Brake Controller

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jadocs

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How do you test if you don't have a trailer? I'd like to check mine out.
 

PippinAin'tEasy

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How do you test if you don't have a trailer? I'd like to check mine out.
Buy a 7pin plug and keep the receipt. Plug it in half way, chk the voltage to each lead and return for refund. OR... go rent a travel trailer, take yer lady out for the weekend and have fun with the experiment.

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PippinAin'tEasy

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Amen!



That is the question I'm trying to get answered, my 3500 is at the dealer now, should have it back with answers Monday.

I don't know if it is a faulty ITBM or a software calibration issues. I don't even know if all 2015s have the issue but I know I'm not the only one with this issue.

My biggest concern is they are going to tell me nothing is wrong and it is working as designed, the default babble when they don't know how to diagnose an issue.

I posted scope shots of the trailer brake line (in the cummins forum thread), one with a working ITBM and my 2015 tow vehicle, the scope shots clearly show my 2015 is only outputting 63% power to the trailer brakes.

Brake slider all the way pushed (100%), 100% output from ITBM 12.6 amps measured on the trailer brake wire.
100%20percent_zpscurxhkdl.jpg

Brake slider all the way pushed (100%), 63% output from ITBM 6.1 amps measured on the trailer brake wire.
60percent_zpsxymw53jh.jpg
Any news from the Great and Powerful Stealership?

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BossHogg

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Any news from the Great and Powerful Stealership?

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Not yet, they have had the truck since last Thursday sitting in their queue, many recall vehicles ahead of me.

I did get a call from them yesterday asking if I saw a check engine light or any other message while towing, and I didn't. The service writer told me my truck is in the repair bay and they have Chrysler on the line working on the issue.

May be today I will get better answers.

On a positive note, my son's friend took delivery of a 3500 about the same time I did. He has the same issue with his goose neck toy hauler. The difference is he works for Chrysler and sent an email to the ITBM release engineer asking for help.

This issue may have the attention level needed to get addressed.
 
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Kwhite

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Please let me know if you find out anything im taking my truck to the dealer next week
 

trailerCaptain

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Sorry to hijack...

I have a Prodigy RF controller from my SUV. Should I stick with that or the factory controller on my new-to me-2012 2500? How do I disconnect the factory controller if I go that route?

Thanks!
 

BossHogg

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The dealer still has my truck, one week as of yesterday morning. I don't think they know how to troubleshoot the issue. The ITBM isn't that complicated and it shouldn't take more than two days to troubleshoot and fix. It only took me two hours to discover the low output issue after 60%.

I'm not really sure where to go from here, I want what I paid for to work. Just in case, I order the Prodigy P2 cable for the 2015 RAM. I can use the P2 for my upcoming vacation to mange the fiver's brakes.
 

loveracing1988

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The dealer still has my truck, one week as of yesterday morning. I don't think they know how to troubleshoot the issue. The ITBM isn't that complicated and it shouldn't take more than two days to troubleshoot and fix. It only took me two hours to discover the low output issue after 60%.

I'm not really sure where to go from here, I want what I paid for to work. Just in case, I order the Prodigy P2 cable for the 2015 RAM. I can use the P2 for my upcoming vacation to mange the fiver's brakes.
Which dealer has you truck?
 

BossHogg

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I've never dealt with them, apparently I'm going to keep it that way...

I've been to Wise in Clio (my selling dealer) and they did not have the ability to diagnose it (no device to emulate connected trailer brakes). They called the dealer in Frankenmuth and they didn't either. I've had horrible past service experiences with both Orchard in Romeo and Miloush in Auburn Hills so I didn't even bother with them.

The root problem is Chrylser doesn't publish diagnostics or have STAR line support for the dealers for many sub-systems. The last update I got from Southfield was they were trying to find descriptions of how the ITBM was designed to work. At least Southfiled is trying to find a solution. They were truly concern when I told them I couldn't stop for a fast changing traffic light.

If this doesn't end soon, Chrysler will be looking at a buy-back. Michigan lemon law is 30 days in service with in the first year, I'm already half way there with no solution is sight.

Do you have a dealer suggestion?
 

loveracing1988

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I've been to Wise in Clio (my selling dealer) and they did not have the ability to diagnose it (no device to emulate connected trailer brakes). They called the dealer in Frankenmuth and they didn't either. I've had horrible past service experiences with both Orchard in Romeo and Miloush in Auburn Hills so I didn't even bother with them.

