2015 - post brake controller install problems

Recently I had an RV dealer install a brake controller, using the OEM pigtail connector that was in the glove box ... post installation, my tach & temp gauge don't work, the airbag, skid control & ABS indicator lights are on, and the cruise control indicator lights do not work (cruise functions though). Personal code reader won't communicate with the truck at all, but a mechanic was able to communicate with the airbag and tire pressure sensor computers only - no car computer, no tranny etc.

Everything else works fine; the truck in general, the brake controller, everything on the trailer. I also have an alarm and remote starter installed and that all works.

After going back 'n forth between the RV place, dealer and alarm install place, everything on all installs looking fine, all fuses are good etc ... the only thing we've noticed is there are 5 wires on the truck side of the brake control harness (& pigtail connector), and the brake controller only uses 4. The 5th wire (green) on the pigtail is cutoff about an inch from the plug, not taped or anything. We're thinking this maybe shorted on something, and fried something?

I'm at a loss, looking for some ideas

Thanks in advance!

 

As a disclaimer, I'm not a mechanic or an electrician. I'm pretty good at chasing down electrical gremlins, though I've never done it through proxy. Anyway do these problems go away when NOT connected to the trailer?

My first step would be to disconnect the pigtail altogether and see if this alleviates the symptoms. I wouldn't worry too much about the green wire being cutoff, this is more or less standard practice. Good luck!

 

Thanks!

Yeah, that was the first thing we did when I took it back to the RV dealer, totally disconnected it, nothing changed.

 

Not trying to offend, but are you sure ALL fuses were checked. Under hood and under dash. In particular, the IGN/IG fuses.

 

hey not at all, that's why I posted here and that's a really good point. The fuses were checked by the alarm/starter guy .... I will go through them all myself.

thanks!

 

update - I personally checked all of the fuses and they're all good.

next step in my plan I guess is to have the alarm guy disconnect it, and the remote starter, then disconnect the brake controller, and take it to the dealer.

 

That sucks. I'm guessing the install guy got a little too happy using wire taps and ended up cutting a wire somewhere.

 

Make sure that whoever you went through knows about all the issues, and covers the cost of their screw up.

 

yeah, that's the weird part though ... there's no wiring for the brake controller; you wire the Toyota supplied harness (comes in a plastic bag in the glove box) to the controller, then plug it into the truck ... thats all that was done, and poof all of these instrument panel & OBD problems came up.

 

Did you truck come with a tow package?

Mine did. I have a trailer brake wiring connector located behind the ebrake pedal. All I did was get the correct harness from eTrailer, plug into that connector, and plug into the back of my brake controller. Simple.

The only wiring harness in a plastic bag that I got from Toyota is the rear view camera extension cable.

Perhaps your truck is wired different than mine (also a 2015) - but I would double check the work that was done.

Also, when you check fuses, if you did not use a meter, you might want to. I have seen fuses look good visually and actually be blown.

 

Hey Scott .. yes, it came with the tow package. The tow brake harness did come with the truck, in the glove box, with the rear camera extension cable. It's plugged into the connector behind the e-brake pedal.

I'll try a meter on the fuses before I go any further; thanks for the tip!