Norotso

Because the majority of people who buy trailers only invest in a WDS not one with built-in sway control d/t cost.

But also to add that braking w/ t/h engaged with engage the downshifting throughout the gears

ddlaz

Just wanted to update everyone on my issue as it finally got fixed yesterday.
One Ford dealer said my truck was operating as it should. I brought my truck and trailer to trailer dealer, hooked up to 4 similar single axle electric brakes and 1 tandem axle trailer with electric brakes. The issue of showing "trailer disconnected" was only showing with the single axle trailers. They didn't let me pull the tandem trailer but I cant assume the braking power applied would have been "normal".
I switch from default/surge/electric brake type to electric over hydraulic and the " trailer disconnected" message goes away and the truck acts normal except that it didn't apply enough braking power to the trailer. By not enough braking power, I mean that I could squeeze the brake controller manually at 10 gain and my truck could roll easily if on a slight incline.


Two different Ford dealers told me my truck was fine so I brought the trailer to them. They still said it was fine and that they could lock the tires easily. I told them to prove it when I picked it up. It didn't lock. And they insisted that it's not supposed to, and that the truck is smart enough to only apply as much as necessary automatically. The service advisor also told me that there was a tsb describing how its all supposed to work. I asked to see it and he didn't produce one.
He also told me that I was supposed to select electric over hydraulic after I mentioned the "trailer disconnected" message.
I said bs, humor me and hook up another truck to the trailer and show me that it's supposed to be on electric over hydraulic.
Hooked up to a 2016 platinum with trailer tow package and sure enough the truck didn't have the same issues.
So I got another service guy involved and I asked him for the tsb the other guy was talking about. He said there wasn't one but that there's a special service message regarding trailer brake controllers.
So... He updated some software in 15 mins and we tested the trailer. It was working great! Locked the tires at 5 gain from 20 mph.
For anyone reading this...ask about SSM 45508.

alaskaFord

So I found out a few things on my 2015 F150 as when I had my 4 place trailer connected I was not getting voltage to electric brakes when I applied the truck brake. I tested using the brake controller and would get voltage to brakes equivalent to the gain output. Took to dealer and he informed me that the truck will not send voltage to the trailer unless the vehicle is moving over a certain speed? 35-40 mph at which point when you apply brakes on truck it sends voltage to trailer brakes. Anything under these speeds you have to use the manual controller... this has to be one of the most messed up new designs Ford has come up with and there is zero information on this in any manual you have.

Captain Bob

Just found yesterday from my dealer who finally solved my TBC problem (I think), that the trailer brakes do not energize below 11 mph. You are working strictly on the truck brakes below that speed. He said, that is to prevent the trailer from jerking as you brake at low speeds. Sounds like a good idea but.... I wonder if the person who incorporated that feature in the TBC system ever towed a trailer with an electric brake. I never had jerky trailer responses when braking at slow speeds with my other truck/trucks/trailers. If you have the TBC set up properly, you do not have that problem, at least not in my experiences. Still unsure about this TBC system of Ford's. Unfortunately, my 28 ft. camping trailer is set up for the winter. Can't do a test tow until this spring.

old ray

I had to join this forum to let you know my eventual conclusion to this problem and hopefully help someone else in the future. And it was none of the above.

I purchase a 2015 F150 King Ranch in November of 2015 to replace my almost-like-new 2013 Ram Longhorn with very low mileage,..... boys and their toys. I used the Ram for occasional car hauling and the F150 will also be used for that.

Two weeks ago Sunday I hooked up the trailer and pulled it down to my shop to load up wrappers, chains, etc and check tire pressure and wheel nuts for a short local haul what was to be the following Sunday.

Got to the shop and no lights / no trailer brakes / no-trailer-connected warning. Double check trailer plug, I hauled with the Ram in August and the trailer is only two years old, but checked all the all trailer wiring including getting a battery because there is no power at the truck plus. And re-name and re-program and around and around for four days, phone service at the dealer on Monday, 100 miles away, nope don't know anything, you'll have to bring it in, OK but with no trailer lights? Finally by Friday after checking all the trucks trailer fuses I had reached my level of incompetence and patience so called my salesperson who got the general manager and service manger involved, yes, they would come and get the truck Monday and do the TSB re-flash. They brought the truck back on Friday but said they did not have a trailer to check it with.

So today, Sunday, hooked back up and same, nothing, tried re-programming, same as before. Now what, OK before I make a real fool of myself I'm going to really check that the trailer plug is wired correctly and to make sure that the wire colors match I'm going to take the trailer socket out of the bumper . Of course it's raining and the wind is blowing but get under the truck to see how the socket comes out and reach up to squeeze the clips and push the socket out when I feel that the truck wiring harness that plugs into the trailer socket is a little loose, enough that I can push it in but it will not stay all the way in. Get it out on the bumper plug the trailer in, nope, shoot I thought I had it, then notice that the latch clip on the plug is broken, OK pull it all together with some mechanics wire and .........it works, lights. brakes, happy dance.

The assembly line worker did not get the harness plug to latch into the trailer socket. Should have kept the Ram!

lyouden

Hello. I joined the forum after my 5th trailer brake controller failure. Like many others, when I stop, shut the vehicle off, then back on, my trailer brakes lock. Can't move until I disconnect the trailer. Clearly it only happens when you are using your trailer meaning that 6 of my last road trips involved hours and hours at dealerships getting the Brake Controller replaced. The messages originally were Trailer Brake Controller Failure. When it happened yesterday it says Trailer Wiring Fault even though the trailer is not connected. Luckily for me it hasn't happened when I was driving - only when I was stopped (although not always in convenient locations. It is absolutely driving me mad and I have no confidence at all towing with this truck. I am at the point where I want to sell the truck and the trailer and forget about it all. I had software updated and have driven short and long distances when it has failed. The failures seem random. The only non-random aspect of this is every ruined vacation/road trip.

I didn't see in the thread if anyone actually solved the problem. I have an appointment again tomorrow to have the controller replaced but this is getting pretty old and every dealership says 'first we have heard of this'. Any help would be most appreciated.

Captain Bob

Those are the symptoms of the old TBC which has since, been updated by Ford. I had the same issue but once the updated TBC was installed and re-flashed, the problem seems to be gone. Just got back from a 2500 mile tow with no errors at all. Make sure the TBC you are getting is the latest one. You do not say what year your truck is.

lyouden

Hi Bob. The forum is titled 2015 Integrated Brake Controller so I assumed that only 2015's would be posting. I recently had controller FL3Z-2C006-AB installed and it still failed. Is there a more recent part? Thanks for any assistance.

Captain Bob

Wasn't sure if yours was a 2015 or not. Did not want to assume. You got the correct part number. You might have lost something else in the TBC system. If you read this entire thread, in addition to the TBC being bad, at least one person lost part of the wiring harness and another lost some type of module or relay. Definitely sounds like you have something else taking the TBC out. Can I assume your very first controller was the "-AA" version? That would have caused the initial problem and may have caused more damage that is taking out the replacement controllers. The "-AB" version of the TBC does work.

lyouden

Mine was a factory install and just took it back to the dealer every time. The most recent repair had that part number on it. It goes back into the dealer tomorrow for Groundhog Day repairs. Would anyone recommend me having a non integrated brake controller installed? I towed the trailer with a 2004 F-150 with no problems with an after market install.