Who has the Tekonsha P3 brake control installed?

Back to the original subject of this thread, if anyone had heard of or had issues with the Tekonsha and the trucks wiring in a 2017 Tacoma I'd really appreciate hearing about it! I'm still being a thorn in Toyota and Tekonsha's side trying to get answers as to why this may have happened...no luck yet.

 

I have a P2 that I used in my 2nd gen and is now in my 3rd gen. Installed in this truck using 3017-p. No issues so far, but the controller doesn't actually get used that much. You've got me thinking I should take it out during the winters when I'm not using it.

Did your meltdown happen while towing something?

Edit: nevermind the question, I found your other thread. Even crazier that you never even towed with the thing! I'm surprised that an expensive tekonsha controller isn't protected from a short like that.

 

fredgoodsell,

i never even got the chance to tow. I had it plugged in and working for a week, but never towed or even hooked anything up in that time. The ground wire in the truck side of the factory plug melted all the way into the main harness bundle and all the way up to the hitch wiring. The Tekonsha pig tails ground wire was completely fine. The trucks wiring was noticeably smaller gauge than the Tekonsha wiring, but people don't seem to have any issues with that from what I've seen.

 

I have one in my Land Cruiser, really great for towing my 8x12 dual axle trailer around. Ask any questions you have. Also I wired everything in myself cause my truck didn't have a harness preinstalled for it so I chose proper gauge of wire for the main brake and power wires.

 

How long after your claim with tekonsha did they come out with the new

$25 3031-p Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller Harness, Compatible with Select Toyota Tacoma, Tundra

3031-p part number?

 

Not long, maybe a few weeks. I was told about a "new part" over the phone. I asked the guy I was speaking with if he knew about this happening ever before, and he hesitantly said something to the effect of: "well, I can say I have seen this one other time."

 

Well shit. Taking my controller out today.

 

Fredgoodsell,

I had a long chat with Tekonsha yesterday. I spoke with a representative and the chief of the electrical engineering department. The part

$25 3031-P Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller Harness, Compatible with Select Toyota Tacoma, Tundra

3031-P is the official replacement for the 3017-P. They seemed very sure that the 3031-P with the extra ground wire is a solution to the problem I had. That said, the issue I had with my truck's ground wire melting, according to the folks at Tekonsha, was a very extraordinary fluke. They told me after inspecting the controller I sent back that the melted wire was caused because of a short within the controller itself. The ground wire on the 2017 Tacoma that leads up to the plug for the controller is very long and a very small gauge, which essentially means that it is not designed properly to take the types of charges that might occur when on rare occasion a controller shorts out. So, the new part (3031-P), which coincidentally was released right after my own debacle with them, should alleviate this issue by sending any juice that might come from a shorted controller directly to the vehicle's frame and not through the dinky little ground wire that Toyota put in their trucks. I am leaning more towards trusting Tekonsha after my talk with them, especially given that I have seen that many other 2017 Tacoma owners have installed the same controller and the old 3017-P harness in their trucks with no issue. Based on what I've heard, the bottom line is this: Toyota did not properly design the Tacoma brake controller plug's ground wire in an electrically sound manner, but shorts in Tekonsha controllers are rare, so using the older 3017-P harness should really not be an issue. However, in the event that the controller does have an internal short, the 3017-P and the truck's factory ground wire will not protect your vehicle from some very expensive damage that Toyota WILL NOT cover (believe me, I made some people there very upset trying to fight them on that). I hope this helps. Cheers!

 

Wow, thanks for the follow up info! That's really helpful. I've taken my P2 out (I don't really tow anything that needs it in the winter anyway). I wonder if Tekonsha will replace 3017 harnesses with 3031 if requested? Their customer service has always been top notch. My dad once broke the manual brake lever on my P2 with his knee after several years of having installed. I emailed them asking to buy a replacement lever (looked like it could be swapped out), and they sent me a brand new controller, no questions asked.

 

You bet! Just offering up what information I can. Tekonsha does have amazing customer service, I will say that. If you remember, let me know how the

$25 3031-P Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller Harness, Compatible with Select Toyota Tacoma, Tundra

3031-P works out for you. It seems pretty solid, but I am still having reservations about putting anything in my truck.

 

When was the

$25 3031-p Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller Harness, Compatible with Select Toyota Tacoma, Tundra

3031-p released?

 

Do you think splicing into the 3017-p ground wire and attaching directly to the frame where the other ground wires are in the same kick panel would alleviate this problem? I just looked up my Amazon order history and have the P3 with the 3017-P wiring harness. Probably safest to just swap out the harness...

Edit.... I just found a photo of the 3031-P on Tekonsha's website HERE (Fun Fact: They don't offer the 3017-P for Tacoma anymore. Sorry, but thanks for the heads up OP!). It appears that the extra ground wire is in the same pin (obviously) as the original ground wire. I will be modding my 3017-P harness to match because it'll be quicker/easier than ordering a new 3031-P. I'll let you all know if my truck burns down . Perhaps it would be a good idea to add an in-line fuse too (amperage?)

Another fun fact....The 3031-P is twice as expensive as the 3017-P on Amazon. Don't be mistaken, I still think $20 insurance is worth not burning down your truck!

New 3031-P connector

 

Looks like the P2 fits a bit better than the P3?

If you use the ESP P3 mounting panel, what supports the P3?

I mounted my P3 in a 2016 DCSB OR by removing the coin bin on the driver's L and screwing the P3 mounting bracket to the underside of the dash just like @Tacoma66 did, but the controller is a bit low and sticks out a bit too far. I have to be real careful entering and exiting or I hit my knee on it.

 

The P3 will fit inside the coin holder pretty snug with no mounting bracket at all. Just a few steps. Remove the coin holder. Make a hole large enough to pass the harness connecter through (I used a dremel). Pass harness through the new hole. Reinstall coin holder. Plug in P3 and push it into the coin cubby. Enjoy the ease of entering and exiting the vehicle with out hitting your knee then go drink a beer.

 

Wow... I just installed mine today and I noticed the controller was getting very warm... I unplugged everything. I don't have the wiring harness to plug directly into the Tacoma brake controller plug so I had to cut it off and just used butt connectors. sounds like I will be relocating the ground wire to the frame of the truck.

*it did strike me odd that the unit powered on when I connected the ground wire

 

Ordered the 3017-P from diesel&truckparts on Amazon for $14.99, then I found this thread. Luckily they sent a

$25 3031-P Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller Harness, Compatible with Select Toyota Tacoma, Tundra

3031-P. I'll put it in this weekend.

 

Thanks to this thread I contacted Tekonsha and explained I hear there was an issue with the 3017 and it has been replaced with the 3031. They contacted me back asking for my full name, address and phone number. They will send me a 3031 no charge as a warranty.

That is customer service that backs up a great product.

 

And I JUST finished replacing my 3017 with a 3031 at my cost! Hmmmph.

 

My new 3031 harness showed up free of charge today. Now that’s customer service.

 

Put my P2 into the 3rd Gen yesterday to get ready for camping season.
Used the new 3031 harness. Mounted it in the same place as it was in the 2nd Gen, tucked up and out of the way but within sight and reach.