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Factory brake controller issues.

Discussion in 'Towing & Hauling' started by bj46-taco-tundra, May 14, 2016.

  1. Aug 30, 2016 at 3:04 PM
    #31
    DevilSquid91

    DevilSquid91 New Member

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  2. Sep 11, 2016 at 4:34 AM
    #32
    Retired Recruiter

    Retired Recruiter 2016 trd limited tundra

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    just hooked up my p2, didnt realize they made a panel for it, after my hand quits bleeding, maybe ill look into the panel change out, is it difficult to remove that panel without losing 7 more layers of skin?
     
  3. Sep 11, 2016 at 8:19 AM
    #33
    DevilSquid91

    DevilSquid91 New Member

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    I agree, the trim removal tools xome in handy for a lot of other things as well and only cost 10 to15 dollars. If you can't wait on those, a plastic plaster spatula would work in a pinch. But if you have the harness, install only takes about 15 mins.
     
  4. Sep 11, 2016 at 9:38 AM
    #34
    Tracker

    Tracker New Member

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    I towed a 5k lbs trailer about 700 miles this summer with my 2016. I didnt notice any issues. Could it by my truck brakes just did a great job then? It was my first tow with trailer brakes so I'm not sure how its supposed to feel when braking. Everything felt normal and it braked really well. I didnt have any hard brakes though.
     
  5. Sep 11, 2016 at 6:24 PM
    #35
    Retired Recruiter

    Retired Recruiter 2016 trd limited tundra

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    i will say, my truck had very little brake help from the trailer, when i used the manual lever i could feel the trailer drag me down, couldnt feel any drag at max output of fact controller
     
  6. Sep 12, 2016 at 1:41 AM
    #36
    mverkaik

    mverkaik New Member

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    The truck brakes work pretty dang good on these things.
    Moving from a P3 to the factory unit I noticed a difference but assumed it to be a difference in controllers. After a couple of hard brakes and the west side of the Bighorn mountains that I knew the IBC did nothing at all.
     
    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  7. Sep 12, 2016 at 9:58 AM
    #37
    DevilSquid91

    DevilSquid91 New Member

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    @Tracker - since the weight was well below the truck's GVWR, you probably didn't feel much if anything from the trailer. My travel trailer is just over 7k unladen and having made the haul from San Marcos, CA to Parker Dam through the grades in 29 stumps using just the factory IBC and then switching to the P3 after a close call, I definitely notice the difference.
     
  8. Sep 13, 2016 at 8:58 PM
    #38
    Retired Recruiter

    Retired Recruiter 2016 trd limited tundra

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    yea seems like sumone would have fig out how to increase the output on the ibc by now, when my knuckles heal from my last excursion under the dash i just mite yank that pos otta there and experiment with it
     
  9. Sep 24, 2016 at 4:20 PM
    #39
    Digiscoper

    Digiscoper New Member

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    Replaced IBC with P3
    After reading about the problems with the 2016 IBCs, I decided to not even try the IPJ (Integrated Piece of Junk) and buy a P3. We've had great luck with the Prodigy in our old 4Runner, and even if they get the integrated one working, it's time-delay, not proportional. I found the same replacement panel mentioned in a post above, Under Seat Storage | ESP Truck Accessories that, with some great help from Earl of ESP Truck Accessories, was really easy to install. I've attached a photo of the P3 installed (I see I need to take the protective plastic off the screen). We've got 997 miles on our new truck, and as soon as we can get our old Equalizer hitch set up for the Tundra, we'll be ready to tow. We're loving the truck so far, and without the Tundra forums I don't think we would have been nearly as happy with it when we tried to tow.

