2015 Integrated Trailer Brake Controller Display

I posted this a couple days ago in another Forum with no response, so I figured Id post it again in the Towing & Hauling forum and hopefully Ill get a response here instead:

I recently found out that my 2015 Tundra has a plug for, and space for an integrated brake controller near the right side of the steering column. I purchased a used controller box and the new bezel cover and plugged it in, however I cannot get the brake controller display screen to come up on the instrument cluster.. Do I have to have the dealer re-program my display somehow in order for the display screen to appear, or should the truck automatically recognize the controller and show the display?

My tundra was originally sold and spec'd for the Canadian marked when it was new and was imported to the US and converted to the US spec a few years before I purchased it. The brake controller box I purchased actually came from Canada as well, so I figured it would be plug and play, but I can't get the display to appear. Not sure if this is relevant at all.

I cant really find any other stories online of people having issues getting the display to show up on the instrument cluster.. From what I read, it should be plug and play and pop up automatically as soon as the box is plugged in..?

P.S. I realize that many people have strong opinions against the Integrated Controller and prefer a Tekonsha P3 aftermarket controller. (or other similar aftermarket controller). That's just great, and I respect your opinion, but I would like to give the Integrated controller a try for myself FIRST before I decide to go the aftermarket route, so please don't just automatically jump to the "Aftermarket is better" conclusion, because that is not helpful at this point. I really wanna try the integrated option to see if it works for what I need it to do..

Thanks in advanced!

 

Well.. looks like I got no responses.. I was wondering if the used unit that I purchased was bad, so I returned it and purchased another used unit with the exact same issue.. Clearly its my truck at this point.. Anyone have any suggestions? Can the dealership re-program my display module to recognize the brake controller?

 

I have the OEM controller and yes it's a POS (had a dealer work on it too). That being said, you've waited all this time for a response but you could've reached out to a dealership and gotten an answer by now.

If you have techstream, or know someone who does, they can probably activate it too.

 

I have reached out to a dealership who said they do not need to be programmed and couldnt give me any answers.. I guess I could have gone to another dealership for a second opinion but its hard to get there when I work 8-5 every day..

 

What is a techstream? Is that some kind of Toyota software? This is the kind of info that I'm wondering about.

 

Here's some info

 

Love it, thank you! I'm a Volvo guy and we have the VIDA software for all volvos newer than 1999 so I was wondering what the software was called for Toyota.. I guess I could have just asked the google, but this works too. Thanks for the info!

 

Any idea if these cheap ebay set-ups work ok??

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204069755710

 

Man don't get me lyin haha. There are quite a few folks who have it and they can chime in. @Jeff_5_7 @RainMan_PNW

 

First of all - we've been finding that there's a fair number of different things that are instrument-cluster-model-number dependent (especially if they report in the LCD info display). It is very possible that everything you have works just fine, but that the specific instrument cluster in your truck does not support the brake controller. I have not dug into the EWDs to see if that might be the case, but you are welcome to grab them from the link in my signature and do some investigation of your own.

As for the Techstream software and cables, I have a firmware 2.0.4 cable I got off Amazon or eBay or somewhere (can't really remember) and have had good luck with it. Install the software on a sandboxed old burner laptop would be my recommendation.

I don't recall seeing anything related to activating or enabling or modifying tow brake controller settings in Techstream though.

 

This is good to know! I have hooked the truck up to a trailer and the IBC does work and the trailer brakes respond when its connected, but I just dont have the display on my dash..

My main objective for getting techstream right now of course would be to see if I can get the dash display to show up, but I kinda want it for other stuff too.. Is the software easy to install and use? I already have a separate PC that I use for my Volvo VIDA software, so I would just install this there as well..

 

using it - yes, very easy
installing it - that sometimes depends on the source and the cable drivers. Know that getting it anywhere but directly from Toyota (only available with an expensive subscription) means you are going to have to deal with a certain level of "Arrrrgh" to get it and keep it working.