Trailer brake not working

[tderouchie]

Rob - was your brake problem intermittent or just not working all the time? I wonder if my 2021 has the same controller and software.

In my case, i would start a trip with trailer brakes and shortly after being stopped (sitting at a red light or on a ferry) the trailer brakes would stop working.

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[tderouchie]

Ford replaced my brake module last November after a case was opened about this issue and Ford engineers inspected my truck. They sent my dealer a new Brake module to install and I have now updated to the latest TRM software. My new module information is below. I have not had a chance to test it as it’s been winter and my trailer is in storage so I don’t know if the problem is fixed yet for me. I’ll know end of April.

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. My trailer brake module was replaced in July 2021 but my problem persisted throughout the rest of our camping season. Maybe they have revised them since then?

 

[JEB]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. My trailer brake module was replaced in July 2021 but my problem persisted throughout the rest of our camping season. Maybe they have revised them since then?

That was not unusual. There were several instances where the brake controller was replaced and it didn’t fix the problem. The same reliability issues persisted. My understanding is that was why Ford stopped replacing them. It wasn’t a chip shortage as someone previously posted. It just wasn’t working.

But, I’m not giving up on the factory one yet. Factory brake controllers are almost always better than aftermarket. The reason is that they take data—speed, brake force, accelerometer readings, etc.—directly from the truck’s ECUs to compute brake force for the trailer brakes. Most aftermarket units use their own internal accelerometers to estimate these datapoints. Not as accurate because they’re not as integrated. Plus you have to worry about orientation of the unit so the accelerometer reads correctly. If I had to go aftermarket—and I think that’s unlikely—I’d probably go with a Tuson DirecLink. It plugs into the OBDII port and reads the truck’s data to calculate brake force the same way factory controllers do.

After a lot of testing last camping season, I observed nothing suggesting that the issue is the 7-way—either on the truck or the trailer side. A physical connection problem wouldn’t explain why I could always get the trailer brakes working by shutting down the truck, allowing the relays to reset, then restarting.

 

[rpeterslll]

I’m wondering if the assembly p/n of mine is different than others. Showing that it’s an updated hardware version.

 

[JEB]

I’m wondering if the assembly p/n of mine is different than others. Showing that it’s an updated hardware version.

It is slightly different. Node F113 for you ends in DH. Mine ends in DG. Otherwise, they are the same.

 

[rpeterslll]

It is slightly different. Node F113 for you ends in DH. Mine ends in DG. Otherwise, they are the same.

Its slight, but I wonder if they introduced new hardware to address this. When mine was replaced, my dealer didn't just order a new one, but it was sent by Ford to replace my existing one because of my case. Don't know the P/N of the old one though. Mine was built in June 2021. I would be curious to hear what hardware P/N are in what year of truck to see if there are many hardware versions.

 

[JEB]

Its slight, but I wonder if they introduced new hardware to address this. When mine was replaced, my dealer didn't just order a new one, but it was sent by Ford to replace my existing one because of my case. Don't know the P/N of the old one though. Mine was built in June 2021. I would be curious to hear what hardware P/N are in what year of truck to see if there are many hardware versions.

It would be interesting to explore. But my gut says no. A part number change could be anything. Sure, it could be a revision to fix a defect. But it could also be an innocuous change, like a change in vendors, a change in the way the controllers are manufactured to reduce costs, etc. If the change resulted in a performance difference to address a defect, I would have expected a change at F188 between yours and mine. That’s where operational changes are usually made. But certainly worth looking into further.

 

[Ed21]

Once there's a fatality from this ( Hope to God there isn't ) the attorneys will definitely identify the root cause of this well documented fiasco!

 

[JEB]

Once there's a fatality from this ( Hope to God there isn't ) the attorneys will definitely identify the root cause of this well documented fiasco!

Probably. But I doubt that the company that brought you the Pinto is all that afraid of a little litigation.

 

[Ed21]

Not implying they would be afraid. Just saying the problem would probably be resolved do to some unfortunate loss of life. Also times are different now than the 70's. Opioid settlements are in the tens of billions of dollars so far, not small potatoes. Hopefully nothing of the sort transpires and Ford figures this out for all parties involved. But they don't seam too concerned about it as the truck still sells and it appears the problem has been around for quite some time.

 

[JEB]

Not implying they would be afraid. Just saying the problem would probably be resolved do to some unfortunate loss of life. Also times are different now than the 70's. Opioid settlements are in the tens of billions of dollars so far, not small potatoes. Hopefully nothing of the sort transpires and Ford figures this out for all parties involved. But they don't seam too concerned about it as the truck still sells and it appears the problem has been around for quite some time.

Oh come, now. Nobody mentions lawyers picking around and billion dollar settlements without intending to conjure up fear. And I wouldn’t be too hasty to conclude that the thinking has changed all that much since the 70s. You said it yourself—this brake controller issue has been around for a long time and nobody has died. So, as things stand right now, the cost of a full engineering study and repair would be immediate and non-speculative and probably expensive given the number of trucks Ford sells annually. By contrast, the cost of litigation is speculative and relatively low— because nobody’s died. Meet the new boss. . . .

 

[tderouchie]

A physical connection problem wouldn’t explain why I could always get the trailer brakes working by shutting down the truck, allowing the relays to reset, then restarting.

exactly!

 

[Ed21]

Oh come, now. Nobody mentions lawyers picking around and billion dollar settlements without intending to conjure up fear. And I wouldn’t be too hasty to conclude that the thinking has changed all that much since the 70s. You said it yourself—this brake controller issue has been around for a long time and nobody has died. So, as things stand right now, the cost of a full engineering study and repair would be immediate and non-speculative and probably expensive given the number of trucks Ford sells annually. By contrast, the cost of litigation is speculative and relatively low— because nobody’s died. Meet the new boss. . . .

No intention to conjure up fear, the truck does that itself when you hit the brake and notice there's no trailer brakes all of a sudden. Just disappointed like a lot of folks that paid this much for a vehicle and expect it to do what they bought it for. My heart is out to Ford if they had to do an engineering study and repair. See it as you will, I wish I excepted the trucks having this problem as you do. And I thank God there have been no known fatalities and hopefully no other tragic injuries and loss of property. Not trying to be argumentative, just stating my feelings on the subject.

 

[JEB]

No intention to conjure up fear, the truck does that itself when you hit the brake and notice there's no trailer brakes all of a sudden. Just disappointed like a lot of folks that paid this much for a vehicle and expect it to do what they bought it for. My heart is out to Ford if they had to do an engineering study and repair. See it as you will, I wish I excepted the trucks having this problem as you do. And I thank God there have been no known fatalities and hopefully no other tragic injuries and loss of property. Not trying to be argumentative, just stating my feelings on the subject.

You obviously missed my point entirely. I’m not saying your feelings are invalid. I’m just saying that from a business perspective, they don’t resonate with Ford any more now than they would have in the early 70s. The business risks are the same. The incentives are the same. Sorry to break it to you. Same as the old boss. . . .

 

[Ed21]

And with that, I give you the last word. Enjoy the rest of your day.

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