Trailer Brake Controller Issue

GlueGuy,

That concept may work fine for a Ford system that senses a light connection, for those of us without that, the blue wire the brake controller tells you when a trailer is connected and monitors power draw of the brake. Granted not familiar with Dodge, but my Chevy could care less about a flat 4 with no brake controller input.

Originally posted by mcarter GlueGuy, That concept may work fine for a Ford system that senses a light connection, for those of us without that, the blue wire the brake controller tells you when a trailer is connected and monitors power draw of the brake. Granted not familiar with Dodge, but my Chevy could care less about a flat 4 with no brake controller input.

He's talking about 2017 Dodge. That's not exactly an "antique". Our truck is 3 years old. Certainly not an antique, but older technology (or at least I would think so). I just think a year old truck would sense a trailer by something other than the brakes. Not all trailers have brakes.

We had the same results they checked the computer to make sure it was programed right, check all the lights, checked all the wiring replaced the factory in dash brake controller twice with brand new ones, replaced the pigtails under the truck twice, we replaced the 7 pin connector, checked everything 4 different mechanic could think of, brought the pod into the ford dealership twice on the second time, they found crack/break in one of the trailer brake wires. said something about may a rock or something hit it and didn't break it all the way then with hitting a pothole or something along the interstate it finally went. it would do an alert saying trailer disconnected, would stop and check and the 7 pin connector was connected, the lights worked the directionals worked but the trailer brake would not work.

Originally posted by mcarter We'll see when he finishes with trailer check. I can't imagine what a brake controller circuit would use if it didn't monitor brakes.

We bought our truck without a TBC. When we pulled a trailer using the 4-pin connector, the truck would sense whether a trailer was connected (or not). It didn't have a TBC at all, so I believe that the TBC is not (necessarily) part of the equation.

When we added the TBC, in addition to sensing the existence of a trailer, it also knew there was a brake circuit.

Originally posted by Keith-N-Dar Why would a four pin connector need to interact with the TV.  I have never noticed my F150 indicate anything when I pull my boat.  When I have the Pod behind if not connected it tells me if I manually try to apply the trailer brakes.  unless I initiate an action there is no response from the truck.

Ours is a 2015. It just seems to know when a trailer is connected regardless of the trailer brake controller. It did it before we even had a TBC. That's why I believe the TBC and trailer sensing are two different things. I am, of course, assuming that the system on a 2017 Ram would be similar.