Hey folks.. I am about halfway through a 7000 Mile trip (Toronto to Revelstoke, Seattle and back through the USA). Today driving east from Seattle along I90 I started having some brake issues.Some quick specs2013 F150 Ecoboost FX4 SCREW bought used 5 months or so agoTowing 2015 18BH Starcraft bought brand new for this tripProblem started as truck reporting the trailer disconnect then reconnected again quickly. It did this a few times. I stopped and re-seated the 7-pin connecter. Seemed ok for a bit then started again. Stopped again reseated, checked lights, ground connections and wiggled wires. Again after a short period it started doing it again. I ignored it at this point. Lights were working so I plowed on to our stop for the night. After a bit the disconnects got longer before it would reconnect. The last 20 miles or so it stopped connecting at all. Manually applying brakes via the integrated brake controller does nothing. So here I am at the Ellensburg WA KOA. Tomorrow morning I once I have some day light I plan on poking around see what I can figure out. This is my first trailer with brakes so its a new cup of tea for me. Thought I would start first by begging a fellow camper to plug into thier trailer to see if it works and the other way around. I figure this will at least tell me if its a truck problem or a trailer. Any other troubleshooting techniques for brakes? Many thanks in advance!MikeJust adding.. This was done on my phone so sorry for bad english spelling grammer and other things that people don't like to see ;-)

First thought---get some fine sandpaper or emery cloth and clean all the pins on the connector.Then start looking for loose wires, or a total wiring harness bad connection.

sounds like a factory loose wire.

Your grammar, sentence structure, syntax, punctuation etcetera, while perhaps not perfect for a University level English course, is better than a lot seen here. :B

If you have a volt meter, set it for DC volts, and measure between pins 1&2 on the seven way connector on your truck. Make sure the key is in the run position, and have someone manually apply the trailer brake while you watch the voltage. If there is no voltage, the problem is with the truck. If there is voltage, it's time to trace the wires and find out where the open circuit is. Here's an image of the 7-way connector so you can get a feel for the pin configuration:Jim

^^^ Good advice. Depending on his brake controller he may not see constant voltage like on a curt discovery controller. If the controller is looking for the brakes like a tekinsha, the meter will constantly change voltage. Either constant 12v or changing voltage is normal with no plug inserted and a foot on the brake. Are all the other lights working properly?

3000 Miles from home - brake issues...... THoughts?

NinerBikes
Explorer
Aug 13, 2015
phillyg wrote:
Some Ford integrated trailer brake controllers (TBC) get flaky. Don't know if the F150s are similar to my F350, but mine started sending TBC error messages and "trailer disconnected" messages. Also, it may have activated the trailer brakes without me pushing the brake pedal, but the jury's out on that until FR confirms it was not the trailer.

I had a new Ford TBC installed, among with the 7-pin connector and pigtail just to make sure the truck end is okay. $799 hurts but it was better than $800 LOL.

I had the same identical situation happen on my VW Touareg Sport TDI. Turns out it was the Tekonsha Prodigy Rf remote that was shorting out inside, something was a loose connection, one of the manual braking rheostats. Just by moving/rotating the position of the Prodigy RF in my hand caused it to apply the brakes on my Travel Trailer, without touching the switch or the brake pedal. Defective.

Tekonsha replaced the RF controller in the car under warranty, not many questions asked... I think they know it's an issue.

The other thing this Prodigy internal elecrical shorting out did was fry my Trailer brake controller device in my Touareg, a $409 replacement part. Pretty pizzed off about that, it roasted the unit, I had no power to the travel trailer from the tow vehicle to recharge the battery, and no connection at all, no brakes, the whole trip home. Talk about dangerous.

Tekonsha design doesn't play nice with German engineered SUV cars in the Prodigy RF lineup.
TANDDANDBIGE
Explorer
Aug 13, 2015
I have an older controller that did the same. Turned out to be loose mounting screws for the controller itself affecting the controllers ground. no lights on the controller, no trailer brakes... nothing. tightened mount screws and everything good. Might check that. TB
phillyg
Explorer II
Aug 13, 2015
Some Ford integrated trailer brake controllers (TBC) get flaky. Don't know if the F150s are similar to my F350, but mine started sending TBC error messages and "trailer disconnected" messages. Also, it may have activated the trailer brakes without me pushing the brake pedal, but the jury's out on that until FR confirms it was not the trailer.

I had a new Ford TBC installed, among with the 7-pin connector and pigtail just to make sure the truck end is okay. $799 hurts but it was better than $800 LOL.
JohnG3
Explorer II
Aug 13, 2015
Had the same symptoms with our first Glendale Titanium 5th wheel. Problem turned out to be a wire in the right rear wheel. Had to get into the brake area and fix the bad wire. No problems after that.
wcjeep
Explorer
Aug 13, 2015
Avoid the inline taps. If you have them, remove them when you get home.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Aug 12, 2015
feels great when YOU fix the problem. have a great trip.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
OR

THERE'S THIS...

http://www.etrailer.com/p-90250.html
j-d
Explorer II
Aug 12, 2015
Good on YOU! You ran it down! Congratulations!
Ozlander
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
Sounds like a normal trailer with built in faults.
bedpan
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
Tried to post earlier.. Koa wifi was less then ideal.

Anyways played with the 7 pin connector, checked fuses and battery on trailer. No luck...

I then followed the wire into the trailer. Was a bear to open up the bench seat. Found hiding behind the fresh water tank the blue wire marreted with 2 other wires. Touched the marrett and a wire fell out.

Wires were all striped different lengths and not twisted together at all. Poor workmanship. Twisted and marreted and life is good again.

Second wiring issue I have had. First was a broken wire on the 1/3 full fresh water sensor. Also noticed when I was crawling underneath the front stone guard incoming loose. Some screws missing and others gone. I will leave that for the dealer to fix when I get back.

Still love the trailer just a few issues had/have to be sorted out.

Thanks for all the help....

Mike