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Old 08-20-2017, 10:35 AM   #1
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Brake controller not seeing trailer

Hi Folks
I installed a new Tekonsha P3 brake controller in the Bounder lugged it in and it turns on so I am confident is is connected to the wire harness. When I hook my trailer (brand new ans use it often on my truck so I know it is good) it doesn't see the trailer. Is there additional wiring I need to do from the front to the light connector? All the lights work correctly on the trailer as well.

Thanks
Eric
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Old 08-20-2017, 11:13 AM   #2
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I checked the 30 amp fuse in the distribution box, good there. I'll clean the connections on the rear and go from there.
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Old 08-20-2017, 01:20 PM   #3
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Figure it out. There is no wire for the brakes wires to the rear. So I'll have run it from the harness? I wonder where it goes from the harness under the dash?
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Old 08-20-2017, 02:35 PM   #4
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EricV-

There are two Ford connectors under the coach, within five feet of the rear. Follow the wires from the hitch connector forward and you will find them. There will be a pigtail plugged into both. The coach builder will have wrapped up the unused wires of the pigtail. Unwrap the pigtail associated with the larger of the two connectors. Pin 12 will have a blue wire on it. That's the brake controller wire. Butt-splice a 12 AWG wire onto the pigtail, making sure it's either a heat-shrink splice or covering it in heat-shrink tubing. Re-wrap the pigtail. Terminate your new wire on the hitch connector. Done!

Here's a diagram of the wires in those connectors.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Ford F-53 Pigtail for Tail and Trailer Lights .pdf (35.4 KB, 26 views)
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Old 08-20-2017, 02:43 PM   #5
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Sounds good except the wire loom going to the trailer plug goes straight up into the body of the coach. I did find a harness that is at the end of the ford frame and attaches with a connector to the rest of the harness, Fleetwood I assume. I'll take that loom apart and see of the mysterious blue wire is in there.
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Old 08-20-2017, 02:45 PM   #6
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Thinking about it, I bet the harness you reference goes up into the coach to the lights then comes back down to feed the plug. After dinner I'll take that loom apart.

Thanks very much
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Old 08-21-2017, 07:36 AM   #7
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As mentioned the wiring harness from Ford is in the left frame rail. It stops at the end of the Ford supplied frame. If you have frame extensions open the wiring harness where the original frame and the extensions meet.

While the blue wire in the diagram shows a #12 wire the one in our 2001 F53 chassis was a #10. It is folded back and taped inside the harness. If the body builder didn't disturb it there should be a tag on it labeled "trailer brake".

The difference in wire size could have been a running change during the model year. A #12 wire is adequate for a trailer with a single axle, but a #10 is recommended for anything larger.
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Old 08-21-2017, 04:11 PM   #8
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Found it. It was connected to the connector so I'll just cut it and add the required line. Going to use 10awg as I have a dual axle trailer.

Thanks all
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