Re: 2001 7-pin trailer connect back-up circut dead? or never connected.

I have a 2001 SuperCrew with factory installed towing package. I've been

>towing a Load Rite trailer with drum brakes. The drum brakes never worked
>correctly so Load Rite installed their new disk brake system. The surge
>brakes are disabled with a solenoid activated when the truck is put into
>reverse. Although the factory 7 pin connector is labeled as having the
>center pin as the back-up lights, it is dead. I checked the fuse and it's
>OK. The trailer dealer said he has seen several Fords with the same problem.
>The plug from the trailer came with a spare wire to hook up directly to the
>truck's back-up lights; which I did temporarily but it kind of Micky Mouse. >
>Should the back-up pin on the connector be operable? Or is this something
>that Ford didn't do? I called Ford customer service and they said that they
>couldn't say for sure. Since I have 71K miles on the truck, there is no
>warrantee. Seems like Ford should make good on it if it wasn't hooked up
>correctly in production. But I have a feeling I am going to have to pay my
>local Ford dealer their $70.00/hr to look at it and fix it.
>
>Appreciate any thoughts?
>
>Rob H.>
>

Don't know how it is done on the 150's, but on my 250 there was a package in the glove box that had a relay which needed to be installed to make the backup lights work on a trailer.

On the F-250 it was a 30A fuse and a relay to be installed for the backup lights. If this is not installed the circuit to the 7 pin connector would be dead.

I don't remember the color of the wire, but I just used an ice pick to get through the insulation to use my tester to find the backup circuit and taped into it. My backup lights work. 2000 F-250 V-10

Tom J