Dealer Price to Install Redarc Tow Pro Elite

[mikedrees]

Aeb triggers brake lights, the factory pigtail wires work off the brake switch... Hence the incompatibility with aeb. That shoehorns people who want aeb to work with the brake controller to the Ford unit. Which uses a workaround to tie into the actual brake lights. There are a few brake controllers that mount on the trailer and use this same workaround (with no actual use of the pigtails) they are marketed to high end vehicles with complicated electronics.

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[VAMike]

No, but it's obvious to anyone familiar with automotive electronics.

I personally try to distinguish between opinion and fact. I don't know one way or another, but I can certainly come up with rational arguments either way. Until someone's tested and verified that the setup behaves properly in an AEB situation it's irresponsible to tell people that the prodigy rf setup is any better than any other third party brake controller with regard to AEB. Serious question: if it's that simple, why did Ford create an entire module instead of just tapping the wire?

 

[mikedrees]

I personally try to distinguish between opinion and fact. I don't know one way or another, but I can certainly come up with rational arguments either way. Until someone's tested and verified that the setup behaves properly in an AEB situation it's irresponsible to tell people that the prodigy rf setup is any better than any other third party brake controller with regard to AEB. Serious question: if it's that simple, why did Ford create an entire module instead of just tapping the wire?

It's the closest accessible plug to a brake light. So essentially that is what they did.

 

[OKRaptor]

That is a damn good price on VKB3Z-2C006-A installed.


Did you confirm that they are using the above PN?

Because if not they're going to charge you 450$...
for a 200$TBC
and $250 for labor which would take a skilled tech maybe 30 minutes to put in
all to have a trailer brake controller that ford is going to tell you you should've never installed if you ever come to them with an issue

Ordered through Ford Accessories web site the VKB3Z-2C006-A installed price was $474.82. When ordered through Ford Accessory site they ship it directly to the dealer and then notify you when it arrives to schedule the install. They did cry about it taking 4+ hours to install.

 

[gbritt89]

Ordered through Ford Accessories web site the VKB3Z-2C006-A installed price was $474.82. When ordered through Ford Accessory site they ship it directly to the dealer and then notify you when it arrives to schedule the install. They did cry about it taking 4+ hours to install.

"they did cry" lmao!! I think their service rates are ridiculous. I am sure there are lots of ford service staff that are very skilled and can justify their wage, but I don't see how ford is charging upwards of 180$ an hour for service when they can't even come up with proper part numbers for this stuff. I along with probably half of this forum was confidently offered for sale an old f-150 trailer brake controller at one point for our rangers.

When the kit finally came in the guy at the parts desks head looked like it was going to explode when I unboxed the ford TBC kit and showed him how the dial works as the "slider". That's when I was 100% sold on I would be better of pioneering the install on my own truck then leaving it in the hands of people that had literally no f*cking clue. It took me an honest 4 combined hours to do start to finish for my install.

 

[gbritt89]

It's the closest accessible plug to a brake light. So essentially that is what they did.

This is the most sound logic i've read on justifying using a fixed TBC down stream of the 7 way plug. I wouldn't do it myself but you are correct there is a reason they sourced it from the CHMSL instead of the fuse access panel and up under the dash board where the brake signal can also be accessed. I think they just didn't want the do it yourself crew messing around in this area. Aftermarket/body builder documentation from ford specifically tells 3rd party vendors to access brake signal from the fuse access panel.

These are just my thoughts/opinions though sorry for sharing my "FUD"

 

[VAMike]

This is the most sound logic i've read on justifying using a fixed TBC down stream of the 7 way plug. I wouldn't do it myself but you are correct there is a reason they sourced it from the CHMSL instead of the fuse access panel and up under the dash board where the brake signal can also be accessed. I think they just didn't want the do it yourself crew messing around in this area. Aftermarket/body builder documentation from ford specifically tells 3rd party vendors to access brake signal from the fuse access panel.

These are just my thoughts/opinions though sorry for sharing my "FUD"

The question wasn't why they picked that spot, it was why Ford thought a whole special module with who knows what inside was required, rather than a simple Y cable.

 

[Robanno]

Picked up truck last night after " Ford approved tbc" installed. Took them about 3 hrs tech said and pretty straight forward and clean install.
300 for part, 360 labor, - 210 for Ford points. 450 total.
Feel better it's done, although could have done the non approved tbc for a lot less, at least if there are any problems Ford has no recourse because it's there approved tbc installed by there tech.
Thanks Rob

 

[k1w1t1m]

The prodigy rf is compatible with the aeb. It bypasses the trailer brake wiring all together. It pulls it's braking signals from the brake lights at the trailer plug not the brake switch at the pedal. Fords kit just pulls that same signal from the nearest source, i.e. the 3rd brake light. It is a limited solution though, as it is mounted on the trailer itself.

How does the Prodigy distinguish brake signals from turn signals?

This is the reason the approved kit picks it's signal from the 3rd brake light. The kit would also work with other aftermarket TBCs.

 

[mikedrees]

How does the Prodigy distinguish brake signals from turn signals?

This is the reason the approved kit picks it's signal from the 3rd brake light. The kit would also work with other aftermarket TBCs.

My bad. Brake lights from the rear end (the trailer plug) the rf model does this specificly to bypass any interior cab wiring. The perfect scenario for this would be one trailer and you have multiple vehicles to pull with. Just one controller mounted on the trailer.

 

[Montana Ranger]

I'm surprised that a dealer would install the non-Ford controller, since there's a service bulletin out there instructing them not to.

 

[cory1848]

I just had the dealer order the Ford Brake controller and they quoted me $339 installed price plus tax. About $370 OTD. I dont think they realize the scope of this install. After reading what others are being charged, I am concerned they will not honor the price. Has anyone's dealer gone against their quoted price before on them?

 

[Robanno]

Get a copy of the Redarc item from the Ford accs catalog and take it to the guy who quoted you the price. Have him sign, date and price installed.
Exactly what I did. They tried to not honor the price after install. Talked to mgr. They honored it. Its not our fault they don't know there product.
Thanks Rob

 

[cory1848]

Get a copy of the Redarc item from the Ford accs catalog and take it to the guy who quoted you the price. Have him sign, date and price installed.
Exactly what I did. They tried to not honor the price after install. Talked to mgr. They honored it. Its not our fault they don't know there product.
Thanks Rob

Thanks. The service manager is the one who ordered and quoted me the price via email. I guess he would be the one to honor it. Have appt on Tuesday.

 

[ljames]

Just installed my ford ranger brake controller kit on my xlt... This job is not for begineers, it is quite difficult. Took me 4 hours, you must terminate the 6 wires to and from the 3rd light,(apparantly the signal to the 3rd light goes through the brake controller- than back to the light). by slipping the terminals into the molex or whatever style plug they use is called. This proved to be very difficult, the kit comes with NO written instructions, I had difficulty getting the pins to seat correctly in the BLACK not Grey (2 sets of connectors with kit) and got one set to seat correctly but try as i might could not get the second connector to fully seat. I gave up and taped the connector together. I have delt with connectors for 40 years as a low voltage contractor, these were a problem. I would NOT want some flunky at any dealership doing this job as it requires, panel removal and installation, and as others have said, the headliner is very forgiving, as you can bend it and it returns to proper shape with out wrinkles, but this also is a very hard location to work in. Also I would NOT recommend using the self soldering butt connectors, I tried these years ago and threw them all away, thought maybe they improved but these are still garbage.. I straight soldered the 2 wire legs (blue and Yellow) and used heat shrink.

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