Introduction
The innovative 2019 Ford F250 is living up to its name as a large, reliable truck with an impressive towing capacity. However, its clever trailer charging feature has been generally very reliable.
However, there have been some common faults associated with the system that has started to arise. There are several standards and specific issues that are addressed in this article that should be considered when troubleshooting this problem.
2019 F250 Trailer Battery Not Charging
How Does The Trailer Charger Work?
Pulling a trailer is, in principle, a straightforward process. A vehicle is hooked up to the rear of a vehicle which pulls it down roads.
However, in keeping with international safety mechanisms, it is critical that a trailer is equipped with the appropriate brake lights, registration illumination, and indicator lights. It is an essential element to guarantee safety while driving and follow the same safety principles as a vehicle.
Typically, trailers are equipped with an onboard battery, so the lights do not die when the vehicle stops. These are small 12V batteries that provide a small current to the LED lights onboard. This battery is continually charged when it is hitched.
This is performed through the utilization of the vehicle’s alternator and battery system, which feed the trailer battery once enough current is generated. The current is run through a long cable from the engine bay into the trailer, connected to with a 7-pin plug in the F250’s case. It eventually ends up in the trailer’s battery.
Although this is a reasonably simple system, there are several opportunities for faults to occur.
1. The Battery is Compromised
Over time rechargeable batteries of every kind will wear out. This is an unfortunate reality for current battery technology. The lifetime is based predominantly on the battery storage mechanism, volume charge cycles, and the overall time it has been functioning.
Therefore, when a battery is not charging as expected, the first step should be to inspect the health of the battery. Trailers are often used intensely or left for a long period without use. Therefore, they tend to perish sooner than their counterparts, as these are suboptimal operational conditions.
To inspect the battery’s health, use a purpose-built battery tester or a simple multimeter. First, check the voltage has not dropped lower than the indicated charge level, as that will indicate the battery has severely decayed.
For example, a 12-volt battery should not read lower than 12V on a multimeter. If it does, then you can be confident that it has lost its capacity to charge.
The most apparent symptom will be that the lights will fade shortly after movement and grow dimmer over time. Eventually, they will fail altogether regardless of the presence of current between the engine bay and the battery system. The only solution is installing a fresh battery, which should instantly resolve all issues.
2. Is the Pin Connection Compromised?
The critical connection between the trailer and the Ford F250 is the connection pin connect section at the rear of the vehicle. It is a purpose-built plug and socket set up to guarantee a secure connection with robust anti-stretch cables.
However, there is a reason that the pin set-up manufactured explicitly for this circumstance is due to the extreme operational nature at the point of connection. This external cabling experiences the harshest conditions possible. It has to stand up to every form of weather and temperature, which will continually expand and contract the material.
Additionally, it experiences continual impact from the road’s grit and dirt which is flicked up into the connection point.
The pin connection point also provides the perfect opportunity to accidentally over-stretch the cable during the unhitching process. Accidents are common when owners attempt to drive after removing the metal hitch but not the cable. Anti-stretch cabling is explicitly installed due to this high probability scenario.
All of the above examples provide a lot of evidence to suggest that the connection point, although robust, is likely to be the source of the charging issue. The best method of confirming the suspicions is to review the trailer battery first. If the battery holds an appropriate charge, then inspect the pin connection.
It is often very dirty and needs to be cleaned carefully with electricity-safe cleaning supplies. Some customers have indicated that the supplied factory pin connection also lacks the necessary quality to be in keeping with the rest of the F250.
To test the connection, turn the vehicle on and use a multimeter to test the voltage in the pins. This can seem like a daunting task. If you are inexperienced, then it is advisable to contact your local auto-electrical technician. A simple replacement will be required if it is confirmed that it has been damaged.
3. Issues Under the Hood
The alternator in the Ford F250 is powered during the engine’s cycles. The alternator produces a current which traditionally charges the vehicle’s onboard battery. However, when a trailer is attached, the current runs through a relay system, eventually leading to the trailer’s battery.
The relay functions like an electrically charged switch. Once enough energy is passing into
it will switch on. Effectively, the trailer charging relay allows the vehicle battery to charge sufficiently, ensuring it is prime first before energy is sent to the trailer.
Often these relays are under a lot of pressure due to their continual current volatility and harsh operational conditions. They are prone to blowing if there is too large an electrical current passed through them, which is a significant weak point.
This fault has been highlighted continually by Ford F250 owners who claim the relay is of poor quality and fails to easily.
4. Integrated Safety Feature
After making straightforward assessments regarding the most common issues above, there may be a more unusual issue. For example, if all of the connections and the batteries are functioning correctly, then there may be a setup issue.
The Ford 201 F250 has an inbuilt safety feature which could be preventing the trailer battery from charging. As part of the relay set-up, there is a sensor that is triggered when a door is open, which will automatically shut off the current to the trailer.
This is an inbuilt system by Ford as a means to prevent drivers from running their battery to lay during stationary periods. To rectify you can simply ensure that all of the doors of your F250 are when charging the trailer, which will also allow you to charge while stationary.
Conclusion
Ultimately the Ford F250 has some flaws associated with its trailer charging system. There are some typical issues that occur, but for the most part, customers have been satisfied with their experiences. Other than the poor-quality relay and the somewhat unnecessary safety feature, the F250 is an excellent method of transporting a trailer.
Troubleshooting should be completed in the order they are written above to resolve the issue in the most methodical process possible.
