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marcarolle's avatar
marcarolle
Explorer
Jun 22, 2016

Trailer brakes not working with 2016 F150 brake controller

I admit... it's a long subject.

We bought a new 2016 F-150. Dealer installed the Ford brake controller at factory settings.

I'm trying to adjust the settings, as shown to me by salesperson (who also tow a trailer) and as show in owner's manual. I've set the gain to 10 and I don't feel that the TT brakes are working. It feels like the truck's brakes are doing all the job. When I push the brake controller slider to the left, the trailer wheels stop. I can feel it and see it as well.

My previous tow vehicle was a 2004 Ford Explorer V8 Eddie Bauer. I was using the Prodigy P2 and everything was working great.

I'm taking my combo to the Ford dealership tomorrow for them to help me.

But I thought I'd check here to see if you have any idea/suggestion/input?

Thanks

Marc

2016 F-150 Ecoboost 2.7 V6 (max tow capacity: 7200lbs)
20014 Starcraft Antigua (gvwr 5000lbs)
  • You should know that the brakes do very little at very slow speeds to prevent jerking. If you are testing at slow speeds, that might be your only problem. The "highly integrated" controllers are just what you want, you no longer have to put up with the garbage that just takes a guess on how much brake to apply.
  • I haven't confirmed it but I was told that you have a brake setting in the information center display
  • I have had 2 Fords with the IBC and they have worked flawlessly. You will not experience any 'grab' as you do with aftermarket brake controllers. It is so smooth that when I started using it the first time I thought also it was not working. It is very proportional to the amount of brake pedal pressure and will only apply the amount of brake gently that you are pushing on the pedal.I totally disagree with BenK. The IBC is plug and play totally. Nothing really to set up. I set mine at 9 and forget it there. Have been using the Ford IBC for 5 years now. I have set it once five years ago and it works perfectly.
  • Thank you folks. I printed this page and will show it to the Service Mgr tomorrow a.m.

    BenK: thanks for the info... some of it I understand, some I don't! You know your stuff!

    APT: very good question. I have seen a plastic bag or two with some wiring or other stuff in the truck. I will show your answer and that stuff to the dealer.

    Cheers!
  • Check the relays as APT said.
    Also, verify that when you first start the truck that it "sees" the trailer. It should display something on your dashboard display, briefly.
  • Did you install the appropriate relays? I owned two F-150s and test drove more when shopping for our current Suburban. Ford ships the trailer brake and trailer battery charge relays in a plastic bag in the glove box or somewhere in the cab the truck when new.
  • Here are some info to arm you for your discussion with the dealer tech

    Most of the IBC's I've checked out uses MC (master cylinder, brake) PSI
    It senses pressure as your foot moved the brake pedal...that is connected
    to the MC piston rod that pokes through the firewall and into the
    passenger compartment

    There is normally about 1/8" travel of the foot/brake pedal BEFORE it
    starts to move the MC piston

    MC PSI sensed will vary the signal power sent to the trailer brakes via
    the IBC

    At startup, all systems should send a: "I'm here and okay" to the master
    computer. That will cycle every so often and dependent on the software

    If your IBC doesn't say that...the master computer will not know it is
    there...therefore nothing sent to the trailer brakes...but you say the
    manual lever works...so it is 'in the system' in some fashion. That is
    where the tech must start from

    Since your TV has all of those subsystems...they all must plug'n-play
    with each other. That is also where the tech must confirm

    Good luck !

    PS...if they can't dial it in...you can have them remove it and replace
    with a P2 or P3 and is my choice on that matter
  • Benk, tks for your reply. All the options you mentioned are included in my F-150. Even though it's not a "top of the line" model. It comes with the towing package.

    I hope the dealership will be able to figure it out tomorrow. And I hope that I AM the one with a bad understanding of how it works! I just don't feel the same braking power as I had with my Explorer/Prodigy combo.

    Cheers!
  • What other options does your new half ton have?

    "Highly Integrated" brake controller means it will be tied into some/many of
    the other subsystems...that interplay with each other

    No small task to install and dial it in...not just Ford, but all of the OEM IBC's

    Traction control, ABS, Anti-Sway, etc all tie together plus others that only
    the OEM will know...

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