OEM trailer brake controller and wiring

[austingta]

Sure would be useful to have..

 

I wish my truck came with it.. (and the 3.42s to actually pull something...)

 

Sadly.. the random used truck on the lot didn't.

 

This bcm lockdown thing kinda burns my bacon a little bit. If I wanna put GM parts on my GM truck and have GM install the accessories, what's the problem? Why be a jerk about it? I mean I'm spending my money elsewhere here.. it's not like someone other than a billionare's gonna go "WHELP, time to trade the truck since it doesn't have a brake controller!" GM is LOSING MONEY with this approach.

My guys at my audio shop can do anything that is possible by jumpering the BCM under the steering wheel. They are amazing.

[TJay74]

You cant "jumper" anything on the BCM in regards to some of the programming changes needed to enable features. Some of those features are straight out software changes that need to happen in order for the features to be turned on and for them to work.

 

Case in point, the factory brake controller, when you make adjustments to the gain it shows up on the display cluster. You wont get that from jumpering anything.

[TigerTW0014]

Sorry to re-ignite an old topic but needed to vent.

 

First off, I love this forum, you guys talk about anything and everything. Never thought I'd have found someone trying to do the factory look with the brake controller like myself, and actually have a thread about it.

 

Secondly, darkfox hit the nail on the head with a WTF to GM.

 

Thirdly, and my main point, all the damn wiring and connectors are already there.. If the truck is being marketed as a truck, and capable of towing, and blah blah blah.. Put the damn controller in all of them - standard equipment -. It probably costs them what? $20? And eliminates the need for a cubby trim piece, there's part of the $20 back, along with eliminating the need for additional programming for non-trailer brake trucks.. Hell, GM would save money!

[mjj]

I agree with Darkfox and TigerTW0014. WTF GM. Let your dealerships make money on upgrades. Geesh. It's hard to find that perfect truck. Not everyone can custom order one up. Sometimes we realize we want something more later. Tow mirrors, brake control, backup camera, etc. $ $ $ that the dealers are missing out on cus GM won't let em reprogram. I guess I needed to vent too.

[Matthew Kashima]

Thank you for the prompt reply, I am surprised to hear that.

I Think it can be done. I was taking the panel off where the light and 4wd dials are it it looks that it is wired in my truck, but it does not have the controller. I found the controller and the panel on IAMGMPARTS.com and i ordered them for $80 combined. Ill let y'all know if it works

[JRL1164]

I Think it can be done. I was taking the panel off where the light and 4wd dials are it it looks that it is wired in my truck, but it does not have the controller. I found the controller and the panel on IAMGMPARTS.com and i ordered them for $80 combined. Ill let y'all know if it works

 

I haven't tried it myself, I didn't want to be the guinea pig. But from what I've researched the truck won't recognize it because the BCM isn't programmed to recognize it. It isn't plug and play. However I still want to hear from you if it works.

[Matthew Kashima]

 

I haven't tried it myself, I didn't want to be the guinea pig. But from what I've researched the truck won't recognize it because the BCM isn't programmed to recognize it. It isn't plug and play. However I still want to hear from you if it works.

Hell if it doesn't work then ill take it to the dealer and see if there is anyway that the can program it work, if not the truck is under warranty. Maybe the dealer will be naive and do whatever they can to make it work. But either way GM is slacking big time.

[TJay74]

Man are you seriously that dense to push aside everything that was posted in this thread. I can promise you and will guarantee you that your dealer will absolutely not be able to do one thing to get this to work, GM engineering issued out a very specific bulletin addressing this very issue saying if the truck was not optioned with the factory trailer brake controlled that it absolutely cant be added after the fact. Warranty has nothing and will do nothing in regards to making this work, the VIN of your truck is plugged into the GMVIS system and tells the dealer every option your truck had as it left the factory.

 

I have verified this and confirmed this with a very high up person with GM and several of the engineers on the GM truck line.

 

GM does not allow the dealer to flash the BCM with any other calibration than the one it was shipped with, that along with part of the harness and a module is missing in the rear of the truck as well. So now that you see this info you will find out no matter what parts you have in hand and installed in the truck, the dealer cant program the BCM, you are missing part of the chassis harness and a module in the rear of the truck. So the project of putting the factory trailer brake controller is done and you just wasted $80+ dollars and the dealers time trying to con them into doing something that has already been fully vetted and verified to not be able to be done.

