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Enabling a trailer brake controller

TexasTruck

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Scott
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2022 Ford F-150 STX BAP
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I fix software bugs!
My truck has the factory trailer tow, not the tow tech or tow max packages, but still. I need to add a trailer brake controller (TBC). When I look under the drivers side dash/kick area, I see what resembles the TBC black box on the far left, it has a grey and black connector. When I remove the coin holder, there is a connector for the TBC +/- and pinch slider control.

Assuming that black box is not a TBC without the dash switch, I ordered TBC part number ML3Z-19H332-AB which replaces ML3Z-19H332-AA. The kit has a new black box and a dash switch.

What I did:
-I replaced the dash coin holder with the switch that came with the kit. I did not RR my original black box with the one that came in the kit. I fired up FORScan, went to IPC and enabled the TBC, started the truck, a red message about a Trailer Brake Controller fault.
-Thinking the original black box is not a TBC, I RR it with the black box from the kit. Started the truck and no red message. I can press the +/- and see the gain value increase or decrease. When I pinch the slider Gain shows and a No Trailer message. However, in FORScan I see three DTC MIL messages.

I read here where other owners adjusted the TRM settings in FORScan. When I look at my values, they are almost all FFFF with the black box in the kit. When I did the same with the factory black box, I have "good" values. However, in either case, when I change one of the values and save it, I hear the black box click once, then I get a FORScan failed to update module error.

Why am I posting here, I'm just wondering if I need to enable the TBC with FDRS, to tell the truck it's there, then use FORScan. Maybe the module is unknown or something?

TIA
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Static

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Dan
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I used instructions I found on the Ford parts website to install my controller, if you have access to FDRS I would imagine these would work for you. I had to use forscan and just searched for all the references relating to the trailer brake controller I could find and changed as appropriate, and for the FFFF values in the new trm I just loaded the backup I saved from the original trm to initialize it, and then made any changes needed. I included the forscan cheat sheet I made for my reference, the highlights are for what I believe the setting needed was for my truck, so make sure you look at all the options when changing yours, trying to reference your current setup if that makes any sense. But like I said, if you have access to FDRS that is probably much more straightforward.
 

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