There is a service note out there about this. You may or may not have the connectors. It's an assembly line lottery I guess.

 

Thanks Alarmist.

I just found the Q-227R1 SVE Bulletin that confirms what you have mentioned. Our vehicle built date was 1/13/15, before the cutoff date of 1/28/15. Look like I will need the wiring diagram for the tow/trailer electrical and duplicate the missing wire runs and connectors. This is becoming a bigger task than anticipated.

Does anyone know where I can get the wiring diagram for the tow/trailer electrical? Thank you in advance.

 

I understand that this site permits short-term paid access:

helminc.com

 

Thank you PeterR.

I will try helminc.com.

 

I just looked at the Helm site, and it may be that they don't have the wiring diagram from Ford yet? If Ford dropped the ball during assembly, and did not install the correct wiring in your Transit, it might be time to ask for the correct one to be dealer-installed at Ford's expense?

Although, as I read the SVE Bulletin you reference, it does not seem to cover your situation exactly, because you did not order any of the trailer towing packages (if I have understood you correctly). Adding after-market hitches and trailer tow wiring into a rolling computer may be more difficult than everyone assumes.

Good luck!

PS -- Edit -- You know about the BEMM? Electrical starts on p. 51 of this PDF:

https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/2015/2015_Transit_BEMM_v1-0.pdf

with trailer tow items on p. 58.

 

PeterR, you are correct that the SVE Bulletin is not specifically for this issue. I was just using the SVE Bulletin to understand why our vehicle did not come with the tow/trailer connectors.

I will take the vehicle to the Ford dealer and ask them to install this tow/trailer electric kit. I will report back with any new info.

 

The Ford site indicates the wiring kit will not work on certain vehicles, the BEMM clarifies which ones. I guess it's not a lottery after all.

 

Could you give us a link for that please?

 

Here you go:

http://accessories.ford.com/exterior/trailer-towing/kit-trailer-hitch-electrics-11107.html

The BEMM provides more detail:

"NOTE: Extended wheelbase vehicles with less
Trailer Tow option and have Fuel Harness
CK4T-14406-RZ will not have the connector for
Trailer Tow Socket Jumber [sic]."

 

What do we suppose that fuel harness is? I have no current plans to add a tow setup, but, it would be good to know my prospects, if the desire arises.

 

I looked under our vehicle. Our vehicle has the CK4T-14406-RZF. It has one extra letter "F". Eitherway, our bad luck, no conectors.

I am planning to bring the vehicle to the Ford dealer for the tow/trailer harness installation tomorrow. I will update when I have any new info.

 

Maybe you're in luck and the F means the opposite of what vulgar individuals such as myself would interpret.

 

I guess you can say that PeterR >.
I hope for better news tomorrow when I bring my vehicle to the dealer for this install and some warranty work. I am not holding my breath though.
I might have to abandon this Ford tow/trailer wiring install and go with one of the cheaper after market trailer wiring harness.

 

Sorry kenjent, the door was open so wide I kinda fell through . . .

 

I dropped the vehicle off at dealer last Friday for the trailer harness installation. As expected, they can not install this wiring kit because of the missing connectors in the 14406 main harness. I was disappointed but did expect it.

While I was at the dealer, I spoke to the part counter lady about my problem with the wiring harness. She was able to provide me with some wiring diagram of the 2014 Transit tow/trailer circuit. She mentioned that the 2015 Transit wiring diagram is not available so she gave me the 2014. The wiring diagram did not match our vehicle exactly, but I was able to decipher the wires of the system. With the understanding of the factory wiring diagram and some of the websites for aftermarket tow/trailer equipment (etrailer, Hopkins), I was able come up with the need wiring to install this Ford tow/trailer electrics kit (FK4Z15A416A). I tested the tow/trailer 4-way connector with a LED 4-way flat tester. The LT/RT/Brake on the LED tester lights up as expected. I was not able to test the 7-way connector because I do not have the trailer brake controller install.

I have to make a 6-wires jumper harness between the new trailer module jumper connector (under the van at the driver seat location) and the tow socket jumper (under the van at the right side rear of vehicle near the rear axle). One of the six wire in my jumper harness will go all the way to the engine compartment to pick up the reverse signal per SVE Bulletin Q-227R1. The harness will be approximately 10 feet long except for the one reverse wire that will be 16 feet long. My only problem now is find the mating connectors to the kit jumper harnesses. Otherwise I will have to cut the connectors off the kit jumper harnesses and splice the wires together.

