Hello All!

I am struggling with getting my truck to recognize the brakes on my trailer. The brakes are brand new and everything else works except for them.

Here's what I have done so far:
- Installed new module. Truck already had all wiring because of the tow-package.
- Enabled the modules in Forscan.
- Re-wired all 4 brakes so that the ground is connected directly to the trailer frame and not back to the wiring harness (suggested by a youtuber who was having the same issue)
- Re-Wired the wiring harness that connects to the truck.
- Replaced the 5 amp fuse for the brake controller.





I am still not able to get the truck to see the brakes. When attempting to change the gain setting or test the brakes I get notified that there is no trailer connected even though the truck sees the trailer itself.

I am clueless as to what to do next. Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

If this is the trailer with 110 miles on the truck odo, I would delete the trailer and re-add it. Might have a cache issue?

 

The brake module you bought genuine Ford product or a China clone that 14-15 folks have been to the forum having issues with. Till they tossed it and got a FORD OEM controller.

 

Do NOT connect the trailer brakes ground to the frame only. Frame connections corrode and in time will leave you without brakes that you won't be aware of until you realize only one tire locks up when you put the controller all the way to 10. You should always run a ground wire all the way to your breakout box, or directly to the to the 7-pin.

Same goes for lighting. If you want pain in the butt lighting issues several years down the road, tie in to the frame.

Wire directly to a breakout box or the 7-pin cable with water tight connectors, and ensure you have protection for any exposed wires, all your troubles go away permanently.

 

Thank you. I have attached the grounds to the main ground along with the frame.

 

I am assuming you bought a trailer brake controller from Ebay or Amazon that is not a Genuine Ford Part. Take it from me, order one straight from a Ford Dealership.

I bought a replacement online that said it was Ford. Came in Packaging that looked OEM, but it didn’t work. When I contacted the seller, he was quick to refund my money and didn’t ask for the part to be returned. It was a clone. The clones don’t work! I went through three clones before I learned my lesson. Some will not recognize the trailer. Others will recognize the trailer, but won’t activate the trailer brakes unless you manually squeeze the lever on the brake controller.

Buy direct from a Ford Dealer and it should work.

 

Yes I bought a an OEM trailer brake controller from Amazon because my Ford dealer as well as ford auto parts online show out of stock continually. It came ina box says it’s from ford Fairway auto parts from Ohio I think. Anyway got installed but it won’t power up. It should trigger a trailer brake fault on instrument panel until gets activated but this thing does nothing. I’ve been pulling fuses and relays testing with multimeter. Still can’t find anything. Any suggestions do you think it’s a fake ? From Amazon.

 

Itll do nothing until you get it activated.

 

shouldn’t there be some lights come on at least where the + or - is on the trailer brake controller?? I pulled the controller back loose and cked the wiring harness that it plugs into and I’m only getting .20 volts. So I keep thinking it’s a power issue . But not sure how much that wiring harness is supposed to have on it. I was thinking it would have 12 volts. But I can’t get but .20 with a multimeter.

 

Wonder if I should send this controller back Fairway Ford auto parts and have them send another one. Or is this controller good and like you said it won’t even get power to it until it’s activated at the dealer. I keep thinking it would at least light up when I turn the lights on but it’s like it’s dead.