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Old 06-09-2017, 07:51 AM   #61
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Just to update everyone, my Ford dealer called yesterday and they have received the updated brake controller for my 2015 F150 so they must no longer be on backorder. I am still having it put in on my own dime and it is costing more than a new Tekonsha but I like it being integrated in the dash so I plan to give it a try and keep the old version as a backup. I will let you know if it fails.
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Old 06-22-2017, 10:46 AM   #62
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Originally Posted by Farmer Dan View Post
Yesterday I checked with my Ford parts dept in Blair, NE. No brake control module had been received yet for my 2015 F150. But the parts man checks first thing every day for this module. Okay, it's getting close to our departure date of June 15. I bought a Tekonsha P3 and installed it this am. Dash disassembly / reassembly was not very difficult. Cable hookup was as easy as unplug the old module and plug in the vehicle specific cable from Tekonsha to the harness. I had to keep the P3 controller at least 1 foot away from the CB radio. Not a big problem. I just mounted it on the left side of the steering wheel near the light switch and pedal adjustment switches. I did a trial tow this afternoon and it worked great. It'll take some fine tuning but they all need that. The instruction manual was well written and easy to follow and understand. No computer reflash was necessary. I did confirm that with the techs at Tekonsha. I'm not sure yet - but I think upon start-up of the truck the dash will display "Brake Module Fault". No big deal there - just press OK on the steering wheel and that message disappears.

Dan

Hi Dan...

I'm sure you are still 'on the road,' but I wanted to check in with you and see what your experience has been with your P3. Any gremlins or glitches? Any unforeseen or unintended consequences of using an aftermarket controller?

I appreciate your insight.

Rob
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Old 06-30-2017, 07:56 AM   #63
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Farmer Dan View Post
Yesterday I checked with my Ford parts dept in Blair, NE. No brake control module had been received yet for my 2015 F150. But the parts man checks first thing every day for this module. Okay, it's getting close to our departure date of June 15. I bought a Tekonsha P3 and installed it this am. Dash disassembly / reassembly was not very difficult. Cable hookup was as easy as unplug the old module and plug in the vehicle specific cable from Tekonsha to the harness. I had to keep the P3 controller at least 1 foot away from the CB radio. Not a big problem. I just mounted it on the left side of the steering wheel near the light switch and pedal adjustment switches. I did a trial tow this afternoon and it worked great. It'll take some fine tuning but they all need that. The instruction manual was well written and easy to follow and understand. No computer reflash was necessary. I did confirm that with the techs at Tekonsha. I'm not sure yet - but I think upon start-up of the truck the dash will display "Brake Module Fault". No big deal there - just press OK on the steering wheel and that message disappears.

Dan
So, being completely paranoid about being out in the-middle-of-nowhere and having the factory brake controller go south, I preemptively installed the Tekonsha P3 yesterday. It went fine, took a couple of hours... I had made a minor modification to my truck to facilitate installation the night before. I could do it again in 1/4th the time.

I wanted the controller on top of the dash for ease of viewing and for instant, and easy, access to the manual control. I don't mind it cluttering up the dash, heck, the truck is just a towing "tool" anyway

While I haven't towed, I did hook up to the Airstream, and everything checked out.

It's interesting how much more "heft" the P3 has than the factory controller (which weighs nearly nothing). I left the factory part in place "just in case."

Can't wait to go somewhere!

Rob
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Old 06-30-2017, 08:24 AM   #64
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RFP View Post
So, being completely paranoid about being out in the-middle-of-nowhere and having the factory brake controller go south, I preemptively installed the Tekonsha P3 yesterday. It went fine, took a couple of hours... I had made a minor modification to my truck to facilitate installation the night before. I could do it again in 1/4th the time.

I wanted the controller on top of the dash for ease of viewing and for instant, and easy, access to the manual control. I don't mind it cluttering up the dash, heck, the truck is just a towing "tool" anyway

While I haven't towed, I did hook up to the Airstream, and everything checked out.

It's interesting how much more "heft" the P3 has than the factory controller (which weighs nearly nothing). I left the factory part in place "just in case."

Can't wait to go somewhere!

