Adding Brake Controller - Gain not working

[theblackpearl]

I bought an "OEM brake controller" from ebay. And plugged it in.

Used Forscan to enable a brake controller module. It did not have the Brake Controller Gain module in Forscan.

With this setup, when I plug in the trailer I get a "Trailer connected" message and I can setup the blind spot monitoring etc. . The lights on the trailer work after I setup a trailer. So the car detects it.

But I am not sure if the brakes are working: Everytime I set the gain, or use the slide-brakes, it says "No Trailer".

It is a 2500lb trailer - when I am braking, I can feel the stress on the car's brakes. So I am not sure what could be happening.

Any thoughts?


P.S: For the issue of "Gain" not showing up in Forscan, I went through this thread on Forscan forum, and used older versions of Forscan to get the "gain" enabled, but it fails with a "Write failed. Incompatible block" error. This leads me to believe that the gain setting cannot be set in these newer models on Forscan?

 

[Hellwig]

Are you certain there are electric brakes installed on your trailer? I am asking this because it only weights 2500 lbs.

 

[duneslider]

Is the trailer plug a 4 pin connector by chance?

 

[theblackpearl]

Are you certain there are electric brakes installed on your trailer? I am asking this because it only weights 2500 lbs.

Sorry that is the dry weight. GVWR is 3500lbs. I am fairly certain they have brakes but can double check.

 

[theblackpearl]

Is the trailer plug a 4 pin connector by chance?

No it is a 7 pin

 

[Hellwig]

Sorry that is the dry weight. GVWR is 3500lbs. I am fairly certain they have brakes but can double check.

Uhaul car transporter GVWR can be 8000lbs but it goes with hydraulic brakes and a 4 pin connector.

 

[Anthony DeVor]

I have a 2016 F150 and had the same issue with an "OEM ebay" brake controller I bought. Although mine had the setting. I referenced the coding for the 2019 f250 we had and noticed from the factory with a factory trailer brake controller the TBC module was enabled but the gain was not (ON A ALL FACTORY 2019 F250 with a factory trailer brake controller). On my F150 I had the setting for the gain and enabled it and it worked.

What I did to test was I used to alligator test leads and clipped them to the trailer brake pin and ground in my 7 pin connector then connected the other end to an incadescent light bulb socket with a halogen bulb in it. And everything worked properly - when I pressed the brake pedal the bulb light up and when I pressed the pedal further the light got brighter depending on the gain setting.
I would highly recommend testing with a light bulb to see if you are even getting power out of the trailer brake circuit. AND CONFIRM YOU HAVE THE CORRECT PART NUMBER!

About 6 months ago when I tried purchasing a trailer brake controller it was the wrong part number and caused my brake lights to stay on - but not the third brake light interestingly enough. The f150 had to designs for the trailer brake controllers; JL3Z-19H332-AA & JL3Z-2C006-AA which have now been replaced with newer models starting with G. My truck required the 332 part number which does not have the pro-trailer assist feature built into my trailer module that is under the drivers side dash. 006 is the module for those that do have pro-trailer backup assist.

I actually bought mine from Amazon, here is the link

Let me know if I can be of anymore assistance. I do have a 2017 Ford Expedition that I can check the programming on for you but it came with a trailer brake controller from the factory.

 

[Backinblack]

Bought our trailer new and the same thing was happening, had to have the brakes adjusted out, they were so far in the self adjusters were not working.

 

[theblackpearl]

Thank you for your detailed message. Here is how I tried it: I put up the wheels on jacks, rotated them and then got someone to hit the brake. Even though the "no trailer" message shows up in the dash, the tires stop after a while.

But I am not sure if the brake pressure is being respected. that is what I need to test next

 

[theblackpearl]

Bought our trailer new and the same thing was happening, had to have the brakes adjusted out, they were so far in the self adjusters were not working.

did you do that with the dealer?

 

[Badan]

Have anyone figured out what was the problem? Wrong part number probably?
I have went through a 3 months research and trial and errors on my 2023 XLT
Now i have the in-dash brake switch installed properly to the harness in the dash, but the trailer brake does not work and also the brake gain feature as you might have ran into already doesn’t show in Forscan.
I read in another forum that issue is the factory brake controller module for the vehicles that aren’t set from the factory for electric trailer brakes.
Seems like they only work with hydraulic surge brakes. ( my OEM part number for trailer is ML3T-19J295-FB)
So I have ordered the part number ML3Z-19H332-F which seems to be working with electric brakes also.
This is a theory and I won’t know for sure till I receive the part and install it within the next week or so.
I will keep you all updated.

 

[SuperDaveA]

I'm following along for my 2022 Limited

 

[Retiredusps]

If I remember correctly Surge brakes are hyd. Hitch slides forward forcding master cyl. then feeds brake fluid to wheel cyld.