Trailer brake controller
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 338
Likes: 1
From: Barbourville Ky
Trailer brake controller
I hooked my camper up to new(06 f-350) truck today for a family trip.truck has the factory brake controller.when i plugged everything up the controller gives me a reading of 10.
The brakes seems to work fine but the + - buttons doesnt seem to do anything.on my past truck i used a reese digital controller and could set brakes at whatever setting I wanted,with 10. being the maxium setting .Am i doing something wrong or is something wrong with controller
also on this controller I have noticed that the harder I push on the brake pedal the high the green bar will go on the controller.
The brakes seems to work fine but the + - buttons doesnt seem to do anything.on my past truck i used a reese digital controller and could set brakes at whatever setting I wanted,with 10. being the maxium setting .Am i doing something wrong or is something wrong with controller
also on this controller I have noticed that the harder I push on the brake pedal the high the green bar will go on the controller.
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 812
Likes: 1
From: Northwest Florida
Sounds like it's adjusting for you according to truck brake pressure. Wish I could tell you something useful, but I'm just plain ignant on this subject. Just thought I'd chime in just to wish you luck.
Happy travelin'
Happy travelin'
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 338
Likes: 1
From: Barbourville Ky
you're right the more brake that I apply the more the trailer brkaes will hold.my biggest question is why can't i adjustment them on the controller/I think the biggest problem is the fact that I dont know what im doing with this type pf controller.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
It should have two buttons, a + button and a - button. Obviously, pressing one or the other should increase or decrease the value shown. That is without your foot on the brake, just the display value. If it's stuck on "10" and won't go lower, it probably means you've got a bad controller. Probably just a bad button contact, but bad nonetheless.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Not sure.
When you first start your truck, you will see "88" as the system tests itself. If you have a trailer connected, and all tests okay, it will display your gain setting. If you do not have a trailer connected, the display will go blank. At that point I don't know what the buttons will do. I know squeezing the manual levers will cause a beep and a message saying no trailer connected.
If it's important to you, I can go try mine and see what happens. If it's just curiosity, I won't bother.
When you first start your truck, you will see "88" as the system tests itself. If you have a trailer connected, and all tests okay, it will display your gain setting. If you do not have a trailer connected, the display will go blank. At that point I don't know what the buttons will do. I know squeezing the manual levers will cause a beep and a message saying no trailer connected.
If it's important to you, I can go try mine and see what happens. If it's just curiosity, I won't bother.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 5
From: Stillwater, OK
Haha, no...
I know that they DO work on most trucks... I was wondering if the OP could change gain w/o a trailer connected.
I know that they DO work on most trucks... I was wondering if the OP could change gain w/o a trailer connected.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 338
Likes: 1
From: Barbourville Ky
I have never seen the '88' on start up ,but i have never looked for it.If i squeeze the handles with no trailer connected I get a message telling me"Check Trailer connection".
The +,- buttons will not do anything ,with or without a trailer connected.
with no trailer connected I have nothing displayed,with a trailer connected I get a 10.I pulled the trailer to a campsite this morning( about twenty miles from home) and the brakes seem to work .will hold rig still on a slight grade.but I have no gain adjustment.
The +,- buttons will not do anything ,with or without a trailer connected.
with no trailer connected I have nothing displayed,with a trailer connected I get a 10.I pulled the trailer to a campsite this morning( about twenty miles from home) and the brakes seem to work .will hold rig still on a slight grade.but I have no gain adjustment.
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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
I don't think you are doing anything wrong. I think you have a bad (-) button. The (+) button won't do anything anyway, because 10 is the maximum. You might try pushing the (-) button repeatedly, and then also wiggling it side to side whilst pushing it, to see if you can make some contact.
If you want to check the wiring connector, the controller pulls straight out of the socket. You can see a little of it on my page, here: http://www.billpounds.com/truck/upfi...rsInstall.html
If all that fails, then you can decide whether you want to just leave it on 10, or get it repaired/replaced. I run mine on 10 all the time anyway, because I prefer to wear out trailer brakes instead of truck brakes.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 5
From: Stillwater, OK
on my 10K# TT (2 axles w/brakes) I usually get the best braking at about 8.0
I think anything heavier than 12K# and I'd be on 10.0 all of the time.
but back on topic...
Even on 10.0 when the + button is pushed, the display should show the gain
I think anything heavier than 12K# and I'd be on 10.0 all of the time.
but back on topic...
Even on 10.0 when the + button is pushed, the display should show the gain
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Thinking about this a bit more, there is one other thing that I would try before I took it to the dealer.
Disconnect your batteries, turn on the headlights for a few minutes, then reconnect the batteries. This resets the PCM.
Why? I'm looking at a schematic and the +/- buttons feed the PCM signals over the CAN bus. Anytime we've got the computer involved, it's possible things are out of whack.
Not saying it will work, but hey it's free to try, so why not?
Disconnect your batteries, turn on the headlights for a few minutes, then reconnect the batteries. This resets the PCM.
Why? I'm looking at a schematic and the +/- buttons feed the PCM signals over the CAN bus. Anytime we've got the computer involved, it's possible things are out of whack.
Not saying it will work, but hey it's free to try, so why not?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 5
From: Stillwater, OK
My solid guess, is that there is a ground connection missing.
Those two "buttons" should just be grounding switches for different resistors since they cannot both be pressed at the same time. 1 resistance is '+', the other is '-' just like the redundant audio controls.
Pounds, if you have the workshop manual available, is there mention of "The gain won't change" in the troubleshooting section? My subscription is up.
Those two "buttons" should just be grounding switches for different resistors since they cannot both be pressed at the same time. 1 resistance is '+', the other is '-' just like the redundant audio controls.
Pounds, if you have the workshop manual available, is there mention of "The gain won't change" in the troubleshooting section? My subscription is up.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
I don't. I just have a schematic.