Rob
Rob,
That looks great. Better than the Pros would have done. Love to see top notch work
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Old 06-30-2017, 09:04 AM   #65
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Regarding the "heft" of the P3: It has to do more internally than the truck's brake controller, which has the advantage of talking with the truck's computers to get deceleration rates and brake-system pressure. The P3 has to have accelerometers and circuitry to apply boost and timing behavior to the braking all mounted internally to the package.
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Old 06-30-2017, 09:51 AM   #66
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I have an older TV. (06 Navigator) My TV didn't come with a brake controller however it does have a connector to connect to a brake controler. My P3 is connected into that factory harness connector under the instrument panel located just above the accelerator pedal. I thought since it connects to that factory harness it would engage the trucks computor on some level.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
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Old 06-30-2017, 10:09 AM   #67
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I have an older TV. (06 Navigator) My TV didn't come with a brake controller however it does have a connector to connect to a brake controler. My P3 is connected into that factory harness connector under the instrument panel located just above the accelerator pedal. I thought since it connects to that factory harness it would engage the trucks computor on some level.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
No, the factory harness for a plug-and-play brake controller just provides 12v power, a signal to the brake controller when you press the vehicle's brake pedal, and wiring for the brake controller's output to get back to the 7-pin connector. The brake controller's internal circuitry does the rest, and how that operates varies by brand and model.

There was a fancy aftermarket brake controller available for a few years that connected into the hydraulic brake lines for your tow vehicle and used brake-system pressure to modulate trailer brake application. I don't remember the brand, I never used one but I think they didn't last, business-wise. At least I haven't heard anything about them in a while.

This is a newer type, that actually plugs into the OBD-II port and uses the truck's info on brake pressure for its operation. At $350-$400 it's not cheap but has the potential to work well: Tuson DirecLInk
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Old 06-30-2017, 10:55 AM   #68
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Can't wait to go somewhere!

Rob
That's a beautiful installation!
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Old 06-30-2017, 11:03 AM   #69
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DKB_SATX View Post
Regarding the "heft" of the P3: It has to do more internally than the truck's brake controller, which has the advantage of talking with the truck's computers to get deceleration rates and brake-system pressure. The P3 has to have accelerometers and circuitry to apply boost and timing behavior to the braking all mounted internally to the package.
Well,. I'm hoping the stuff that fails is all contained in the factory controller

Seriously, I don't doubt for a second what you are saying, but if you have the factory controller in one hand and the P3 in the other, there is a daylight and dark difference... and not just in heft. The factory controller feels flimsy and looks cheap, whereas the P3 has a high quality look and feel.

Also, the factory controller has no provision for adjustable"boost," a feature I find quite useful.
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Old 06-30-2017, 11:04 AM   #70
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That's a beautiful installation!
Quote:
Originally Posted by GMFL View Post
Rob,
That looks great. Better than the Pros would have done. Love to see top notch work
Many thanks
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And some stuff

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Old 07-01-2017, 09:10 AM   #71
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Smile

Quote:
Originally Posted by DKB_SATX View Post
No, the factory harness for a plug-and-play brake controller just provides 12v power, a signal to the brake controller when you press the vehicle's brake pedal, and wiring for the brake controller's output to get back to the 7-pin connector. The brake controller's internal circuitry does the rest, and how that operates varies by brand and model.

There was a fancy aftermarket brake controller available for a few years that connected into the hydraulic brake lines for your tow vehicle and used brake-system pressure to modulate trailer brake application. I don't remember the brand, I never used one but I think they didn't last, business-wise. At least I haven't heard anything about them in a while.

This is a newer type, that actually plugs into the OBD-II port and uses the truck's info on brake pressure for its operation. At $350-$400 it's not cheap but has the potential to work well: Tuson DirecLInk
The controller that connected into hydraulic system was before plug and play controllers avble. today plus had to use a variable resistor that was a spring that you fastened electric wires at var. positions for wght. being towed. worked just as good as todays controllers but more hassle to install. I believe manf. was kellsey hayse
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Old 07-01-2017, 09:17 AM   #72
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The controller that connected into hydraulic system was before plug and play controllers avble. today plus had to use a variable resistor that was a spring that you fastened electric wires at var. positions for wght. being towed. worked just as good as todays controllers but more hassle to install. I believe manf. was kellsey hayse
Looks something like this.

Installed in a '66 Mercury Park Lane

The piece coming out of the left side is a brake line tied into the factory system

>>>>>>>>>>>Action
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Old 07-01-2017, 09:21 AM   #73
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Looks something like this.

