Tekonsha P3 error message

I just installed my Tekonsha P3 brake controller today along with the

$17 3031-P Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller Harness, Compatible with Select Toyota Tacoma, Tundra

3031-P O.E.M wiring harness and dash mount kit. Everything went smoothly but when I start my truck it is giving me an error message saying:
*TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER ERROR CONTACT DEALER*
Has anyone ever seen this or know where I need to go from here to make it function properly? Any info or help is greatly appreciated!

 

I'd probably start by contacting the manufacturer of the brake controller. Maybe check their website for troubleshooting page first. If that leaves you with nothing, call or email them.

 

Tundras can be funny with the stock or other controllers. Did you disconnect battery when installing? Computer may have noticed the change and see it as an error.

Disconnect your battery for a few minutes, check your controller connections and then reconnect the battery, that message may go away.

 

I tried calling the manufacturer yesterday and they were closed as it was Good Friday so I will do some testing and research on my own over the weekend here to see if I can find anything using my multimeter that might be throwing this error code, hopefully it’s something simple!

 

I did not disconnect the battery while installing yesterday as the instructions just said to only make sure the key was in the “off” position while installing. I will try this as it is probably the easiest fix that can be ruled out!

 

Since your truck appears to be a 2016, did it have the factory IBC? I had a 2016 and went round and round with Toyota that the iBC did not function adequately for my trailer, trplace the IBC with a P2, and got the same error as you, but threads back then said that you need to disconnect the battery for a few minutes so the truck does not think the factory IBC is connected when you start it back up. Try it, and see if problem disappears, mine did.

 

^Update^ I finally found a few minutes to pull the Tundra out of the garage and disconnect the battery and check all of my connections, all connections seemed good just as they did when installing yesterday so I’m guessing that disconnecting the battery did the trick allowing the computer to reset and not recognize any changes with the aftermarket controller! Thanks everyone for the advice on helping me find a quick and easy fix! I will give another update here shortly when I go to de-winterize our travel trailer and I will hook up and get it dialed in to give a comparison report to the performance of factory Controller

 

Is your problem resolved still, or did the warnings come back?

 

Problem is completely resolved haven’t had any warnings come back. I towed our travel trailer all the way from Colorado to Washington state and the P3 controller worked 100% better in my opinion compared to the factory brake controller. A must have in my opinion if doing any significant towing especially if there are going to be any steep grades encountered along the way.

 

Surprised that Toyota can't fix the integrated brake controller issue after several years ... Almost as bad as cam tower seep or worse since this should be a simple electronics fix!!!

 

Today I'm going back to the dealer for the 3rd time...

 

I read that there a towing simulator device you can connect and test the IBC. Not sure. How is the dealer testing and saying it is ok?

 

@Yota303

Is yours P3 or T3? I can't find any T3 only P3.

 

It’s a P3 sorry my bad on the typo thanks for catching it. I ordered both the controller, mounting plate and wiring harness adapter on Amazon

controller:
https://www.amazon.com/your-orders/...es=&returnUnitMappingId=&shipmentId=Uh5sH5Kct

mounting plate:

$39 ESP Truck Accessories Brake Controller Mounting Plate for 2014-2019 Toyota Tundra, Black Steel Dashboard Mount

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07HP9GH2W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

wiring harness adapter:

$17 Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller Harness, Compatible with Select Toyota Tacoma, Tundra

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0781KTCPT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

do you like it so far? Must be better than P2.

 

Yes I would definitely recommend. It was night and day difference compared to the factory controller and still had room for more braking power than I needed. I tow a 29 foot travel trailer (2020 Jayco 24mbh) and it provides more than enough response for that size load. I posted links to all of the components I used in an edit of my last response to you. I never really researched the P2 but I would assume it’s the predecessor to the P3 and just might not have as many adjustments or preset options as the P3. The P3 also has a boost feature in the event of emergency braking that I think it senses with over 75% braking power from the vehicle. I can post a picture of what it looks like mounted with the mounting plate tomorrow too if you want.

 

Thanks for the info @Yota303

Is it just plug & play without any other mods?
Does it fit over the factory IBC with no issues?

 

Here’s a link with lots of good info on the P3
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brake-Controller/Tekonsha/90195.html

 

Yes it is completely plug and play with the wiring harness adapter. There is a panel where your factory brake controller is mounted that you can simply pull off (no screws) and that exposes the (4) 10mm bolts to remove the factory controller. The mounting plate then bolts to the panel in the opening (footprint) of the factory controller. 4 small holes are required to be drilled to attach the mounting plate to the panel using provided hardware that comes with the mounting plate. I put the mounting plate in place and held it there and used a 3/16” drill bit to drill the holes exactly where they need to be. One end of the harness adapter plugs into the P3 and the other end connects to the plug that originally went into the factory controller. There is a white ground wire on the adapter harness that you need to connect to an existing grounding point/bolt somewhere on the firewall inside the truck or under the hood in the engine compartment. Other than that it was very simple and took me no more than 30-45 minutes to install.

 

Thanks.

Can't believe they want $41 for the mounting plate!

Wiring adapter is only $19 and very reasonable!

 

Yes the price is a bit steep on the mounting plate for what it is but I allows for a much cleaner install.The hardware is nice low profile Allen screws. It puts it right where you want it for easy access and doesn’t move or get in the way. I’m 6’4 and my knee never even comes close to hitting it. Only downfall in my mind it it makes it semi-permanent so can’t really take it out to use it on another vehicle. There are two screws that attach the controller to the back side of the mounting plate that can only be accessed by removing the entire panel that the plate mounts to, I guess provides some sort of anti theft to it at least.

 

Here’s a few pictures of the P3 installed in my truck

 

how did it go? any improvements?

 

No.

They think the rear differential is going out and spraying the sensor with oil and metal shavings. My truck only has 110k miles on it and I've serviced the truck like clockwork at the same dealer since inception. I'm taking the truck to another mechanic, someone I know personally that services my other cars. I had the dealer change the diff oil. I no longer have the brake error light, but after try 3 that too didn't work as it came back after 200 miles. Oddly enough now, my "Miles before empty" which normally read 430 miles when full tank, now read 600 miles. Ugh, this is awful....

 

I replaced the factory crap controller with the P-2 and esp bezel. What a world of difference! I got the plug and play harness disconnect the battery remove replace the controller, that's it no issues. I can't recommend it enough!

-Jason

 

@Yota303 thanks for this thread. Very useful info!