    A great tip that Earl shared with me was to disconnect the positive terminal of the battery before removing the old panel, which gives it the 5 minutes it needs to reset and not get an error message. When I finished the install and reconnected the battery, the brake controller screen was gone from the series of display screens you can toggle through on the console, and you just use the screen on the P3 for all readout.
     
    driverdog, MotoTundra and 757TUNDRA like this.
  10. Sep 25, 2016 at 7:38 AM
    #40
    havasubud

    havasubud Owner ESP Truck Accessories Vendor

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    Factory Tube Steps, TraiFX tri fold tonneau cover
    It was good talking to you yesterday Tara. I am glad I was able to help you out. I was excited when the IBC came out, but because I have a 2014, there is no way to retrofit it to make it work. I am glad it doesn't work for mine. We have plenty of these P3 and P2 panels in stock, so if anyone has any questions, feel free to call me at 951-858-3418. Or you can go to the website at www.esptruck.com
     
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  11. Sep 25, 2016 at 9:05 AM
    #41
    Digiscoper

    Digiscoper New Member

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    Replaced IBC with P3
    Thanks again for all your help Earl. A great product AND great customer service!

    We just hooked the truck up to our ~5,000 camper so we could move it back under our pole barn, and everything worked great. You just can't beat the Tekonsha brake controllers. Too bad Toyota didn't partner with them for the integrated unit. For anyone looking for the panel for the P3, when you look at the photos on the ESPtruck.com site, it shows the P2 in the photo for the P3 panel, but I received the P3 panel that I ordered.
     
    Roman and NewImprovedRon like this.
  12. Sep 26, 2016 at 2:28 PM
    #42
    Roman

    Roman Toyota Parts Master Vendor

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    Earl is great guy. I've sold many of those panels to them, and the work they do is top notch.
     
  13. Sep 28, 2016 at 8:27 AM
    #43
    signalbobby

    signalbobby New Member

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    Robert
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    this past weekend i fixed my trailer brakes. the ground was broken.

    i used the IBC on electric mode and with gain at 5 to 5.5 you can definitely feel it pull during braking. i didn't like how it pulled the truck so i brought it back down to 4.5. this is a trailer with almost 8K with trailer + skid steer.

    the IBC is working great for me.
     
  14. Sep 28, 2016 at 9:36 AM
    #44
    signalbobby

    signalbobby New Member

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    It was on the trailer. The grounding nut backed out and therefore the ground wire terminals werent touching the trailer at all. I had to file down some more paint to make sure it was making 100% positive contact.

    My IBC definitely does brake hard if i turn the gain up. I turned the gain up to 6.5 and did a test brake from 45mph to almost dead stop at full pedal and i could hear the trailer tires trying to lock up.

    I will try it later when I load up the trailer with skidsteer + skidcrane. That will tip the total towing weight over 10K....
     
    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  15. Oct 16, 2016 at 3:24 PM
    #45
    Dgreen54

    Dgreen54 New Member

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    Has anyone tried the brake control setup process located in the owner's manual (p241-242)? I had the same problems when I first started towing with the IBC; all or nothing. However, when I perform the steps located in the owner's manual, the brake control works fine.
     
    MotoTundra and NewImprovedRon like this.
  16. Oct 16, 2016 at 3:27 PM
    #46
    ldale

    ldale New Member

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    Tried it their way......Works fine as a paper weight.

    My P2 has the stopping under Control.
     
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  17. Oct 16, 2016 at 9:05 PM
    #47
    bj46-taco-tundra

    bj46-taco-tundra [OP] New Member

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    The simple fact is that the factory brake controller is not putting out the corect voltage and thus will not provide the brakes on the trailer with enough power to let the trailer brakes do their job properly
     
  18. Oct 28, 2016 at 4:58 AM
    #48
    Dgreen54

    Dgreen54 New Member

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    I have a 2016 Tundra and I tow a 30ft travel trailer (roughly 6500 pounds). I admit, when I first setup the IBC, it activated the output to "all-in" no matter what gain I set it at but after I followed the owner's manual "to the letter", things were different. I have it set at 2.5 and it's relatively smooth (as far as any IBC goes). The output doesn't go from 0 to 100, like it did when I first set it up... it actually increases output based on the brake pressure I apply. My advise, follow the owner's manual. I believe the programming is VERY specific and unless you're strict with the setup, it won't work properly.
     
