2017 factory brake controller

[Don Plata]

The Ford system noted I had a bad brake light on one side of the trailer when I hooked up my trailer the first time to the '17. Sure enough, there was a bad bulb. Hopefully just adding the box and setting the ECU to recognize it will provide the same information for you.

-- Chuck

You had the dealer update the computer after you installed the brake controller on your 2017 Expedition, correct? My dealer is saying it can't be done on a 2017 Expedition. Or was yours from the factory?

 

[Don Plata]

Hello everyone. Has anyone had a factory brake controller installed on a ‘17 EL without the max tow package? My dealer is telling me it can’t be done but I’m not convinced that is true. My dash has all the trailer options in the display center like sway controll, and add a trailer and trailer options. Thanks in advance.

What did you find out? Did you get it installed? My dealer is saying the same thing about 2017 Expedition.

 

[chuck s]

Sorry, my 2017 XLT came with HD Tow which includes the electric brake controller.

Not sure why you can't find an OBD2 interface, it's hard to swing a dead cat around on the internet without hitting several of them. Here's what I use. <--- that's a link. You connect the truck to your PC with this thingie.



-- Chuck

 

[Black]

Just got back from the dealership. They wanted $118 flat fee. They had my Expedition on two separate occasions for 3 hours. They said they contacted the Ford engineer and the engineer said it can't be done on a 2017. The Ford Tech said they followed the steps to do it and it wouldn't work. They then said that it had to be installed by the factory to work. To which I said, why do they sell the part then? He said t is only for replacement not new. I asked, why are all the fuses, wiring and harness there then? They said it is cheaper to do it that way in the factory. At least they didn't charge me anything for no work done. I have a call into a second dealer to find out if this is true. Waiting to see what they say.

If this is true then I wouldn't be able to do it either, even if I had a ODBII and used Forscan, correct?

So has anyone on this forum had this done on a 2017 Expedition? Apparently the 2017 it can't be done.

Where do I get the ODBII and use ForScan? I followed the previous links in this thread and the ODII link didn't work.

Thanks everyone for your help.

OHP Ford ELMconfig USB device 500kbit/s ELM327 compatible interface with MS-CAN switch for Forscan FoCCCus Mazda OBD2 diagnostics https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F0GVBWY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_By4txlzFBFvDD

That is the device I use.
I have not done the brake controller yet but I also have a 2016.

I had the truck into the dealer getting to extra keys cut and programmed (free of charge to me). As they were doing it I asked if that was the same programmer they used to change the code for the individual modules? He said it was not possible. I mentioned Bambi mode and changing the DRLs to be the fogs and parking lights.
He said that is impossible to change as there is not that much control.

I said go stand I front of the truck put it in Park and his eyes got quite big.
I said nice DRLs aren’t they.

So just because the dealer says it is not possible does not mean it is true.
Question is for the 2017s is it worth a $100 gamble if your parts dept won’t let you return it.

 

[Don Plata]

Sorry, my 2017 XLT came with HD Tow which includes the electric brake controller.

Not sure why you can't find an OBD2 interface, it's hard to swing a dead cat around on the internet without hitting several of them. Here's what I use. <--- that's a link. You connect the truck to your PC with this thingie.



-- Chuck

Yep, this is what I needed. Ordered and will try myself on Saturday when it arrives. I was also nervous about messing with the computer, but am willing to try now. I've done some ForScan reading up and I will give it a try. Worst thing, it doesn't work and I have an OBD connector and ForScan to use.

 

[Don Plata]

OHP Ford ELMconfig USB device 500kbit/s ELM327 compatible interface with MS-CAN switch for Forscan FoCCCus Mazda OBD2 diagnostics https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F0GVBWY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_By4txlzFBFvDD

That is the device I use.
I have not done the brake controller yet but I also have a 2016.

I had the truck into the dealer getting to extra keys cut and programmed (free of charge to me). As they were doing it I asked if that was the same programmer they used to change the code for the individual modules? He said it was not possible. I mentioned Bambi mode and changing the DRLs to be the fogs and parking lights.
He said that is impossible to change as there is not that much control.

I said go stand I front of the truck put it in Park and his eyes got quite big.
I said nice DRLs aren’t they.

So just because the dealer says it is not possible does not mean it is true.
Question is for the 2017s is it worth a $100 gamble if your parts dept won’t let you return it.

I think it is worth the gamble at this point, unless the Original poster, Char17EL ,of the ths thread says it didn't work with his 2017. Thanks to you and Chuck, I have the tools to make it work , if I can.

 

[Black]

Will the parts dept let you return the controller?
Some are weird about it. I try to order from Amazon as they are much better about returns but they don’t have as much as the dealer of course and I only order from Amazon if I am positive it is the right part.

