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Tekonsha Brake Controller

Discussion in 'Towing & Hauling' started by Ike74, Jan 24, 2019.

  1. Jan 24, 2019 at 9:56 AM
    #1
    Ike74

    Ike74 [OP] New Member

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    Hey guys,

    PSA here:

    If you remember I bought a Tenkonsha P2 for my truck, because the on board brake controller does not read my trailer anymore (when nothing has changed, so frustrating). I have not yet installed said controller because there is no connector for it. I reached out to Tenkonsha and they responded they are not making a connector for the 2018-2019 models because there is no brake wire in the stock plug. Then they provided a diagram on how to wire it in. It sucks they won't make a connector, but at least they provided the one thing I needed to hook the current one up with . . . a wiring diagram.
     
    Patch999 likes this.
  2. Jan 24, 2019 at 9:58 AM
    #2
    Ike74

    Ike74 [OP] New Member

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    Here is the document if anyone needs it.
     

    Attached Files:

    040Tundra and stuckinohio like this.
  3. Jan 24, 2019 at 11:33 AM
    #3
    040Tundra

    040Tundra Teddy 2013-2019

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    A little of this and a little of that.
  4. Jan 24, 2019 at 12:27 PM
    #4
    Tracy Perry

    Tracy Perry New Member

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    I don't know what they are calling a brake wire, but looking at the 7 pin harness on the truck it clearly shows a connector for electric brakes.
    When I hooked a tester up to it, it did not come on solid when the brakes were applied but did quick pulses of electricity that went through it.
    What they may mean is that the interior plug (normally the one in the drivers side kick panel) that you connect to with a pre-made harness may not be getting some of the feed from the same place in the harness?

    Wonder if the TSC may be sending those pulses. That may explain the pulses while the brakes are activated on the pin that shows as brakes.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2019
  5. Jan 24, 2019 at 12:49 PM
    #5
    TundraTSS19

    TundraTSS19 New Member

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    LED step bar light strips
    I wired up a brake controller on my truck and it was easy. This is the controller and harness I used and you can use the same harness. Well actually it's necessary since it has the additional ground wire. Just remove the factory controller and install the P2. The brake wire you need to tap into with a T tap is right at the brake switch. Easy to get to. Just peel the boot back and it's the tan wire. I routed my brake wire the same as the factory wires that are already going under thrb footwell on the drivers side. The blue wire is the brake wire going to the 7pin connector and the black wire should be 12v+. You can easily verify with a multimeter. It will be hot all the time. Ground the ground cable to anything metal and you're done.

    REESE Towpower 8507111 Brakeman IV Digital Brake Control, Small Compact Design https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017NAH5WK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9sIsCb1EWA208

    Tekonsha 3031-P Trailer Brake Control Harness 2-plug Wiring Adapter - Toyota https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0781KTCPT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_utIsCb9XXDPBK
     
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  6. Jan 24, 2019 at 2:18 PM
    #6
    Tracy Perry

    Tracy Perry New Member

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    There is no adapter harness for the 2018/2019 Tundra yet from Tekonsha. The older harnesses won't work for that reason on anything newer than 2016 as plug and play.. Apparently Toyota changed some wiring up on the system. I'm not even sure that a generic harness could be wired in without some cutting and splicing of the wiring and then what other effects that might have. I'm not crazy about having do wiring that they show in the PDF related above. Some of us are up in age that our bodies don't appreciate crawling around under a truck to run wire that should have been done by the factory.


    On one harness I purchased for the 4Runner required a newer harness with a diode in place to prevent multiple warning lights coming on when you used the manual brake activator.

    There are numerous posts here about the built in controller having issues. One stated that a Toyota rep said that a new software update will be coming out at some time.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2019
  7. Jan 24, 2019 at 3:12 PM
    #7
    TundraTSS19

    TundraTSS19 New Member

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    You're not paying attention. I realize there is no absolute plug and play harness but the harness in link will work with the P2 and you can use it to connect the P2. You will have to remove the other connector end to plug into the factory harness but it will work
     
  8. Jan 24, 2019 at 3:32 PM
    #8
    Tracy Perry

    Tracy Perry New Member

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    Yep... along with some wire running and/or tapping lines, I prefer to solder all my electrical connections on a vehicle if I do anything.
    That's why I prefer plug and play in my old age. Let the younger guys crawl around under the truck. ;)

    What torques me is that you have to go through the hassle of doing it. I purchased the truck for a tow vehicle and due to it having a brake controller built in, not for me to have to buy another controller (actually I already have a Primus IQ in the box) and go through the hassle of installing it.
     
  9. Jan 24, 2019 at 3:34 PM
    #9
    Upgrayedd

    Upgrayedd Toyotaholic

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    That sucks they changed the harness on the new trucks. The P3 was so easy to install on my 2015.
     
  10. Jan 25, 2019 at 1:42 AM
    #10
    TundraTSS19

    TundraTSS19 New Member

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    You only have to run one wire with a T tap to the tan wire at the brake switch which is very easy to see. The rest of it is right there where the factory controller goes. You don't have to run anything else under the vehicle.I don't recommend soldering this at all becaue the tan wire is thin.
     