I really want to find the mating connectors but do not know where to start. Would someone have the information of how and where to get these mating connectors?

 

. . .
While I was at the dealer, I spoke to the part counter lady about my problem with the wiring harness. She was able to provide me with some wiring diagram of the 2014 Transit tow/trailer circuit. She mentioned that the 2015 Transit wiring diagram is not available so she gave me the 2014.

There was no full size 2014 Transit manufactured in the United States, so it is unclear what the counter lady was referring to IMO. Perhaps you got information relating to a Transit made in Europe in 2014?


You also asked: "Would someone have the information of how and where to get these mating connectors?"

The answer to your last question is to go to a Ford dealer, again in my opinion.

[and yes, I realize this solution is circular . . . ]

 

Ahh crap. This aint good news..
murphys law says mine probably wont be an easy install either..

 

Hatchet,

I have completed the installation for the tow/trailer wiring harness for my vehicle. I just need to find some time to draw up the wiring diagram for the modified harness and post the information here. The Ford dealer even did the necessary software update for me without any cost.

 

Any details on the software update kenjent? I am dealing with this on a 2016 Transit 150. Before I knew about the kit (FK4Z-15A416-A) I worked with my dealer parts guy to order three pieces from the kit. He sold me the trailer tow module, module jumper, and the socket jumper. My van had the fuel tank harness and the main harness so I installed everything and ended up with everything but parking lights. I don't care about reverse or brake control.

Then I took the van to the service department. Hours later he said the hotline told him I needed to buy FK4Z-15A416-A (he thought it was a brake controller). He said it was needed before they could reflash to make the parking lights work. I didn't know enough at the time to tell him I HAD most of the kit installed already.

Any ideas how to tell him to do the software update? I don't think they even tried, but would it make a difference that I don't have the brake control harness?

 

Right on ken, Ill keep checking in on this thread.

 

Document Used For Installation Of Trailer Hitch Electrics Kit (FK4Z15A416A):
SKFK4J-15A416-AA 2015 Auxiliary Brake Control Installation
Q-227R1 SVE Bulletin 2015 MY Transit Reverse Signal Access
Ford Transit 2015 Body and Equipment Mounting Manual
Issue Of Installation For Vehicle Built Before 1/18/15:
Missing wiring harness and connectors between Trailer Module Jumper and Tow Socket Jumper harness.
Missing Reverse Signal wire.
Detail Of Modified Harness:
The vehicle is missing wiring harness between the Trailer Module Jumper and Tow Socket Jumper. The vehicle also is missing the Reverse Signal wire (See Q-227R1 SVE Bulletin).
There are 6 wires in the connector for the Tow Socket Jumper harness (under the van at the right side rear of vehicle near the rear axle). These 6 wires need to be connected to the Trailer Module Jumper harness.
There are 4 wires in the Trailer Module Jumper harness (under van at the driver seat location). The Trailer Brake Control harness provide 1 wire (Electric Brake Power). The Reverse Signal (from engine compartment) provide 1 wire. These 6 wires need to be connected to the Tow Socket Jumper Harness.
Cut the connectors off the kit jumper harnesses and splice the wires together. See the attached wiring diagram. I used the watertight heat-shrink butt splice connectors for all splice.
When adding the reverse signal wire per Q-277R1 Bulletin you will need the DU2Z-14474-FA Service Kit. The kit has the pin/wire that you will add to the specified open slot in the connector. The connector is in the engine bay just aft of the LH head lamp assy. You only need one pin, but you have to buy it in a package of 5 from Ford. You are welcome to to have my extra pin/wire if you need one.
I will add pictures of the installation when available.

 

So I have been discussing this with my ford dealer - almost $300 for the ford parts!

I am thinking an aftermarket wiring kit that splices into the tail lights will be the best way to go here.

 

Hatchet,

I am not sure what you are getting for the $300. I paid $131 for the Ford wiring kit from the local Ford dealer. The tow bar is $248.

I did look into the after market option. The cost for the after market kit with the 7/4 tow connector that fit into the Ford tow bar will cost close to the Ford wiring kit anyway.

I am with you about the need to get this tow package upfront if possible. It sure would have save me a lot of labor time installing this kit afterward.

 

Just want to add some pics of the installation.


The 1st pic show the new Ford hitch with the 7/4 trailer connector.


