Brake controller question

[chasbo]

I bought my brake controller for my 2020 Lariat back in 2021 when the brake controller specifically for the Ranger became available and I had the dealer install it. The photos I’ve seen for the knob seem to always show a blue LED light illuminated on the bottom of the knob but mine does not have that. I checked the fuse and it’s good (that was fun learning how to get to those fuses). My main concern is that I am planning to pick up a travel trailer that is in Boise and I live near Seattle so I need to make sure that the break controller is definitely working, but I don’t have a trailer I can test it on. I am going to take it to the Ford dealer this week to have them check it out, but I’m wondering if the brake controller should have the blue LED light or if that’s already an indication of a problem.

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[RangerBill]

You need to have a trailer connected to see the blue light. To test without a trailer, see the attached proceedure.

 

[chasbo]

Great. Thank you. Is the 5-21w globe like a standard 1156 turn signal bulb?

 

[RangerBill]

Great. Thank you. Is the 5-21w globe like a standard 1156 turn signal bulb?

A 1156 bulb is rated at 27 watts, I think that should work.

 

[Cmar]

You need to have a trailer connected to see the blue light. To test without a trailer, see the attached proceedure.

This correct, I have the the Tow Pro Elite, ( the one they market separately - not the one Redarc sell to Ford for OEM, but it's the same unit) Yep, all you need is a small load to trigger it.

 

[Jedadiah]

Without a trailer, it should still light up if you push in the button. Mine would flash and then go off. I installed it in one of the 12v sockets and would sometimes hit when reaching in the console.

 

[chasbo]

I did find that the LEF does illuminate when I press it. Helped to do that at night! But I could not successfully perform the test process that @RangerBill shared. Taking it to a shop today to have them check it out.

 

[RangerBill]

I did find that the LEF does illuminate when I press it. Helped to do that at night! But I could not successfully perform the test process that @RangerBill shared. Taking it to a shop today to have them check it out.

Were you able to get the brake controller in the green light user control mode?

 

[chasbo]

No that was the problem

 

[chasbo]

I was able to get it tested and a shop that does hitches, welding, etc. They verified that it is working. Took them 2 minutes to hook up their unit and check it out. At first they saw nothing but once I turned up the "volume" on the controller, they confirmed it's working.

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