I just got a trailer and when I hook it up, the display unit on the instrument panel will only show the TBC bars when I step on the foot brake the first time or when I manually push the TBC braking lever. The manual seems to indicate that the display would show every time you step on the brake. The Ford dealer said the TBC was working and to check out the trailer. I took it to a trailer repair and they said the trailer brakes were activating and if the manual says the display should show it must be in Ford. Does anyone have a F150 with the factory installed TBC and how does theirs work? I talked to a Ford Service Manager and he said this is a new model and he had no idea if it should show every time you step on the foot brake.

 

I have an 09 and mine works every time I press the brake. Now, my display is off to the side not in the instrument cluster.

 

If you are parked the brake won't stay locked, it needs to be moving, when at speed the brakes only apply as much as needed. You get full brake at first then it gives progressivly less to the tt as you slow. By adjusting the gain you control how much you need I have mine set to 8.5 for my current tt. My old brake controller would always lock the wheels on gravel because you get full force all the time, this built in is much better and it works with anti-locks.

 

The main question I have is whether or not you see the TBC Gain indicated in the instrument panel read out when you push the brake pedal. Mine does not give any indication that the brakes are being activated unless I push the manual slide switch. The F150 Owner's Guide says that it should show everytime you push the brakes but the Service Manager at the Ford dealership didn't know if that is the way it really works. If yours shows the braking force when you use the foot pedal that means my TBC is not working as the manual says it should. Thanks for the info and looking forward to your reply since you have the same year TBC.

 

forddwo:

I have a 2010 XLT/XTR SCREW with the Factory TBC. When the trailer is connected and you push the odometer reset button to cycle through the instrument display, you will get to the Trailer Brake Controller display. It will show the current gain setting and the bar graph will advance as you press harder on the brakes. The TBC display will remain on the screen until you push the button to cycle through the display again. If memory serves me, once you have selected the TBC display on the instrument cluster it will remain on the TBC display even if you turn the truck off and restart.

Otherwise, you only see the TBC display when you first start the truck, then it disappears.

As soon as you disconnect the trailer connector, the display will revert back to displaying the mileage automatically.
Lee.

 

Thanks for the info. I am looking forward to hooking up the trailer and checking out this great advice. Ford should pay you to write this info into their owners manual. I went over the manual twice to see if any of this procedure was indicated in their instructions and couldn't find anything.

 

Just got done testing out the truck using the reset button during system check and it works exactly as you explained. Thanks again.

 

No problem. Glad I could help!