The 2nd pic shows the mounting of the tow/trailer module on aft side of driver side stepwell.


The 3rd pic is shows the area under the steering wheel with the trailer brake connector on the right side next to the fuse box.


The 4th pic shows the driver side headlight removed for adding reverse signal wire.


The 5th pic shows the closeup of the reverse signal black wire added to the lower right side of the connector.

 

I'll be doing this work soon, of course my van was manufactured 12/14 so without your writeup and pics this would have taken 3 times as long. Thanks kenjent for saving me a ton of headache.

 

When and if you are adding the reverse signal wire per Q-277R1 Bulletin, you will need the DU2Z-14474-FA Service Kit. It is just the electrical pin with wire pigtail for the connector and heat shrink. I have some extra of these. You are welcome to it if you need it.

 

Hey Guys,

After reading this post I ordered the FK4Z-15A16-A kit from my local Ford Dealer. I'm a little confused where some of the wiring goes but here is where I'm at.

I installed the tow module in the rear of the drivers side foot well. I installed the two spare plugs in the tow module location to the tow module. I installed the pig tail jumper plug between the tow module and the plug located just under the driver near the fuel tank. Installed the rear harness extension near the rear axle and connected to the trailer tow plug and grounded the rear harness extension at the preferred grounding point. At this point I actually have brake lights and left/right signals but no parking/tail lights. I'm actually seeing a 2.5ish VDC constant on the tail light circuit.

I still haven't connected the two other harness as I expected them to be for the brake module and for the 30A 12VDC power at the large tow plug.Plus I have no information as to where they connect. Do you know if they are required for tail lights or why I'm getting the 2.5VDC constant on the tail light circuit? Could the ECM need to be reprogrammed after the trailer tow module is installed?

Thanks for your help
Ryan

 

Ryan,

According to the installation instructions for the kit, the vehicle needs to be programmed to recognized that the Trailer Module is installed. Hope the programming will solve your issues. Let us know your out come.

 

Anybody know where the green wire for the trailer brake control goes under the dash?

 

This is a quote from the installation manual:
"Splice the Light Green wire from the TBC harness to the White/Green brake output circuit wire at the BCM connector C2280C Pin 68."


The BCM connector is in the forward area of the fuse box just to the left of the steering wheel column. Take a look at the second picture of post 29. If you look carefully, you can see the single green wire above the brake controller harness just to the left of the steering wheel.

 

Just got quotes from two local stealerships to reflash the computer to recognize the TCM, one was $165 and three weeks out and the other was $240 and two weeks out. I'm starting to think splicing into the tail light harness wasn't such a bad idea after all.

That seems absolutely absurd for a technician to hook the van up to the computer, then push a button. Is there any way to DIY this?

The bulletin seems to indicate that the reflash is necessary to turn on the reverse signal, if that's all I get for $240 then I can live without it.

 

[snip]
The bulletin seems to indicate that the reflash is necessary to turn on the reverse signal, if that's all I get for $240 then I can live without it.

Does your trailer have back up lights? Mine does not FWIW.

 

After some time driving with the trailer I have noticed that the brake control is a little flakey, it always recognizes that the trailer is connected but only applies brake volts intermittently. It could be a bad connection at the trailer but it would seem that the TBC would show that the trailer was not connected.

Other possibility is that the brake signal from the van (white/green wire from BCM) is weak or incorrect. Controller is a Tekonsha Primus. Any ideas?

 

Most likely a bad connection- I've had several instances over the years of the 7-way blades on the trailer end getting tarnished.

Might inspect the trailer plug and clean, I presume your vehicle end is new and this shouldn't be an issue there.

Another thing you can do is make sure the trailer end contacts are tight- sometimes you can carefully re-tension them with a small screwdriver...other times it is just easier to just replace the connector.

The 7-way connectors are really a poor design- there is another 7-way design that uses round pins with much more contact tension and much better contact wiping when inserted and removed- but, alas, we are stuck with the traditional 7-way.

If you think about it the trailer end gets a poor life- left open out in the rain, dropped in the dirt often etc..

 

So, I dont tow anything large. Therefore a flat 4 pin is all I need. Had a local shop install the flat 4 wiring for 120 bucks. Mostly labor cost. Much better than the 600 ford wanted

 

Resolve what very well "could be a bad connection at the trailer" & as always on trailer brakes confirm ground.