Trailer brake not working

[Wild Pig]

Any of you having problems tried an aftermarket brake controller as a temporary fix? I've been reading about the wireless Curt Echo controllers and am considering buying one to throw in the truck as an emergency backup.

https://www.curtmfg.com/part/51180

I was wondering how nice it would play with the factory system or if I would have to disconnect the factory module.

I wish I would have kept the Redarc Liberty controller from my old Tacoma. I'd like to plug that in to the 150 and see what it does.

Sponsored

 

[JnDArchie]

Any of you having problems tried an aftermarket brake controller as a temporary fix? I've been reading about the wireless Curt Echo controllers and am considering buying one to throw in the truck as an emergency backup.

https://www.curtmfg.com/part/51180

I was wondering how nice it would play with the factory system or if I would have to disconnect the factory module.

I wish I would have kept the Redarc Liberty controller from my old Tacoma. I'd like to plug that in to the 150 and see what it does.

I have the wireless Curt controller, I used it on my Honda Pilot before I upgraded to the F150. It worked fine on the Honda. The only issue was having to have the app open on my phone so I could push the manual brake button on the screen.

I am leaving Saturday on a trip and will bring the Curt just in case. If I end up needing to use it I will post back on the results.

 

[NVanRVer]

Put me in the camp that has had the brake control module replaced, and it made no difference. Nothing at all.

My latest update: went out for our last trip of the year, brakes worked in the driveway, stopped working 1 block away (cool temps by they way). Pulled over, fiddled, waited ~3 mins, still didn't work. Tried again, waiting prob 5 mins this time, then they worked and continued to do so for the entire 2 hr drive. On the way home, they actually worked the whole way, go figure.

In any case, it makes the drive incredibly stressful. My plan now is that if there is no tangible change (i.e. Ford issuing a TSB or recall), I'll be looking to replace the truck in the spring. I'll be damned sure to go down the path of Ford buying it back at full value, but we'll see. Thankfully I got a really good deal and could prob sell it for close to what I paid. But I really don't want to stick another poor sap with this problem!

 

[Snakebitten]

If I loved everything about the truck but couldn't get the oem brake controller to function properly, I would just abandon the brake controller (take my lump) and maybe a solution will present in the future.
Or put another way, I didn't buy the truck because it came with one. It's cool that it does, of course, but the whole truck needs to be the right tool for the job.
Towed all my life. Long before the brake controller was included.

 

[NVanRVer]

If I loved everything about the truck but couldn't get the oem brake controller to function properly, I would just abandon the brake controller (take my lump) and maybe a solution will present in the future.
Or put another way, I didn't buy the truck because it came with one. It's cool that it does, of course, but the whole truck needs to be the right tool for the job.
Towed all my life. Long before the brake controller was included.

Sorry this isn't mean to be snarky, but what would you do instead? Run with no brakes? Or wire in an aftermarket one? If it's the latter, my cursory read was that it wasn't possible (or at least easy) to do as Ford doesn't supply a pigtail under the dash that is wired through to the rear of the truck. Even if that was an option, it isn't great as you lose out on all the advantages of it being integrated.

 

[CoastalOptions]

What has worked me 100% now after first bringing the truck home and experiencing this issue .... I'm now 4 out 4 successful with an 8000lb camping trailer.

1. PowerBoost absolutely has to be off 100%. Not in idle or electric idle, fully off, when connecting.
2. Really need to press firmly for a full seating in that connector. There is no click, but you really have to a firm seating. Definitely more than clearing that little clip on the top.

Just trying to be helpful, it shouldn't be as nitpicky as that, but it is.

 

[Snakebitten]

Yes @NVanRVer,
Sorry for not being clear.
There's nothing to stop you from installing an aftermarket brake controller. Sure, you might have to start from scratch to do it properly, but if that's what is called for, I'd do it.

Again, I'm not saying I would be happy about the whole thing, but if I love the truck otherwise (and I absolutely do) I'm not giving up on it.

And it didn't sound snarky at all. But even if it did, I would deserve it. I've dished snarky often enough!

