be displayed or do I need and different IPC software?
 
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Old Feb 20, 2021 | 05:04 PM
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TBC needs to be installed. It's its own separate computer just like the other 30+ modules.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2021 | 05:42 PM
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Thanks for the quick reply, I guess now I'll put one on order.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2021 | 11:00 AM
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This may be a dumb question,but. I have a 2000 and a 2002 E 350s. What is this about needing to access the computer to be able to use a trailer brake controller? Is this only on newer vehiles? Or is this somethim
ng I need to be aware of? I have always just tapped into the existing wire loom to use brake controllers. Thanks for any explanations.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2021 | 12:30 PM
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Rick1025,
I just watched the eTrailer vids.
It didn't make sense to me as there was no relay in the fuse position that is indicated on the van wiring diagrams....
It all works as it should.
I'm not sure how different the 02 is from my 07.

OP,
I'm not sure yours is any differant as well.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2021 | 06:07 PM
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Rick1025, If you are using the Ford OEM trailer brake controller, that mounts in the panel, then the TBC must be enabled in the IPC/TBC program. If you are using an aftermarket brake no IPC programming is required. I do not know what year the Ford TBC was first available.
 
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Old Feb 22, 2021 | 08:09 AM
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Thanks for the response. I use an aftermarket Tekonsa controller. I have a 4 wire "pigtail" trailer light wire plug on the controller, and each van has the corresponding "pigtail" on top of the dash and wired into the brake wiring circuit. That way, I can move the controller from one van to another and also into my suburban.
 
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Old Mar 18, 2021 | 08:29 AM
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E450 OEM TBC will not work

After installing the Ford TBC this is what I found. The E450 does not have the proper software to accept a OEM TBC. With the TBC connect I can read all of the TBC outputs, but no brake to the trailer and I get a fault code of U2202-60. This is a improper configuration issue. Additional research I found that even though the E450 came with the Ford TBC wiring, relays and fuses the IPC was not designed to accept a TBC. I did not find any IPC code that could be altered to make a OEM TBC work in a E450, the code changes I did find did not work. I will install a aftermarket TBC.
I took the truck and OEM TBC to my local Ford dealer, the tech connected to the port and could not find any TBC in the programming section or IPC module. He decided that I would need a different Instrument panel with a message center and a new steering wheel with display control switches. He said this was the first vehicle he had seen with the Ford trailer package wiring, that he could not program. He did not charge me for trying. The P3 works just fine for a whole lot less money and trouble.
 
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Old May 27, 2021 | 07:54 AM
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The Tekonsha P3 and it works as needed, and a added benefit to the P3 over the OEM is the P3 displayed a fault message that the trailer brake was pulling to much current. This is something the OEM TBC in my F150 did not show. I found a shorted magnet in one wheel, replaced the magnet and now all four brakes work.
 
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