The root problem is Chrylser doesn't publish diagnostics or have STAR line support for the dealers for many sub-systems. The last update I got from Southfield was they were trying to find descriptions of how the ITBM was designed to work. At least Southfiled is trying to find a solution. They were truly concern when I told them I couldn't stop for a fast changing traffic light.

If this doesn't end soon, Chrysler will be looking at a buy-back. Michigan lemon law is 30 days in service with in the first year, I'm already half way there with no solution is sight.

Do you have a dealer suggestion?
I also bought my truck from clio and while it was the best buying experience I've ever had their service department is the worst I've ever had. I also don't care for milosh because the only service writer who actually cared is no longer there. I've heard good things about golling's service department but I've never been there. At least they are trying to help you, most dealers put the standard no problem found and ship it.
 

ChuckLHC

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I have a 2015 2500 (2k miles) and experience the same problem with the factory brake controller towing either of my two bumper pull trailers . A 12k 4 wheel brake toyhauler and a flatbed 20' utility trailer. I set it to heavy electric on both and the gain is set at 10. Just dosent work correctly (IMHO).
It gives me the same result as my f150 with the gain set at 4 . It is going to the dealer this week.
 
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Kwhite

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My truck is going in Friday let me know what you find out
 

BossHogg

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I have a 2015 2500 (2k miles) and experience the same problem with the factory brake controller towing either of my two bumper pull trailers . A 12k 4 wheel brake toyhauler and a flatbed 20' utility trailer. I set it to heavy electric on both and the gain is set at 10. Just dosent work correctly (IMHO).
It gives me the same result as my f150 with the gain set at 4 . It is going to the dealer this week.

Please let us know the out come. As soon as I get mine back I'll post the results.

I read on the Cummins forum, a poster suggested setting the ITBM to heavy electric over hydraulic, he said it would work correctly. I couldn't try this when I read it since the truck was a the dealers.
 

BossHogg

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Dealer update.

The dealer told me today that Chrysler has nothing published on how the ITBM works or how to diagnose it. The only written documentation is what is in the owners’ manual. I’ve been in the automotive business a long time and never heard anything like this.

Tomorrow the tech is going to hook up a blower motor to my brake line output per Chrysler’s instructions. I asked the dealer what this was going to prove and he didn’t know. I asked how will you know if there is a problem if you do not first characterize the blower motor so you know what to expect. They didn’t have an answer outside of following what Chrysler is telling them to do.

I told them it would be more conclusive if they simply attached an inductive load on the brake line and measured the duty cycle on the brake line. They told me that Chrysler would have to tell them to do that.

I’m mystified, I’ve never seen anything like this before, this isn’t diagnostics. How can Chrysler be so irresponsible not to have published diagnostics for a module involve in safety (rhetorical). I give a lot of credit to the dealer and the service tech for sticking it out. Most dealers would have delivered babble long ago that it is working as designed. Stay tuned.
 

PippinAin'tEasy

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Dealer update.

The dealer told me today that Chrysler has nothing published on how the ITBM works or how to diagnose it. The only written documentation is what is in the owners’ manual. I’ve been in the automotive business a long time and never heard anything like this.

Tomorrow the tech is going to hook up a blower motor to my brake line output per Chrysler’s instructions. I asked the dealer what this was going to prove and he didn’t know. I asked how will you know if there is a problem if you do not first characterize the blower motor so you know what to expect. They didn’t have an answer outside of following what Chrysler is telling them to do.

I told them it would be more conclusive if they simply attached an inductive load on the brake line and measured the duty cycle on the brake line. They told me that Chrysler would have to tell them to do that.

I’m mystified, I’ve never seen anything like this before, this isn’t diagnostics. How can Chrysler be so irresponsible not to have published diagnostics for a module involve in safety (rhetorical). I give a lot of credit to the dealer and the service tech for sticking it out. Most dealers would have delivered babble long ago that it is working as designed. Stay tuned.
Ho-ly ****.

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Kwhite

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I'm afraid by the looks of all the posts on here my trip to the dealer this Friday is going to be a waste of time, I might want to go ahead and order a P3 now and try to get Ram to pay for it! It really bothers me that you pay this much money for a truck to have a issue like this that by the way it looks now cant be fixed like it should !
 

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