 

[NVanRVer]

Yes @NVanRVer,
Sorry for not being clear.
There's nothing to stop you from installing an aftermarket brake controller. Sure, you might have to start from scratch to do it properly, but if that's what is called for, I'd do it.

Again, I'm not saying I would be happy about the whole thing, but if I love the truck otherwise (and I absolutely do) I'm not giving up on it.

And it didn't sound snarky at all. But even if it did, I would deserve it. I've dished snarky often enough!

Thanks, no problem! Yeah this might be the route to have one installed, I guess I have the winter to see what Ford does.

 

[NVanRVer]

What has worked me 100% now after first bringing the truck home and experiencing this issue .... I'm now 4 out 4 successful with an 8000lb camping trailer.

1. PowerBoost absolutely has to be off 100%. Not in idle or electric idle, fully off, when connecting.
2. Really need to press firmly for a full seating in that connector. There is no click, but you really have to a firm seating. Definitely more than clearing that little clip on the top.

Just trying to be helpful, it shouldn't be as nitpicky as that, but it is.

Glad that is working for you! I don't have the powerboost so that is not an issue for me. Come to think of it, I wonder if any of the 5.0L trucks have this problem?

Also, I've been pushing pretty firmly since someone mentioned that pages ago, but I'll admit I haven't heard a "click" I might have to go out and try that.

 

[Moosehunter]

I have a 2018 5.0L and also having issues with the electric brake controller. I do not get ‘not connected’ and everything looks to be working. I use to hear the electric brakes on the trailer while parking. I have contacted my dealer who wanted me to bring in the truck with the trailer. They have never heard of this issue. Told the service department to google this issue.

 

[UGADawg96]

Maybe this was posted a couple pages back, but don't recall seeing it. TFL got wind of it. Maybe flood them with comments too.

https://tfltruck.com/2021/08/ask-tfl-ford-150-trailer-electrical-issues/

 

[Tambow]

Another update. We’ve been driving across America for 7 weeks now towing the airstream so I have had several opportunities to try a variety of approaches to fix the problem.

Just today the brakes failed twice, one of them coming out of Great Smoky Mountain National Park. If you know New Gap Road to Gatlinburg you know how terrifying the trip would be without brakes. We were very lucky to find a turn out soon after they failed so we pulled over.

This is what we’ve learned.

We still don’t know what causes the failure but we have gotten better at fixing it.

When the brakes fail we pull over and turn off the truck. We open and close the doors so all of the screens go dark and then we wait inside.

Eventually the truck makes a kind of mechanical clunk noise and we know the truck is completely off. This has happened at 5 minutes, 10 minutes and 15 minutes. Once we hear the mechanical noise the brakes work again when we start up. If we jump the gun and try too early they don’t work

Hope this helps.

 

[rpeterslll]

Ford has stated there is an update coming in November that addresses trailer issues. This may or may not fix this specific problem. They aren’t specific about it to the dealer I guess. We just need to wait and see.

I also just experienced the issue again on a 130 mile trip in the rain. No trailer message when testing the brake controller. Tried disconnecting it for 10 minutes but it didnt fix it.

The problem did not occur on the way back 2 days later at all and brakes were fine.

 

[Ed21]

Taking the travel trailer out again, will report on the brake roulette game after the trip.

Update: went on last trip of the year, 280mi. each way. Brakes appeared to work the whole time even in the pouring rain. Also to my storage location (approx. 60 mi.). Don't think this proves anything, just my past experience.

 

[Tambow]

Have you tried keeping the truck off for the 5 or 10 minutes to see if it reset with the key near? What’s the outside temp like when this occurred?

We’ve had more experience now and we can reboot the truck by tuning it off and sitting in the truck until the screens all turn off and we hear a kind of mechanical clunk that lets us know the truck is completely off. I’ve tried it in temps as cold as 37 yesterday in Smoky Mountain National park and as warm as the 70’s. Walking away with the key isn’t as important but still works as long as you wait long enough for the truck to completely turn off. For us it’s taken 5, 10 and 15 minutes for the reboot. We also found we could open and close the doors to turn off the screens and try to speed it up a little. Hope this helps. Good luck

Sponsored