NA Trailer Brake Controller Install

[anand]

Also - I noticed a mention of the TRM software update in one of the earlier posts, but it appears there are 2 upgrades with the most recent upgrade needed to address the functionality of the “Towing Electronics”. Has anyone completed this update and did this fix the issue with the deal Violet/Orange trigger wire for the brakes?

View attachment 7883197

The second update (this one I believe) was to address a very small percentage of vehicles that still had turn signal related issues, nothing regarding the braking

 

[LWA55DAL]

I talked to the local dealer in San Antonio (Sewell) and I now have an appointment for Jan 14th. They are pretty confident that the recent software update that allows the dealer to install tow package on vehicles that did not come from the factory with it will fix the issue. Up until November the dealers were not able to install trailer module and have it function as the software was not available. With the software update now available they can now offer the factory TRM and hitch as a dealer installed item. Each of the US spec Grenadiers supposedly has the wiring installed under the back seat for the brake controller.

Curious if anyone has had the tow package installed and if the trailer brake controller worked?

 

[Tenac]

Finding any auto manufacturer to specifically give official instructions on how to install a non-approved and aftermarket component to their vehicle would be impressive...

Is there an approved trailer brake controller? I've read many pages here seems as though the trailer brakes won't work without a controller but they don't have an OEM, and the OEM wiring isn't correct as well as software??? Sounds like a bad safety problem waiting to happen......

 

[LWA55DAL]

From all of the information I have read - there is not an INEOS endorsed or recommended trailer brake controller, but you certainly need one installed to be able to actuate the trailer brakes. As I understand it - the Trailer Module that mounts in the right rear of the vehicle ties in the pre-installed wiring in the vehicle to the 7 pin plug AND also ties it into the wiring that is run under the rear seat to tie-in the trailer brake controller. To add the tow package you need the following:
- TRM Module installed in the right rear
- 7 Pin pug and wiring harness from the TRM to the rear of the vehicles
- Tow bar - this bolts to the frame and has the 2” receiver
- Software update. This is what was just released in approximately November.

Supposedly until the software release was completed you could install all of the equipment but it wouldn’t work as the software somehow allows the ECU to recognize the module and allow the trailer lights, etc.

I am sincerely hopeful that the software update will be able to active the Violet/Orange line that is under the seat. This is the line that is supposed to receive the brake output and trigger the trailer brakes from the controller.

As you can see in a previous post - the Blue/Orange line that everyone it tapping into at the TRM to them run a wire to the brake controller, is just below the Violet/Orange line so MAYBE it’s just a matter of a simple software upgrade to trigger the line, or the pins in the TRM were not correctly installed at the factory and you can simply move the pin in the wiring harness.

 

[Tenac]

From all of the information I have read - there is not an INEOS endorsed or recommended trailer brake controller, but you certainly need one installed to be able to actuate the trailer brakes. As I understand it - the Trailer Module that mounts in the right rear of the vehicle ties in the pre-installed wiring in the vehicle to the 7 pin plug AND also ties it into the wiring that is run under the rear seat to tie-in the trailer brake controller. To add the tow package you need the following:
- TRM Module installed in the right rear
- 7 Pin pug and wiring harness from the TRM to the rear of the vehicles
- Tow bar - this bolts to the frame and has the 2” receiver
- Software update. This is what was just released in approximately November.

Supposedly until the software release was completed you could install all of the equipment but it wouldn’t work as the software somehow allows the ECU to recognize the module and allow the trailer lights, etc.

I am sincerely hopeful that the software update will be able to active the Violet/Orange line that is under the seat. This is the line that is supposed to receive the brake output and trigger the trailer brakes from the controller.

As you can see in a previous post - the Blue/Orange line that everyone it tapping into at the TRM to them run a wire to the brake controller, is just below the Violet/Orange line so MAYBE it’s just a matter of a simple software upgrade to trigger the line, or the pins in the TRM were not correctly installed at the factory and you can simply move the pin in the wiring harness.

So I have the tow package right now. All I need to do is source a brake controller and hook it up to the awaiting wires that Ienos has installed under the seat? I just did a 1200 mile service and had them confirm the software was up to date. Dumb question wondering if there is a pin out diagram for the rear 7 pin connection. The couple of trailers I looked at have them so, maybe its just make sure they match?

I'm just finding it hard to believe that they have pre-wiring and enforce the use of one but have no guidance on which one or recommendations that the dealer could install.

 

[LWA55DAL]

If you have the tow package you can install whatever brake controller you would like to use. Since the pre wiring is under the seat most people are using a Redarc as you can mount the controller anywhere in the vehicle and the small knob mounts near the driver to be able to make manual adjustments if needed. I have had a lot of success with Redarc over the years. The 1st one installed I actually ordered from Australia befor they had sales in the US

To summarize the issue that some have had, and my issue, is that there are 4 wires for the controller - power, ground, brake feed from vehicle (Violet/Orange) and output from the controller to the 7 Pin brake output. In many of the vehicles, mine included, the brake feed from the vehicle is NOT sending the brake signal to the controller when the brakes are applied. This is a major issue as it basically makes the trailer brakes useless unless you use the manual override to accurate the brakes from the controller.

The only workaround to date has been to run a brake feed line from the brake output in the right rear of the vehicle (vehicle trailer module) back to the brake controller to get the brake signal. This has been working and likely what I will have to do if the software update doesn’t work.

As far as the 7 Pin - the one installed at the factory is the traditional 7 Pin for the US and it should mate up with any properly wired trailer.