Trailer Brake Controller Install
01-09-2012, 10:36 AM
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Trailer Brake Controller Install
For Christmas I got an OEM TBC for my truck. Decided to post my experience with the install.
1. Before starting make sure you have a thick cotton towel to put between trim pieces. I used a microfiber towel and it wasn't thick enough so I ended up scratching my steering column. You'll be able to see in the pictures.
2. I wasn't able to figure out how to take the trim piece completely off so I had to bend it back quite a bit to fit the TBC behind it. The trim is pretty tough though. As long as you aren't man handling it you shouldn't break anything. I used the instructions that came with the TBC from Ford, but my dad also pulled up the trim removal instructions from FMC dealer. Neither offered good enough advice for a step by step procedure.
3. You will need to remove the instrument cluster panel, the upper floor console (if equipped) and the left side center console panel (to get to the wiring harness). The biggest pain was trying to get the left side center console panel completely off which we never ended up doing hence #1. Also if you do not have a floor console it will be way easier to do the install. I ended up dropping one of the screws behind the trim panel. One needle nose pliers, vice grips, and magnetic pocket screwdriver later and I was able to get it out lol. Also, on the instructions the wiring harness appears to be behind the coin tray. However, on my truck the wiring harness was taped up underneath the driver side. I guess Ford never wired it through there in case the customer wanted to add an aftermarket TBC instead. That was another hold up which was so ridiculously hard to connect to the TBC since, again, I didn't take the trim panel completely off. Had to use a hook to connect the harness.
4. I still haven't flashed the PCM because we did the install in the drive way. Once I catch him on a slow day I'll get it done and let you guys know how it is. The actual install took us about 45 minutes.
1. Before starting make sure you have a thick cotton towel to put between trim pieces. I used a microfiber towel and it wasn't thick enough so I ended up scratching my steering column. You'll be able to see in the pictures.
2. I wasn't able to figure out how to take the trim piece completely off so I had to bend it back quite a bit to fit the TBC behind it. The trim is pretty tough though. As long as you aren't man handling it you shouldn't break anything. I used the instructions that came with the TBC from Ford, but my dad also pulled up the trim removal instructions from FMC dealer. Neither offered good enough advice for a step by step procedure.
3. You will need to remove the instrument cluster panel, the upper floor console (if equipped) and the left side center console panel (to get to the wiring harness). The biggest pain was trying to get the left side center console panel completely off which we never ended up doing hence #1. Also if you do not have a floor console it will be way easier to do the install. I ended up dropping one of the screws behind the trim panel. One needle nose pliers, vice grips, and magnetic pocket screwdriver later and I was able to get it out lol. Also, on the instructions the wiring harness appears to be behind the coin tray. However, on my truck the wiring harness was taped up underneath the driver side. I guess Ford never wired it through there in case the customer wanted to add an aftermarket TBC instead. That was another hold up which was so ridiculously hard to connect to the TBC since, again, I didn't take the trim panel completely off. Had to use a hook to connect the harness.
4. I still haven't flashed the PCM because we did the install in the drive way. Once I catch him on a slow day I'll get it done and let you guys know how it is. The actual install took us about 45 minutes.