Installed in a '66 Mercury Park Lane

The piece coming out of the left side is a brake line tied into the factory system

>>>>>>>>>>>Action
Wow! I'll bet my installation was easier

Rob
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"The Black Swan": https://www.flickr.com/photos/rfpd30...57648991024725
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Old 07-01-2017, 09:32 AM   #74
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I bought the Mercury that way. And I am sure it was not plug and play.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
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Old 07-01-2017, 06:29 PM   #75
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Rob,
Looks good! Out of curiosity, how much room is available where that cable goes down into the recess in the top of the dash? Do you think a add on USB outlet would fit if it projected downward a couple inches?
Joe
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Old 07-01-2017, 07:36 PM   #76
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Rob,
Looks good! Out of curiosity, how much room is available where that cable goes down into the recess in the top of the dash? Do you think a add on USB outlet would fit if it projected downward a couple inches?
Joe
Hi Joe...

There's a quite a bit of room there, but since there is some other stuff in there. You just have to pick a place where there will be no interference... you won't have one bit of trouble fitting it in.

Let us know how it works out for you.

Rob
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And some stuff

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Old 07-02-2017, 09:40 AM   #77
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Hi Joe...

There's a quite a bit of room there, but since there is some other stuff in there. You just have to pick a place where there will be no interference... you won't have one bit of trouble fitting it in.

Let us know how it works out for you.

Rob
Rob,
Thanks for the input, it may become a summer project to look at it. Would be nice to have a USB outlet up there for gps etc. I'll post pictures if it works out.
Joe
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Old 07-02-2017, 11:03 AM   #78
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< snip > it may become a summer project to look at it. < snip >
Joe
Joe, I'm thinking more like a one-hour project! There are several good YouTube videos on how to get to the brake controller, and you only need the first step or two to get access to where you want to put the USB outlet. That whole top piece (with the speaker) just lifts out... two 7mm hex screws (in the back under the speaker grille) and three snaps (up front along the edge) and out it comes. Oh, first you have to pop off the speaker grille
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Old 09-26-2017, 06:03 PM   #79
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A scary situation

We started a road trip days ago, and one morning we filled up with gas and were just starting to turn onto a freeway entrance near Boise ID, when suddenly we jolted to a stop and we couldn't go front or back. Brakes locked up, and didn't at first know if it was our 2016 F150, or the 27' 2016 Serenity. We blocked traffic. Trying a couple things without success, I pulled the power pigtail and the truck moved forward a few inches. So we slowly drove onto a backroad to a nearby Ford dealer. We read these threads and told Ford we think it is the brake controller. They allowed us to camp in their parking lot with power. After resetting codes and checking, they said it was the trailer.

We called the national Roadside assist, that AS provides and a techie guy called us to discuss. We carry a multimeter, so he talked us through testing the truck's 7-pin socket. He told us there are only two things that lock the trailer brake. One is the emergency pin, the other is there is voltage on the "blue" or trailer brake pin. We measured 3 volts on that pin without pushing the brake pedal. There should be no volts. That voltage is what triggers the trailer brakes.

So, we headed back into service and told them our findings, and they sent one of their trucks to our trailer and hooked up. No locked trailer brakes which convinced them it was the brake controller. They actually bought the special tester for the 7-pin socket, but the tech "fried it" testing us! Anyway, they replaced the controller and all is well. What would have happened if we were doing 60-65mph when the brakes locked? Not good.
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Old 09-26-2017, 07:39 PM   #80
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Originally Posted by Pat Pierce View Post
We started a road trip days ago, and one morning we filled up with gas and were just starting to turn onto a freeway entrance near Boise ID, when suddenly we jolted to a stop and we couldn't go front or back. Brakes locked up, and didn't at first know if it was our 2016 F150, or the 27' 2016 Serenity. We blocked traffic. Trying a couple things without success, I pulled the power pigtail and the truck moved forward a few inches. So we slowly drove onto a backroad to a nearby Ford dealer. We read these threads and told Ford we think it is the brake controller. They allowed us to camp in their parking lot with power. After resetting codes and checking, they said it was the trailer.

We called the national Roadside assist, that AS provides and a techie guy called us to discuss. We carry a multimeter, so he talked us through testing the truck's 7-pin socket. He told us there are only two things that lock the trailer brake. One is the emergency pin, the other is there is voltage on the "blue" or trailer brake pin. We measured 3 volts on that pin without pushing the brake pedal. There should be no volts. That voltage is what triggers the trailer brakes.

So, we headed back into service and told them our findings, and they sent one of their trucks to our trailer and hooked up. No locked trailer brakes which convinced them it was the brake controller. They actually bought the special tester for the 7-pin socket, but the tech "fried it" testing us! Anyway, they replaced the controller and all is well. What would have happened if we were doing 60-65mph when the brakes locked? Not good.
What's worse is that you take your truck to a dealership only to have them mis-diagnose it, and you have to go the extra mile to prove them wrong. They need to be spanked.
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