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  19. May 11, 2017 at 8:34 AM
    #49
    757TUNDRA

    757TUNDRA Not a New Member

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    Add me to the list of those with an ineffective IBC. I held out hope the factory IBC would work but I followed the owner's manual step-by-step at least a dozen times and my camper's brakes were still ineffective using it. I tried every combination of possible settings and never did feel like I could trust the IBC. I had a P2 on my '13 Tacoma that worked perfectly ... guess I should have kept the P2. Anyway, I ordered a P3 and ESP's Mounting Kit last night so I should have an effective braking system in about a week.
     
  20. May 11, 2017 at 9:33 AM
    #50
    joonbug

    joonbug °°°°°°°°°°

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    Yeah, wish I had a trailer to try it on.
     
  21. Jun 6, 2017 at 8:21 PM
    #51
    DrusTundra

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    I just got the BRAKE CONTROLLER ERROR. IF TOWING, COME TO A SAFE STOP WITH MANUAL CONTROLS. CONTACT DEALER. Message. Thankfully, I was not towing at the time. The speedometer started to malfunction, same with the fuel gauge. Im planning to take it in to the dealer tomorrow first thing, does anyone know if there is any danger in driving like this??



    IMG_4401.jpg
     
  22. Jul 2, 2017 at 7:42 PM
    #52
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 New Member

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    For those of you that ditched the ibc, was an aftermarket unit plug and play? I just picked up a new trailer and with my gain at 10 I can't get the trailer tires to even lock up. I have a trip in a month pulling a 4k load on this trailer and I would like ttyl have brakes so looking into options.
     
  23. Jul 2, 2017 at 7:50 PM
    #53
    ColoradoTJ

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    Should be plug and play.
     
  24. Jul 2, 2017 at 8:21 PM
    #54
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 New Member

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    A
    Awesome, shame that the ibc is crap, looks like I will yank it out and order the panel from esp to mount aftermarket unit in that spot. I read where some have had better braking with the ibc when set to electric over hydraulic, I didn't text this with mine but if braking was better any harm in running that setting for electric only brakes?
     
  25. Jul 2, 2017 at 9:19 PM
    #55
    ColoradoTJ

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    I'm not sure why having a brake controller set to hydraulic braking system would work better since this is a total different braking system (mechanical vs electrical). Hell, maybe that is the problem...lol
     
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  26. Jul 2, 2017 at 9:48 PM
    #56
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 New Member

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    I agree seems odd but I have been reading through threads on this issue and many can get good braking with the gain set at 5 if they choose the electric over hydraulic mode. Your right, maybe Toyota has something programmed incorrectly on these. Surprising to see they haven't issued any TSB or recall to address this issue yet.
     
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  27. Jul 2, 2017 at 10:26 PM
    #57
    havasubud

    havasubud Owner ESP Truck Accessories Vendor

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    As long as you purchase the correct harness for it, yes it will be plug and play. Five minute install.
     
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  28. Jul 2, 2017 at 10:38 PM
    #58
    ColoradoTJ

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    Well I hope the electric mode works better than hydraulic mode on a trailer with electric brakes....:D

    Hydraulic mode should only give you marker, brake and turn signal lights. Everything else is mechanical. Remember the 4 prong plug in older trucks or other vehicles without braking axles? This essentially makes your 7 prong plug perform the same.

    This has been disappointing to say the least when it comes to towing performance. This is one of the issues that dings the Tundra pretty good in caparison tests. This can't be that hard to engineer a brake controller that works.
     
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  29. Jul 3, 2017 at 5:43 AM
    #59
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 New Member

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    Well looks like I'm going to order up the p3 brake controller, seems to be the best out there. Am I going to unplug the factory controller and use that harness for the p3 or is there another connector somewhere? Anyone have any trouble after unplugging the factory controller if that's the appropriate install?
     
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  30. Jul 4, 2017 at 10:39 AM
    #60
    ColoradoTJ

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    I uploaded a short video on how a factory brake controller should work.



    So you can see, brake controller is set to 5.5 on the gain, and modulates on braking needs.
    This was towing 8500 lbs.
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2017
    NewImprovedRon likes this.

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