Trailer brake controller issue
Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
Trailer brake controller issue
I have a 2018 F150
Bought OEM controller from Fairway Ford
TRYING to get the Brake controller to activate.
A friend who works at Ford has been trying to get it to work at home but no luck w his personal IDS
He was able to turn on the brake controller and gain but it still does Nothing. It doesnt even recognize there is a trailer plugged into the truck
YES!!!! I HAVE FUSE 24 and this is a FORD brake controller
Bought OEM controller from Fairway Ford
TRYING to get the Brake controller to activate.
A friend who works at Ford has been trying to get it to work at home but no luck w his personal IDS
He was able to turn on the brake controller and gain but it still does Nothing. It doesnt even recognize there is a trailer plugged into the truck
YES!!!! I HAVE FUSE 24 and this is a FORD brake controller
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,065
Likes: 1,614
The truck should realize there is a trailer plugged in if you have trailer prep, whether you have the brake controller or not. If you aren't getting that notification then there is something wrong in the brain of your truck, or between your plug-in at the back and the rest of the truck. You'll need to start at the plug to check for power (might as well borrow or rent a plug tester, they're fairly cheap if you don't already have a multimeter), and then you'll need to start chasing connections and wires.
If you ARE getting notification that the trailer is plugged in but it isn't saying your brakes are working, I believe this is something that won't light up unless you're either pushing the slide or have an issue, though you can probably watch braking effort if you stay on the brake controller screen under towing - on my wife's '19 XLT, we plug in the trailer and get a notification that one has been plugged in, and then there are no other notifications unless we go to the towing->brake controller screen, or use the brake controller slider.
If you ARE getting notification that the trailer is plugged in but it isn't saying your brakes are working, I believe this is something that won't light up unless you're either pushing the slide or have an issue, though you can probably watch braking effort if you stay on the brake controller screen under towing - on my wife's '19 XLT, we plug in the trailer and get a notification that one has been plugged in, and then there are no other notifications unless we go to the towing->brake controller screen, or use the brake controller slider.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
The truck should realize there is a trailer plugged in if you have trailer prep, whether you have the brake controller or not. If you aren't getting that notification then there is something wrong in the brain of your truck, or between your plug-in at the back and the rest of the truck. You'll need to start at the plug to check for power (might as well borrow or rent a plug tester, they're fairly cheap if you don't already have a multimeter), and then you'll need to start chasing connections and wires.
If you ARE getting notification that the trailer is plugged in but it isn't saying your brakes are working, I believe this is something that won't light up unless you're either pushing the slide or have an issue, though you can probably watch braking effort if you stay on the brake controller screen under towing - on my wife's '19 XLT, we plug in the trailer and get a notification that one has been plugged in, and then there are no other notifications unless we go to the towing->brake controller screen, or use the brake controller slider.
If you ARE getting notification that the trailer is plugged in but it isn't saying your brakes are working, I believe this is something that won't light up unless you're either pushing the slide or have an issue, though you can probably watch braking effort if you stay on the brake controller screen under towing - on my wife's '19 XLT, we plug in the trailer and get a notification that one has been plugged in, and then there are no other notifications unless we go to the towing->brake controller screen, or use the brake controller slider.
I get notification that trailer is attached, then without even breathing is says disconnected and then connected again. Not moving, not even running. Sitting perfectly still.
All lights work fine, even when trailer says disconnected
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,065
Likes: 1,614
Part # JL3z-2c006-aa is the 18+(the one I have)
I get notification that trailer is attached, then without even breathing is says disconnected and then connected again. Not moving, not even running. Sitting perfectly still.
All lights work fine, even when trailer says disconnected
No, I see no gain option in cluster
I get notification that trailer is attached, then without even breathing is says disconnected and then connected again. Not moving, not even running. Sitting perfectly still.
All lights work fine, even when trailer says disconnected
No, I see no gain option in cluster
If it is connecting and disconnecting that rapidly, you likely have a short in the wiring somewhere between the computer and the trailer. If you can try a different, known-good trailer to see what the result is, you can rule out if the issue is in the trailer.
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
If you see no gain option in the cluster then it is not properly activated, you'll need to make sure it's the correct IBC and make sure everything has been unlocked properly. This was why, for $150, I just had the dealer do it on my wife's truck.
If it is connecting and disconnecting that rapidly, you likely have a short in the wiring somewhere between the computer and the trailer. If you can try a different, known-good trailer to see what the result is, you can rule out if the issue is in the trailer.
If it is connecting and disconnecting that rapidly, you likely have a short in the wiring somewhere between the computer and the trailer. If you can try a different, known-good trailer to see what the result is, you can rule out if the issue is in the trailer.
This is Ford doing it, just in my driveway. Guy is a senior ford tech using the ISD
3 trailers, all work on other vehicles with no problems
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,065
Likes: 1,614
Not sure what is going on then. The connected/disconnected issue sounds like a short somewhere on the truck side.
Do you have the towing submenu in your DIC? Is the gain readout in that submenu? It is on my wife's. If you don't have it then that has not been unlocked, or may be missing from your truck's programming and needs to be added? I'm not going to claim I know how the computers are programmed in these trucks.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
Been there done that. Going to have to start oming out the harness.
Just what I wanted to do in my new truck
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,950
Likes: 510
From: Foothills, CA
I know it'd be a PITA, but you're already in that territory - how about trying another controller? Maybe you got a defective one... If it were to work, Ford should honor the warranty on the bad one.