Has anyone successfully installed an aftermarket brake controller on a 2020+?

I've searched but was surprised to not find my exact issue. My 2020 SR5's IBC died after a few months of ownership. The truck didn't sense the trailer being there at all despite the trailer working fine with other vehicles. I decided to just cut to the chase and get the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite that I loved in my 4Runner and was happy to see the 2020 tundra harness was available.

So, went to install today and couldn't for the life of me find the typical white trailer brake plug in any of the places it's shown in slightly older Tundra videos. FINALLY found it up in the left kick area with all of the other harnesses. Plugged it in and it seemed to be working but suddenly my TPMS light would do the full minute of blinks and my push button ignition wouldn't function properly, along with my fob not being able to lock or unlock the truck.

Anyway, I'm pretty bent out of shape and was just wondering if anyone else has been able to get an aftermarket controller to work in a newer Tundra? Sure wish the OEM one was dependable. Thanks in advance.

 

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I remember a few years ago I read guys taking out the factory setup and adding a Tekonsha P3 and the dash bracket. I think this guy made the mount plate, but you can buy it.

Toyota Tundra Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller w/ Custom Bracket Mount (3rd Gen) - YouTube

 

I know you already bought a new one, but there were some TSBs to fix the factory controller. Here is one I had saved. Dealer should have fixed it under warranty.

 

Yours is the first thread I've seen where someone had a problem locating 2018+ IBC harness connector. Did you check out 2018+ brake controller installation threads?

For 2018, OEM IBC harness connector was relocated from near steering column (2015-2017) to behind the dash on the passenger-side, high above kick panel. I think you may have coincidentally plugged into an identical harness connector on the drivers side. Doesn't make any sense that they would change the location again so close to end of model run.

Here is a thread for trailer brake controller install on 2018 4.6L. OP shows 2018 relocated IBC connector in first post. I'm betting your IBC connector is still in the same location. Since you have the factory IBC, that harness connector will have the IBC harness plugged in. If I'm wrong, sorry for confusing the issue.

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

 

Yeah, I took it in the other day and they wanted to keep it for days and try to investigate. Didn't give me a lot of confidence and I just can't get over the endless online unhappiness with the OE IBCs. Doing a huge trip this summer and pulling my trailer over the Million Dollar Highway with my kid. I just don't want to worry about poor performance or the unit just blinking out like it did before. What a nightmare. Thanks, man.

 

HA! Yes, finally found that thread before bed last night. That is the single most helpful bit of info related to all of this that seems to be on the internet. I guess what confused me so badly was all the harnesses on the market with 2018+ compatibility that are in no way compatible. Definitely threw me off looking for a solution in the wrong place.

And yeah, there is an identical connector on the driver's side that apparently control TPMS and ignition/locks. So glad I didn't fry something.

Thanks for posting this. I was going to get up and delete this thread but couldn't figure out how.

 

Congrats on good luck not frying something.

Disconnect your battery ground cable for the Redarc install. Unplug the IBC at the connector. Make black wire and blue wire connections at the harness connector as shown, connect ground and brake sense wire. Reconnect battery ground cable. Annoying schizophrenic messages from OEM IBC should be gone

 

Yep, you just laid out the afternoon I had planned. Thanks! What about snipping the 2 wires as was mentioned to keep future error messages from popping up?

 

I have a 2017, so have no personal experience with 2018+ installation.

IIRC, others have reported that disconnecting the battery before doing an aftermarket controller install causes the ECM to boot up on reconnect without recognizing the IBC if it is unplugged. My understanding is this eliminates any brake controller integration or false messages.

Personally, I would try this first after disconnecting the IBC, but this may require you to go back in if I'm wrong. If you want to leave the IBC in place, and plugged in, then let others' experience be your guide; i.e. snip the wires.

 

That was my experience, just tucking away the IBC and unhooking the battery. Thanks. I have a plan now.

 

Welp, after all of that the Redarc just pulses blue when pushed which apparently means it can't sense the trailer's brakes. Good times.

 

Reporting back. Trailer brakes ended up having issues. Once they were fixed the truck now recognizes that a trailer is attached and the Redarc KINDA works. Actually seems to work perfectly up to about "4" out of 10 on the dial. But any hard braking after that gives me the dreaded trailer brake error that then disables a lot of collision system functionality and won't stop reminding me until I restart the truck.

Anyway, I still have the OE IBC tucked behind the dash. I never snipped any wires. I was hoping to keep OEM wiring intact for a while but at this point I just want to use the Redarc and not get that error anymore. I drove the Million Dollar Highway towing my trailer with my son, in the rain, and it did okay and I don't ever expect to drive anything scarier than that but I want to not think about this damn thing anymore and just use it.

 

Hello all. Been reading and reading. Currently in vacation in CT after driving 15.5 hours with intermittent trailer brakes. I am getting the warning of trailer error or something like that. I am not getting the trailer disconnected message. I have to drive back to Indiana in like 5 days dragging this 6k wind sail of a camper. What in the hell do I do to get home with a working trailer break system. My taco worked like a champ with my tekonsha controller.

 

Look at post #3. See if a local dealer will do the calibration from the tsb.

 

That is not for a ‘21 MY. I plan on calling the local Toyota dealer at 7:30am tomorrow but after reading all of the horror that peeps have been going through I am not confident. Thanks for the reply however.