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.

 

[Hill Country TX]

i bought the curtis brake controller, goes between the vehicle and the trailer connection. seems to work pretty well.

Amazon.com

Are you referring to the Curtis Echo wireless controller?

Curtis Echo Wireless Controller

 

[LWA55DAL]

Ok - so did all of the software updates today to fix the fuel level sensor and trailer issues. I am pleased to say that now I have the trailer turn signal indicator and it works as it should BUT still trailer brake output to the pre-wired violet/blue. Sewell San Antonio is awesome but they didn’t have a way to test the brake output so I had to do that one on my own to confirm. Manual braking works fine but no output to the controller so it won’t perform the calibration and no output to the brakes without manually engaging them from the controller.

So - looks like another update may be needed, or swapping out some hardware to make it work.

Of course - I could run the trigger line but honestly - just want it to work the way it is supposed to.

 

[grenadierguy]

Ok - so did all of the software updates today to fix the fuel level sensor and trailer issues. I am pleased to say that now I have the trailer turn signal indicator and it works as it should BUT still trailer brake output to the pre-wired violet/blue. Sewell San Antonio is awesome but they didn’t have a way to test the brake output so I had to do that one on my own to confirm. Manual braking works fine but no output to the controller so it won’t perform the calibration and no output to the brakes without manually engaging them from the controller.

So - looks like another update may be needed, or swapping out some hardware to make it work.

Of course - I could run the trigger line but honestly - just want it to work the way it is supposed to.

What did the dealer say when you reported that it was not working?

 

[LeeroyJ]

What did the dealer say when you reported that it was not working?

I mentioned it to the dealer in Phoenix when I had service done last week and they had no idea what I was talking about.

 

[anand]

So - looks like another update may be needed, or swapping out some hardware to make it work.

Of course - I could run the trigger line but honestly - just want it to work the way it is supposed to.

The easiest way is to just grab the brake trigger from the wire at the TRM in the passenger rear. This is the official unofficial corrective action.

I mentioned it to the dealer in Phoenix when I had service done last week and they had no idea what I was talking about.

Ask them to contact their technical rep for details

 

[LWA55DAL]

I completely understand that the easiest way is to grab the trigger line (blue/orange) from the TRM - but that’s not how it SHOULD work. The dealer in San Antonio opened in November ‘24 so they are relatively new and have not installed a trailer brake controller. They also didn’t have any experience with the issue but they understood the concept. I asked them to place a formal dealer request into INEOS and we will see what happens. I have a number of other vehicles that are capable of towing and they all have RedArc’s installed so not really an issue that has to get fixed tomorrow and I want INEOS to address it the correct way - either a software update or replace the TRM if the wiring path in the TRM can’t be addressed with Software. The Sewell San Antonio guys are awesome and I know they will run this down.

 

[LeeroyJ]

I got tired of waiting for a fix from Ineos and went ahead and ran the wire to the brake light wire in the back right, together with the Redarc EPDK-001.

Getting those body panels off, was a major pain in the ass. For others who haven't done this yet, the order of removing the plastic trim panels is first the big panel over the wheel (first remove the cargo tie down screws, then the three screws behind the three black circles), then the top back panel (next to the side window), then the bottom right panel.

I couldn't figure out how to remove this clip (circled in red in the photo below) to get easy access to the orange and blue wire, so I ended up removing some of the tape from yellow circled part and tapped into the line there. Thanks for everyone that contributed to this thread, its a great resource that I needed to refer to about 100 times.

For the wire connections, in the back (by the photo) I just used a t-tap. Under the seat I used Wago 221-2401 inline lever connectors that I wrapped in electrical tape. Its the first time I've used those and now I'm sold, so much easier than the other methods. Last time I used heat-shrink connectors, but the wires in the IG seem to be very susceptible to heat because the plastic coating became very soft and stretchy at the temps needed to shrink the splices.

My general thought about all of this is I'm pissed. I'm not very good at this kind of shit and I resent that I had to do it when I paid extra for the towing package. It is complete BS to advertise that the IG comes with a towing package capable of 7716 lbs, when there is no sensible way to connect a trailer bake controller. Particularly since in most US states it is illegal to tow anything over 3000 lbs without trailer brakes!! (including in Washington where I originally bought my IG and AZ where it is now)

All in, between installing the original Redarc controller and this additional wire trigger, I'm probably at about 8 hours of my time. Worse than that, I've done about 6,000kms thinking I had trailer brakes when in reality I only had the inertia brakes. Ineos needs to get off their asses and fix this before someone is inevitably hurt by this!

Sorry for the rant... maybe I should have waited a bit longer after installing before posting.

 

[anand]

@LeeroyJ for what it's worth, there's a small tab that you can depress that unlocks the harness connector, and then the part that is horizontal in the middle of your circle rotates downward (notice the curved opening the tab rides in).

 

[LeeroyJ]

@LeeroyJ for what it's worth, there's a small tab that you can depress that unlocks the harness connector, and then the part that is horizontal in the middle of your circle rotates downward (notice the curved opening the tab rides in).

Ahh thanks, I should have come here and ask.. I tried to rotate it down but didn't notice any tabs to depress.

 

[anand]

Ahh thanks, I should have come here and ask.. I tried to rotate it down but didn't notice any tabs to depress.

The tab to depress faces the rear of the vehicle and then the clip rotates clockwise in the photo; if you've never worked with those connectors before, it's not something that would immediately make sense or jump out at you necessarily

 

[rawmilkandhoney]

Just want to thank everyone for their input here. New owner, traded in my pick up truck knowing I’d have to install a controller but seriously disappointed it seems it will require some more wiring than necessary, but glad I checked here first before creating a safety issue. We tow a 4500 lb 20’ trailer with electric brakes so I appreciate all of you and read all 10 pages

Plan to tackle this project and the wolfbox while I have panels and tools out anyway.