Trailer Brake Controller

jeremyp · March 19, 2020

Just now, RadoPhan said:

Ok thanks for the heads up. I guess I’ll try it out and see and worst case buy another plastic cover if it’s too bright. Also, are the lights always on even if you’re not using it?

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Yes. The Blue light is on when there is no trailer connected. I'll take take a picture and post it later tonight.

RadoPhan · March 26, 2020

Yea I get that. Just wondering why they would run a wire and harness to that blank box if it cannot be used? Doesn’t that wire go to something?

When you pulled the cover out, is there a slot on the left side to fish some wires through? About to install the trailer brake controller and wanted to know if I need to pull the bottom of the center dash off to get it to go through the side and over above the gas pedal.

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RadoPhan · April 25, 2020

Yes. The Blue light is on when there is no trailer connected. I'll take take a picture and post it later tonight.

So not sure if mine is different but mine is off when not in use but only 1 LED per side lights up blue when the brakes are pressed. Is that the same for you?

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Michael Rollins · April 25, 2020

Ask your dealer if they can put the factory controller in for you . If they can't it can't be done if they can you just have to figure out how they do it.

RadoPhan · April 25, 2020

Ask your dealer if they can put the factory controller in for you . If they can't it can't be done if they can you just have to figure out how they do it.

You have to get a new ECU/computer brain pretty much to make it work. So probably not worth the cost. I just installed the aftermarket Curt one at the same spot and it blends in well. Looks OEM and has fancy LEDs

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davester · April 25, 2020

Just buying a new computer won't do it. It needs to be programmed for your specific truck, and GM doesn't let the code for the TBC to be added to added to truck that didn't come with it as a factory option.

I don't know if this is possible, but if you/the dealer could find another truck, with the exact same configuration as your truck, but also with the TBC, then possibly the truck could be completely reprogrammed for that other trucks VIN, but then you could have issues down the road (go to another dealer and they reflash it using the original/correct VIN (or worse, only parts of the truck), or you get scanned for emissions and the tech notices the software has a different vin than the truck (which they probably would flag as an emissions problem, and possibly as being a potentially stolen truck/or with stolen parts).

nick242 · April 26, 2020

5 hours ago, RadoPhan said:

You have to get a new ECU/computer brain pretty much to make it work. So probably not worth the cost. I just installed the aftermarket Curt one at the same spot and it blends in well. Looks OEM and has fancy LEDs

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Any chance you could post a pic of the install?

jeremyp · April 26, 2020

So not sure if mine is different but mine is off when not in use but only 1 LED per side lights up blue when the brakes are pressed. Is that the same for you?

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Yes, that's EXACTLY the same way mine works.

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RadoPhan · April 26, 2020

Yes, that's EXACTLY the same way mine works.

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Ok thanks. Now I know what you mean. I drove the truck last night for the first time with it and it is bright. During the day it doesn’t bother me but for sure at night it could be annoying. I think I’ll unplug it in the meantime until I hookup a trailer.

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RadoPhan · April 26, 2020

Any chance you could post a pic of the install?

I didn’t take pics of install unfortunately. I installed it like the pic below. It’s pretty basic. I have the jump seat on my Trail Boss so here’s the steps I took.

1. Remove 7mm screw on the left side of lowest center dash panel. Pull panel towards the back of truck until clips release.

2. Next panel above that, use trim tool to pull each side towards the back of truck. This panel was more of a pain to do and it took a decent tug to release the clips. You will feel like it’ll break on you but it won’t. The key is pull both sides with the same even pressure.

3. Use trim tool to take off radio trim bezel. Then remove all torx screw from radio panel. This will loosen up the whole center dash. No need to unplug anything.

4. Push the blank cover from the front where it needs to be installed until it pops off, then pull the center dash far enough to grab the cover and unplug the wire that is connected to the cover.

5. Follow Curt instructions to drill cover and install all components including harness clip.

6. Reinstall cover with new controller knob. Clip the old wire back onto the cover so it doesn’t hang freely.

7. Reinstall everything back.

8. Find a place to mount the brake controller brain. I chose to hide it behind the lowest center dash panel with the 7mm bolt I mentioned earlier right next to the gas pedal. I then ran the wiring along the dash panels underneath the steering wheel vs behind the gas/brake pedals to avoid any interference with the pedals.

9. Plug in harness to factory plug located with all other plugs on the left side of the driver.

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AlaskaErik · April 26, 2020

5 hours ago, RadoPhan said:

I didn’t take pics of install unfortunately. I installed it like the pic below. It’s pretty basic. I have the jump seat on my Trail Boss so here’s the steps I took.

1. Remove 7mm screw on the left side of lowest center dash panel. Pull panel towards the back of truck until clips release.

2. Next panel above that, use trim tool to pull each side towards the back of truck. This panel was more of a pain to do and it took a decent tug to release the clips. You will feel like it’ll break on you but it won’t. The key is pull both sides with the same even pressure.

3. Use trim tool to take off radio trim bezel. Then remove all torx screw from radio panel. This will loosen up the whole center dash. No need to unplug anything.

4. Push the blank cover from the front where it needs to be installed until it pops off, then pull the center dash far enough to grab the cover and unplug the wire that is connected to the cover.

5. Follow Curt instructions to drill cover and install all components including harness clip.

6. Reinstall cover with new controller knob. Clip the old wire back onto the cover so it doesn’t hang freely.

7. Reinstall everything back.

8. Find a place to mount the brake controller brain. I chose to hide it behind the lowest center dash panel with the 7mm bolt I mentioned earlier right next to the gas pedal. I then ran the wiring along the dash panels underneath the steering wheel vs behind the gas/brake pedals to avoid any interference with the pedals.

9. Plug in harness to factory plug located with all other plugs on the left side of the driver.

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Should have installed an Autostop Eliminator while you had everything opened up.

RadoPhan · April 26, 2020

Should have installed an Autostop Eliminator while you had everything opened up.

I didn’t know they had that so good to know now. It wasn’t too hard to pull the dash out so I might just do that.

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RVer · April 29, 2020

According to local GMC dealer my aftermarket Tekonsha wont work with my 2019. there is no signal coming off brake pedal to controller to signal the trailer brakes to come on. Does that sound normal? They said I have to use the controller manually every time I want to brake

AlaskaErik · April 30, 2020

2 hours ago, RVer said:

According to local GMC dealer my aftermarket Tekonsha wont work with my 2019. there is no signal coming off brake pedal to controller to signal the trailer brakes to come on. Does that sound normal? They said I have to use the controller manually every time I want to brake

I don't believe dealers. My dealer told me I had to use the trailer controller pigtail that came with my 2016 LTZ and it would cost $200 to install. I got a plug and play harness off of Amazon for a little over $20 and my P3 controller works just fine. I suspect the same is true for the newer trucks.

RadoPhan · April 30, 2020

According to local GMC dealer my aftermarket Tekonsha wont work with my 2019. there is no signal coming off brake pedal to controller to signal the trailer brakes to come on. Does that sound normal? They said I have to use the controller manually every time I want to brake

I haven’t towed yet but I would imagine it’ll work with the OEM harness that’s tucked under the dash near the steering column. The harness is gray and it has a dummy one plugged it with red markings on it.

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