I have ordered a Prodigy Brake unit and the wiriring harness for my 98 F-150. I dont belive my truck came with the tow package, but from what I understand the wiring harnes for the brake controller is on all f-150's. Do I just plug into the truck harnes & mount the controller? Is this all there is to it or is there more?

 

Basically, your truck has the "tow package" if you have the factory frame mounted 2" hitch and the factory 7 pin connector.

You'll need the 7 pin connector for the trailer for the electric brakes to work. The standard 4 pin connector does not provide the E brake wire.

You will also need the relays for under the hood.... Not for the brakes, but any trailer that uses a 7 pin also has a battery and one of the relays is for the 12v charging to the trailer battery. If you don't have the relay, your truck battery will continue to feed the trailer battery when you shut off the ignition, unless you unplug the connector.

What are you towing?? The 5 speeds are not rated for too much weight, but that's due to the fact that Ford is probably under-rating them due to driver experience.....

Good luck!

MItch

 

I have already installed the 7 pin. I'm not sure what a relay is but I have a seperate small fuse panel (maybe relay) under the hood, it houses the fuse for my trailer lights, I know that because I couldn't get them to work until I talked to a guy who told me there was a small fuse panel under the hood that was not in the owner's manual) if I dont have the relay does it come with the prodigy controler/ Ford wiring harnes?

I just bought a 21' TT. I am aware of the low tow capacity that ford puts on these trucks with the 5speed, but I have been towing a 17' TT for a few years now & it does fine. The 21' TT dry weight is 2500lbs & has a 25 gal water tank, so loaded I'm thinking at the most I'll be is 3200lbs so I think I should be just fine, I was real careful not to get anything to heavy being I have the 4.6l & that damn 3:08 rearend

 

You won't get anything else with the controller. Sounds like you are all set otherwise. The "relay" is a square plug that goes into the underhood fuse box.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the help Mitch, I should have my Prodigy on Wednesday, just in time for the big 4th of July weekend

 

Anyone know where this relay goes?? I have called 3 different ford dealers in my area to try & figure it out & they dont know.. I have looke at my owners manual & it states the Trailer Tow Battery Charge Relay is #16 40A but that is a fuse not a relay. The diagram for the power box under the hood indicates #8 EEC Power Relay, #7 horn relay #6fuel pump relay #5 Washer Pump #4W/S/W run park #3 W/S/W Hi/Lo & there is no empty spot for a realy.. Any help would be appreciated

 

Okay after looking at it further, #2 relay says: Trailer Tow Running Lamp Relay, Trailer tow backup relay. Then as I said in my previous post #16 fuse is Trailer Tow battery charge relay (fuse module fuse 2) so I'm assuming I need relay #2 if anyone can confirm this let me know, thanks..

 

I was aware of one of the relays being for the trailer backup lights, but did not know that it was also for the running lights as well?? I would have thought that the running lights would only be a actual fuse.

The battery charge line should have both a fuse and a relay. The fuse so that you don't fry the system and the relay is what turns it on and off.

Probably better to just get it (the #2 one) and be done with it..... I don't know what the cost is, but it can't be that much??

Good luck!

 

Yea I'll just get the #2 relay, it would appear to me to be the correct one, the dealer says there $10 so no big deal. Again thanks for your help

 

Okay I got the Prodigy installed, everything is great, but when I go to adjust the brakes & lock them up, they wont lock up.. They seem to work great, but I cant lock them up, I'm assuming you need to lock up the tires & then back off a bit from that point right?? I have the boost set @ 6.1 becaue my TT is 2500lbs dry & have the power *** all the way to 3.4. Any suggestions, I know the brakes are good because I took all the wheels off to pack the bearings & the pads were all good.. Also what are the different boost levels?? Thanks

 

Here is a link that should bring up the instructions for the Prodigy.

Prodigy instructions

Basically the boost level increases the amount of power that is initially sent to the trailer brakes. Then the inertia sensor applys more as needed. The instructions explain it in more detail.

As far as your brakes not locking up, when you did the bearings and checked the shoes, but did you adjust them?

They should be set so that they just start to grab the drum, then back off one or two clicks on the adjuster wheel.

They should still roll free when you are done, but it's just that they have to be really close for the brakes to work 100%.......

Good luck!