 

[Don Plata]

I did order it from fordpartsgiant.com. I have an RMA with them and have explained what dealer has said. Waiting to see what they say on the return. Got it for $90. Dealer parts department wanted $120. At this point I think me trying the ForScan would not change anything on the return to fordpartsgiant.com.

 

[Char17EL]

Sorry for not following up on this. I just got my truck back from the dealer since i Settled for an aftermarket brake controller (only because it was free, i still plan to add the factory one) and they did a complete HACK JOB in installing it. So i am currently fighting with them to fix it and make it look professional. They keep telling me my vehicular is not set up to support the factory brake controller but it has all the components needed for it. So once they are done fixing there horrible install i will be putting the factory one in and activating it through ForScan.

 

[Char17EL]

They didn’t even use the brake signal wire that is already in the back they ran a new one and spliced into the factory brake controller plug.

 

[Don Plata]

They didn’t even use the brake signal wire that is already in the back they ran a new one and spliced into the factory brake controller plug.

View attachment 26121

Wow! I get the OBD2 tomorrow in the mail and will let everyone know how it goes with ForScan. Thanks for getting back to me Char17EL. I really hope it works. It doesn't make sense that the instrument cluster has the tow settings, the wire harness is installed, the trailer brake wire goes from the harness to the back, fuses and relays are all installed from factory, but they can't turn on a switch to enable it. The dealer gave me the reason that if they enabled it and then the factory wouldn't know to notify me of recalls. It is their system, when they enable it, just updated the system to note the brake controller is installed. Just an excuse, I think. I am going to use Forscan, but I did call other dealers to see what they say. Still waiting on them....

 

[jeff kushner]

Char17....you were smart to look at their work....electrical tape? COME on man!


jeff

 

[Black]

I have a high suspicion it will work just fine with ForScan.
As for their nonsense about not being notified of recalls add that to the list of people who buy used vehicles and never take it to a Ford dealer for service.

That wiring job is absolutely unacceptable.

 

[chuck s]

I believe an aftermarket brake controller just plugs in under the dashboard. Did on my '07 where I used a Tekonsha Prodigy. Heck, the Ford OEM controller probably plugs in the same connector.

-- Chuck

 

[Char17EL]

Yes the brake controller plugs into the factory harness and with an adapter harness you can use any aftermarket brake controller. The 3rd party installer that did the job told me it would not work because the blue wire in the back that says brake signal is not connected to anything and they do not “fish” in the factory harness to hook wires up or anything. So i checked my self to confirm that it is hooked up and functional.

 

[Don Plata]

Me 1 Dealer 0! ForScan worked wonderfully! I went into the As-Built and changed the numbers as suggested on the spreadsheet. 8 for the Brake controller and 4 for the Gain. It was fantastic! Connected the 7 pole and immediately got the trailer connected notification on the dash. Tapped the brakes and got notification of the gain.

When I connected the OBDII to the computer and ran Forscan, every time it asked me to switch from HS-Can to MS-Can the program would crash and close. I just selected, I did not have the MS-Can toggle and it finished with just the HS-Scan and I was able to make the change in the IPC As-built. Some videos showed just click and play on the IPC module, but when I did that the Trailer brake controller didn't show up. So I clicked and played the IPC As-built and located the matching codes to change then wrote all. Worked like a charm! Only $30 for the OBDII and now I can check on error codes and do other things if I so desire. Oh don't forget to get the extended license of ForScan to do the module work. It is free as a forum member.

Thank you Black, Chuck S, and Char17EL for the help! Gave me confidence it would work!

I also found this on the ForScan forum site that gave me confidence that it would work.

f=16&t=5425&p=24158#p24158 https://www.forscan.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5425&p=24158#p24158

Also I got notification today from the supplier I got the Factory brake controller from that they would not take my controller back since it was an electronic that had been opened. So I had nothing to lose but in the end saved a quite a bit of money.

 

[Char17EL]

Glad to hear everything worked!!

 

[chuck s]

Good news!

Hopefully Char17EL can get his working too. The in dash unit is every bit as competent as my Tekonsha Prodigy was. Most "add on" controllers, and all the "free" ones are simple time delay devices that wait a few seconds and then hit the trailer brakes to whatever you set the to. If set to not lock the wheels at every stop sign they won't stop you from highway speeds and vv. The Ford (and Prodigy) controller is proportional.

-- Chuck

 

[Char17EL]

I got the prodigy P3 from the dealer. They wanted to give me some cheap Draw tie controller and I told them it was cheap and i couldnt find any information on it.

 

[mossback]

Great to hear it worked. The power of ForScan really is amazing. So grateful we have it as a resource.