  11. Jan 25, 2019 at 1:12 PM
    #11
    JaxSmith

    JaxSmith New Member

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    Ouch, this stinks. I've been holding out since last year for a harness to come out for the 2018, but I guess that explains why one hasn't. Looks like we may not be seeing any harnesses for current year Tundras. :-\
     
  12. Jan 26, 2019 at 5:42 PM
    #12
    TundraRunner481

    TundraRunner481 Kinda New Kinda Not

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    I believe I found the tan one you're talking about, there's four tiny wires and one big tan wire for the brake pedal in that boot by the brake pedal. Then I believe I found the big blue wire for the 7 pin in the loom that runs in the channel alongside the seat. If I tap them I would rather tap those bigger gauge wires. I pulled it apart and got to the factory brake controller, and there looked to be about 8 super tiny wires running into the plug. I would rather tap the big ones if I did it, then maybe run a dedicated power wire and ground to the battery and fuse it. I'm thinking those tiny wires coming out of the factory brake controller must run somewhere else and then go to the 7 pin in the back because the gauges are very different.
     
  13. Jan 26, 2019 at 5:57 PM
    #13
    TundraTSS19

    TundraTSS19 New Member

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    Looking at the plug that goes into the factory controller the black wire should be 12+v, blue wire is the signal that goes to the 7 pin connector and then you can ground the eyelet anywhere. Just use a multimeter to check the black wire for the power. You don't need to run a wire off the battery and fuse it. Use what's already there. The tan wire is the ire that goes right to the plug that plugs into the brake switch. It's a thin wire. That's all you need.
     
  14. Jan 26, 2019 at 7:41 PM
    #14
    TundraRunner481

    TundraRunner481 Kinda New Kinda Not

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    Ok sounds good thanks! Did your plug that goes into the factory brake controller have about 8 thin wires going into it? I just wonder what the hell the other wires do!?
     
  15. Jan 26, 2019 at 10:34 PM
    #15
    TundraTSS19

    TundraTSS19 New Member

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    I didn't have a factory brake controller. I have a 2019 Tundra 4.6L. It doesn't come with a tow package. The other wires are probably for dash display communication. Just focus on the wires I stated and that's all you need.
     
  16. Apr 27, 2019 at 4:01 AM
    #16
    OkieBart

    OkieBart New Member

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    I've got a 2019 4.6l and am getting ready to install a Tekonsha P3. I keep seeing references to installing a diode when tapping into the beige brake sense wire.....can anybody expand on what they did? I understand how it works, but what size or value diode did you install, and where did you get it? Thanks
     
  17. Apr 27, 2019 at 10:33 AM
    #17
    TundraTSS19

    TundraTSS19 New Member

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    You don't need a diode. Just t tap the wire to the biege brake signal and your done. I've done mine and it works great
     
    Eric32444 likes this.
  18. Apr 27, 2019 at 2:48 PM
    #18
    Tracy Perry

    Tracy Perry New Member

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    A diode may actually be needed. I know that the original harness provided by Tekonsha for the 4Runner would cause all kinds of dash lights to come on if you used the manual braking slide. A diode put into place by them solved the issue.
     
  19. Apr 27, 2019 at 3:16 PM
    #19
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    At the risk of adding more confusion to this thread (I really do hate it when people do that), the following link is to a thread submitted by a outside installer for adding a Tekonsha controller to a 2018 4.6L Tundra without the tow package.

    https://www.tundras.com/threads/2018-tundra-with-4-6-engine-trailer-brake-install.25884/#post-623604

    I believe the white connector behind the passenger side kick panel in the installer's thread is for connecting the Toyota controller to the main rear body harness when you have the tow package. I haven't looked yet, but I believe that connector is unused on the 4.6L, it's just there. That connector has a large gage blue wire (brake controller output to trailer connector), a large gage black wire (12V), and eighteen additional small gage wires (22 ga?) that probably initiate those annoying messages on your dash.

    For the 4.6L, you can adapt a Tekonsha harness if you remove the white connector that goes to the body harness, and lengthen two wires to reach the passenger side kick panel: the brake output wire and the power wire. These connect to the large blue wire and the large black wire respectively. The small gage wires go unused. The Tekonsha controller brake sense wire goes to the beige wire at the brake switch, and the white Tekonsha wire is grounded to any convenient body metal under the dash.

    If you want to replace your 5.7L factory brake controller with a Tekonsha, it appears to me it's the same installation as on a 4.6L.
     
  20. Apr 27, 2019 at 3:29 PM
    #20
    Eric32444

    Eric32444 "Pick up your balls and load up your cannons..."

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    i followed this....no diode....

    good luck!
     
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  21. Apr 27, 2019 at 5:53 PM
    #21
    TundraTSS19

    TundraTSS19 New Member

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    I'm telling you that you don't need it. I provided a link for the harness and have it installed on my 4.6L tundra and have used it. No dash lights.
     

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