I had the Ford dealership install the trailer brake controller on my 2018 F150 XLT and they were also supposed to program it at the same time. At least thats what the receipt says! So we put the hitch on yesterday and hooked it to a horse trailer to make sure it all worked and nothing, no lights or brakes work. Any ideas what it might be or did Ford just not program it right or at all? When I picked it up there was a message popping on the console saying something like trailer brake module. I dont have the truck handy and I cant remember exactly but that tells me it wasnt programmed. Am I thinking right? Thanks all!

 

When you pinch the trailer brake controller does it have a pop up that says “trailer disconnected”?

It should also show the gain increase and decrease in your cluster even when no trailer is hooked up.






If it doesn’t show this they didn’t program it.

 

Well I just got off the phone with the Ford dealership. They installed it knowing it wouldnt work. They are telling me that my truck does not have the tow package so it doesnt have the right wiring. Thats why I am getting the trailer brake module default message. I know it didnt have the hitch but I think we still have the sticker and I know it said tow package. Is there anyway of wiring this so it will work?

 

Did you have a hitch receiver and 4 / 7-pin connector installed as well? And if so, how was the connector wired up?

 

Boy I hope this doesnt sound stupid, but by a hitch receiver, you mean like a reese hitch and the plug for the lights etc at the bumper that you plug the trailer into. Yes I did. Thats when we found the other issues. Still trouble shooting it and we found a lone plug in done by the dealer was loose and when we plugged it in tight the light now all work but the brakes lock up. Its for a horse trailer and I know we counted the number of pins and told the dealer when I had it there. So getting closer! Thanks!

 

So they charged you to install the TBC, activate it and charged you for it, but never completed the installation?

That's fraud.

 

@bev1 no dumb questions at all, and yes I was just curious who installed the other components to go along with the trailer brake controller. It sounds like a loose connector was found and most of it is working now. When you say the brakes now lock up, is that only when the truck brakes or the TBC slider is activated, or is that anytime the connector is simply plugged in? The latter indicates a potential wiring problem.

What kind of brakes does your trailer have? I am not familiar with horse trailers but I think some of the more expensive ones come with electric-over-hydraulic brake systems like boats do. Have you checked to see what trailer brake mode your truck is in to ensure it’s providing proper voltage/signal to the trailer?

 

Yes horse trailers typically have electric brakes. What we think because the lights work is there isnt power to the brakes because of the type of wiring either the dealership did or didnt do. A friend of mine who has done tons of these put the hitch on and the plug from the wiring to the bumper if that makes sense. We ordered the correct parts so we think its up front. The message Im getting on teh console is trailer brake default. So Im going to take it to a hitch place and see how it has to be fixed to work. BTW the dealership is refunding all my money! Now lets see how long it takes to actually get the check!

 

They told me once they installed it that they knew it wouldnt work because I dont have a tow package on the truck. So they are refunding my money after I had a chat with teh service manager. They said they installed it becasue I wanted it. I said if you knew it wouldnt work, why didnt you tell me? Thats why Im getting my $$ back. everythignI have read here tells me that it can be done.

 

I’m sure it can be done. But I’ll be honest, most I see adding the ITBC have at least the base tow package with the hitch and 7 blade/4 pin factory on the bumper.

All I had to do what instal the controller and enable it via forscan.

I’ve heard about needing to instal a missing fuse, but again, I think those were all on trucks with at least the 53b tow package.

Does your truck have tow/haul mode on the shift lever?

And in the center of your instrument cluster, does it offer towing/trailer settings, etc?