Brake controller harness for 4th gen Tacoma?

[Snowjunky24]

What wire did you tap into to get the brake light control input?

I’m pondering taking a gooseneck harness adapter to split apart to create a custom harness. Plug it in between the vehicle 7 pin and bumper plug. This will give me pins I can modify to collect left/right turn and the trailer brake wire.

Then use one of the third brake light modules that cancel out the turn signals and are used for toppers.Then run the output from this and a larger gauge wire for the trailer brakes up into the cab under the back driver seat as you have done. I’m also going to order the diode as well.

Any thoughts?

Gr3 goes to r28 in the yellow harness in diagram. You will need a diode so the brake controller doesn’t send voltage to wire.

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[geonerdist]

Yea it seems no one knows yet all the wiring is missing.

I had to run all the wires myself and pay for wiring diagram. I still need to wire a diode as the truck doesn’t like power being applied to brake light circuit without brakes being applied.

Have you wired in the diode yet? All my parts arrived today and I was confused by the diode instructions. I ended up finding this link which answered my question as to how it should be wired up using the CHMSL.
https://www.redarcelectronics.com/u...-faqs/using-an-epdk-in-tow-pro-installations/

 

[geonerdist]

@Snowjunky24 curious to see which wire you actually spliced. I also dug around the wiring diagrams to try to identify which of these was considered light green and couldn’t come up with an answer.

I don’t believe it’s the green one that’s twisted around the red one. I’m leaning toward the one closest to the blue one.

 

[Snowjunky24]

I had to probe it and see what was energized with brake light


Follow pin 11 of r28 connector

 

[MT-Taco]

Did anyone check behind the dash pocket where the factory controller goes? Maybe the harness is there?

 

[Snowjunky24]

Did anyone check behind the dash pocket where the factory controller goes? Maybe the harness is there?

lol yea. A lot more on my base sr5 is missing than that tho

 

[geonerdist]

lol yea. A lot more on my base sr5 is missing than that tho

Same, I tore apart the dash and found nothing. Seems like I have a brake wire from the rear bumper but nothing more on my base TRD OR.

 

[geonerdist]

Thanks for the help everybody. I got my trailer brakes working over the weekend and have had no issues and trailer detection is still working. Pictures before cleaning up wires after the test drive.

 

[M1KL83]

Yea it seems no one knows yet all the wiring is missing.

I had to run all the wires myself and pay for wiring diagram. I still need to wire a diode as the truck doesn’t like power being applied to brake light circuit without brakes being applied.

Against my better judgment, I let dealership install Redarc and they used a local truck n trailer shop to do it.
I did this so it would be captured on bill of sale for new truck so I'd be somewhat covered should warranty issues arise down the road.
To note, I haven't towed a trailer yet as I'm still in engine break in kilometers but regardless...

2 oh darns to report so far.

First, they skimped out put in the Liberty instead of ordered Elite.
I go into tomorrow for early oil change and we'll see what can be worked out there as the Elite is very handy with its offroad manual control feature, that the Liberty does not have. We have Elite in Wife's Forester.

Second and probably more important is the errors that came up on my dash today when I pushed the button at a stop light.
Should I have pushed the Redarc without a trailer attached ..maybe not but I'm guessing it shouldn't have thrown the driver assist features into a fit either.

Could this be because they didn't install the diode?
Image of errors..pardon dust country roads be full of it.

 

[Windsor]

I think Toyota really dropped the ball on this one . Hopefully your dealer isn't like Sunrise Toyota in Orillia . I was promised before buying the truck that there was a plug in for the controller by both the salesman and the sales manager . After a dozen phone calls and weeks of being told that they'd look after me on this , and even 2 hours at Action truck who said they could do it , I was told they couldn't . Every call to the dealer was a story about how the tech guru was waiting for a wiring diagram . I traded the truck in on a low mileage 2023 . If the sales staff had been more knowledgeable and honest about what I was buying I might have spent more on a trim with the controller built in . I've owned 6 Tacomas , but this recent experience is making me look at the GM Canyon for my next truck

 

[M1KL83]

Thank you for the feedback. Dealership is in Kawartha Lakes. That is Uber frustrating process you endured.

I contacted dealerships near and far plus Toyota cs prior to buying truck and Kawartha Lakes was the only dealership that welcomed the brake controller issue and said they'd work at a resolution until its perfect.
They've been fantastic throughout the buying process which tooks months on wait for delivery plus few accessories, tires swap etc and I have confidence they will make the Action Car and truck snaffoo right too but I will update if not.

I contacted Redarc with the inquiry but may not hear back before tomorrow's appointment.

I'm guessing they didn't use the diode and or they didn't pull signal from rear centre brake light.
Any insight is welcomed!
Love this forum.

 

[M1KL83]

I think Toyota really dropped the ball on this one . I've owned 6 Tacomas , but this recent experience is making me look at the GM Canyon for my next truck

Agreed about Toyota dropping ball on wiring/plug for brake controller.

Father in law just got the new Canyon and it's a beauty..however I'm a sucker for a manual transmission. Like the DoDo bird manuals trucks are on the brink so I'm holding strong but with the understanding there will be inevitable growing pains along the way.

 

[Windsor]

That's great that the dealership actually did something . I just got a lot of " dont worry we're going to look after it "

 

[4thGenOffRd]

Thanks for the help everybody. I got my trailer brakes working over the weekend and have had no issues and trailer detection is still working. Pictures before cleaning up wires after the test drive.

I have the same truck as you with the heated seats and lg screen but no brake controller. What redarc model did you order and can you explain how/where you wired the controller? Is it powered behind the rear passenger seat? How did you run the wire to the control knob in the dash?

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