 

Sorry to sound harsh, I guess you just like throwing money into the wind and away. We will still accept you though when you come back and say we all were right as you plug in your aftermarket trailer brake controller under your dash and then try to sell the parts you bought in the classifieds.

Edited December 17, 2015 by TJay74

[RGH1978]

Hell if it doesn't work then ill take it to the dealer and see if there is anyway that the can program it work, if not the truck is under warranty. Maybe the dealer will be naive and do whatever they can to make it work. But either way GM is slacking big time.

Not to discount anything that TJay74 is saying but If I were you and already had the part I'd give it shot. What's the worst that could happen? The dealer sends you home and says it won't work and you can tell TJay74 he was right. At least at that point the proof is in the pudding and your not just taking someone's word for it. Best case senario it works and myself and everyone else out there that wants to do this will know what needs to be done to make it happen.

 

Good luck Matthew!!!

Edited December 22, 2015 by RGH1978

[Matthew Kashima]

Man are you seriously that dense to push aside everything that was posted in this thread. I can promise you and will guarantee you that your dealer will absolutely not be able to do one thing to get this to work, GM engineering issued out a very specific bulletin addressing this very issue saying if the truck was not optioned with the factory trailer brake controlled that it absolutely cant be added after the fact. Warranty has nothing and will do nothing in regards to making this work, the VIN of your truck is plugged into the GMVIS system and tells the dealer every option your truck had as it left the factory.

 

I have verified this and confirmed this with a very high up person with GM and several of the engineers on the GM truck line.

 

GM does not allow the dealer to flash the BCM with any other calibration than the one it was shipped with, that along with part of the harness and a module is missing in the rear of the truck as well. So now that you see this info you will find out no matter what parts you have in hand and installed in the truck, the dealer cant program the BCM, you are missing part of the chassis harness and a module in the rear of the truck. So the project of putting the factory trailer brake controller is done and you just wasted $80+ dollars and the dealers time trying to con them into doing something that has already been fully vetted and verified to not be able to be done.

 

Sorry to sound harsh, I guess you just like throwing money into the wind and away. We will still accept you though when you come back and say we all were right as you plug in your aftermarket trailer brake controller under your dash and then try to sell the parts you bought in the classifiedIf

It didn't work. I figured it would be worth a shot, but anyway I needed the other bezel to mount Rocker Switches.

Thanks for the reply

[RGH1978]

It didn't work. I figured it would be worth a shot, but anyway I needed the other bezel to mount Rocker Switches.

Thanks for the reply

When you went to the dealer did it go down just like TJay74 said it would?

[TJay74]

You all are missing the fact that this has already been tested, several 2014 already went down the very road you all are asking about in this thread. That is how they found out from GM that if it was not optioned from the factory then it wont work, shortly after that GM made the harness available for people to run the aftermarket brake controllers.

[Matthew Kashima]

When you went to the dealer did it go down just like TJay74 said it would?

I didn't even go to the dealer. My dealer is very good to me and I decided not to give them any trouble.

[RGH1978]

You all are missing the fact that this has already been tested, several 2014 already went down the very road you all are asking about in this thread. That is how they found out from GM that if it was not optioned from the factory then it wont work, shortly after that GM made the harness available for people to run the aftermarket brake controllers.

Gotcha. Thanks TJay74.

[C Bass]

I know this is an old post from the dates but I just wanted to see if any others were still on this subject. I have a 2014 Silverado 1500 Z71 LT with the 5.3 v8 and 3.42 rear end. With that being said I too was looking to get the factory trailer brake installed if it was at all possible. Well after reading here and going to 2 different dealerships and having my VIN ran to see if there was a kit I was told "No". So I went and got an aftermarket one to install myself (plug and play). Because i didn't want it down by my knees i designed to put it in the slot the factory would go since it was small enough. Upon pulling the panel to start the installation and fabrication I was shocked to see a wiring harness plug attached to the plastic (holder) directly where the factory would plug in. I went to a 3rd dealerships and informed them if what I found and to their disbelief and interest ordered a factory controller and panel just to see if indeed it is wired for it. I will find out Tuesday afternoon if indeed this is true. So long story short if you so happen to have a Silverado 1500 with the 3.42 rear end if you don't have the factory trailer break try removing that panel and seeing if that wire is attached like mine was. I will update this after my visit to the dealership Tuesday.