Trailer brakes not working with 2016 F150 brake controller

[marcarolle]

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)

[DanNJanice]

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.

[APT]

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.

[BenK]

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

[marcarolle]

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!

[BenK]

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...