ABS light when towing?
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Topsfield, Maine
ABS light when towing?
I have a 2004 F350 6.0PSD/Auto. This weekend hooked up my prodigy brake controller and started hauling my 8000# trailer on a 50 mile trip. It is a brand new trailer, and brakes & controller were working fine. About half way there they ABS light came on and stayed on in my truck. Later in the day on the return trip, after about the first mile the ABS light went back off. Got just about home and it came on again. Unhooked my trailer and went for a ride and within a half mile the light went off and has stayed off and I've driven about 400 miles since then. Just curious if there was any particular reason the light kept coming on or if it had something to do with the trailer? Or is something broken? Anybody else experience this??? Thanks in advance!
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Topsfield, Maine
Yes please let me know if you find out anything. I havd about 3000 miles on my truck and that was the first time the light ever came on. It hasn't came on since I unhitched the trailer either and I've driven about 600 more miles. Seems like it has something to do with the trailer?? Weird.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: SoCal
Got a voicemail today, said the engine light that stayed on was a little more serious. New turbo and #2 injector. This will now make 3 injectors, 2pinion seals, 1 shorted module, 1 lower radiator hose, and 2 o-ring kits for the leaky injector seals. Am I mad, NO. I have a great Ford Service department and they never question anything I bring to their attention.
The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,245
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From: Cloverdale, BC
After I installed my brake controller, and hooked up to a trailer for the first time, my air bag light started flashing out a code. I forget what the code was, but I made a point of counting the flashes.
Anyway, back to topic.
I was still in the parking lot, so I stopped, parked, and shut the truck off. I figured one of the wires I ran through the firewall was rubbing on something, so I checked it out. Basically, the power wire was in contact with the steering shaft, but the insulation was fine. No rubbage, nothing. So I rerouted the wire to a safer place, and everything was fine after that.
So, what I would recommend is to recheck your wiring, make sure the wires aren't "looped" causing some radio interference into your ABS. Make sure the wires aren't rubbing on anything either.
Hope that helps.
Anyway, back to topic.
I was still in the parking lot, so I stopped, parked, and shut the truck off. I figured one of the wires I ran through the firewall was rubbing on something, so I checked it out. Basically, the power wire was in contact with the steering shaft, but the insulation was fine. No rubbage, nothing. So I rerouted the wire to a safer place, and everything was fine after that.
So, what I would recommend is to recheck your wiring, make sure the wires aren't "looped" causing some radio interference into your ABS. Make sure the wires aren't rubbing on anything either.
Hope that helps.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: SoCal
Truck will be in the shop over the weekend. The turbo basically ground into the edges of the housing for one reason or another. Either way, this is all covered under warranty. They finally got to look into the abs light issue. The found the sender in the rear diff. to be bad. will be replacing Monday A.M. Just flat ran out of time and their only diesel mechanic(because the other one left) is working his *** off. I'll keep ya updated.
On e last thing. The truck already had the factory harness for the brake control. All I did was splice the Prodigy onto the pigtail provided.
On e last thing. The truck already had the factory harness for the brake control. All I did was splice the Prodigy onto the pigtail provided.
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Freshman User
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From: Topsfield, Maine
That is all I did as well, just spliced the Prodigy into the factory harness and plugged it in. Haven't had any more issues since without the trailer - it only happened when I was towing so it leads me to believe something to do with the wiring or something.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Barrington USA
does it do it with any trailer you but into your truck, or does it only do it with that one particular trailer. it sounds to be that you have a ground issuse when you plug in your trailer
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Topsfield, Maine
Truck is brand new - that is the only trailer I have had to tow so far. I did seem to read somewhere that it may be a good idea to run a seperate ground wire to the fire wall on Superduty trucks - I think I may have read that on the Prodigy site - I'll have to double check. I'll post if I find it again.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,904
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From: Wayland, MI
does the bbrake controller have a code on it? Is the trailer new also? It is possible that you have a short on ther brake wires going through the axle of the trailer, look at the wires where they enter into the axle. I was on a search and destroy mission on a freind truck for the ABS light coming on (it also showed "sh" on the prodigy), we checked everything on his truck with not coming up with any problems. Finally started on the trailer (after pulling another with no codes coming up) and found where the wires go through the axle they were rubbed to the copper. A wire repair and a piece of rubber tube finally made the repair.
Good luck
Toyman
Good luck
Toyman
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From: SoCal
Got the truck back today. The ABS sender was infact bad. I figured it might have to do with the tow/haul shifting, and the 85 miles of highway 1 (near Big Sur) that truly tested it. They explained it had nothing to do with the gears, tires, or any other items.
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Freshman User
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From: Topsfield, Maine
Interesting news. Yes this trailer is brand new as well - and the Prodigy didn't show any error codes while trailering. The only symptom of any problem was the ABS light on for a while. And it only came on while I had the trailer attached. I unhooked the trailer and left the Prodigy hooked up for about a week assuming I wouldn't see the ABS light come back on, and I was right - no more problems. 4mil, had your ABS light came on any other time other than when towing?? Seems to me if it was a bad sensor it may come on during normal driving as well - especially if you try braking aggressively.
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