Mopar Trailer Brake Controller for Jeep Gladiator Officially Released (Part # 82215652AB)

[Harold0819]

I was thinking and think that Jaxmax may have something. The one thing that no one has done yet is swap in another known working Mopar controller. This is a brand new part, their may be some defective ones. It is possible. Especially since none has an answer or a clue. The manual brake function is a primary function with a controller. The instructions spell out how to use it to set the gain.
I know manufacturers rush stuff but this is something that would of been seen in testing. Now if there are defective units it would explain alot. The randomness, no pattern, hit or miss nature. especially to the issue. You guys with defective units, especially Shadowspapa, what about proposing to the dealership to get you a new unit. Especially if they can off a new shipment. The unfortunate thing is in reality it may not be the module but rather the switch unit on the back of the controller in the dash. A very compact design where simple mistakes in assembly could lead to a short or crossing of circuits.

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[ShadowsPapa]

I was thinking and think that Jaxmax may have something. The one thing that no one has done yet is swap in another known working Mopar controller. This is a brand new part, their may be some defective ones. It is possible. Especially since none has an answer or a clue. The manual brake function is a primary function with a controller. The instructions spell out how to use it to set the gain.
I know manufacturers rush stuff but this is something that would of been seen in testing. Now if there are defective units it would explain alot. The randomness, no pattern, hit or miss nature. especially to the issue. You guys with defective units, especially Shadowspapa, what about proposing to the dealership to get you a new unit. Especially if they can off a new shipment. The unfortunate thing is in reality it may not be the module but rather the switch unit on the back of the controller in the dash. A very compact design where simple mistakes in assembly could lead to a short or crossing of circuits.

I have my doubts about it being the "switch" itself - if I'm right about how these work, all that does is act as a SPST NO switch to trigger a relay in the controller - to feed power to the brakes at the gain setting on the dial. (* SPST is single pole, single throw; NO is normally open)
There are two parts - the dial, which should be a rheostat that sets gain, then the center, that is a simple open/close switch.

I have at this point two theories - and neither of them makes me feel excited about a real fix unless Jeep band-aids it like we did with Redarc and others - diode in the brake lamp line -

Thought 1 - it's the controller itself - there's an issue with what or how much or how it's feeding into the brake lamp circuit and that could be based on flaws in the design, flaws in the manufacture of the controller or as I ran into while working at Compressor Controls Corp designing the computers that were the interface into their turbo-compressor control systems - the same spec IC made by different manufacturers actually behaving differently even though they are direct cross-overs in the book (example, IC 1234 made by Motorola performs the same function as IC 1234 made by TI - but when in the circuit actually behaves a bit differently)
If this is the case, then the test related to swapping the box itself for one that works in another JT could help.
There were certain components of the turbo-compressor controllers that were spec'd so tight even the manufacturer of the part could not be changed. If it was a part from TI, there was NO substitution, period. If TI had a production slow-down, then we waited, there was no subbing that part from anyone else even though in theory they were the exact same part.
Further, I found when I spec'd the computer builds for the interface of those controllers, I had to spec the order in which any cards were installed - the exact slot they went into. It should not matter -but it did. Video had to reside here, Ethernet there, and so on. (this was before it was all built right onto the system board)

Thought 2 - it's the JEEP that is different - "what if" there are circumstances like I described above - different modules are the same yet behave differently with the same input signal on the brake lamp line. OR, perhaps different software/firmware revs?
If there is actually no flaw in the controller - and it's the Jeep that's acting differently - there's no fix, only a band-aid, unless you replaced BCM, ABS module and other fun stuff.
I have a feeling it's not here, though - because SO FAR, there's no real pattern as far as options, build date and so on.
It could be the truck itself - but it would mean that all of them were on the edge or threshold of working or not working with the brake controller.
As there's no real pattern coming out - it's most likely the controller itself - the main "box" under there.

Here's something fun to wonder about - what if those who installed the Redarc and had trouble with those if they didn't have the diode in line installed the Mopar controller and had no problem, or they installed the mopar controller and did have the problem.
Then the second part of that - what if someone who installed the Mopar controller and had no problem tried the Redarc controller - with NO diode in the line?

One could go a half dozen directions with testing. Unfortunately none of us have all of the pieces on hand to fully test any theory at all.

Forgot to add (edit):
I have to wonder if the factory is having any issues at all when they install these on new trucks that are ordered with the controller. It's very doubtful as they won't test anything, they'll plug it in and call it done. Why would they push a button or connect a trailer and actually try it? They may have a device that plugs in and sees that things actually exist, but I have to wonder....... get a new JT, hook up your trailer, push that button as a test of the trailer brakes - back to the dealer with it.

 

[slitchholtUC]

I took the brake controller to a dealer in Dayton, Ohio to get it installed. After several hours, it was decided that they couldn't install the controller due to a missing harness. I tried to explain to them that it was for the Wrangler but their long term parts guy insisted that the harness is needed to fix any errors. Picking up the truck now.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I took the brake controller to a dealer in Dayton, Ohio to get it installed. After several hours, it was decided that they couldn't install the controller due to a missing harness. I tried to explain to them that it was for the Wrangler but their long term parts guy insisted that the harness is needed to fix any errors. Picking up the truck now.

Several hours? Whew, I don't feel so bad now if a dealer tech had your truck that long and was trying to figure it out!
Didn't they go talk to SALES and see where SALES CODE ADH is?

All one has to do is look at WIRING DIAGRAMS and the instruction book that shows how to hook up that harness.
It connects to the SAME places the factory harness does, +, -, blue to trailer brakes and the only one I can't say is EXACTLY, but appears to be from the diagrams I have looked at is the brake lamp wire - B15 - well, B15 looks like the same exact color wire that the current JT is connected to.
If it was a matter of connecting that 1 wire to a different spot - why a whole new harness that goes through the firewall to the battery?
Next time I am near the dealership I am going to request a sit-down with a tech and go over wiring diagrams and show them what I have - and make him explain the difference.

 

[Solidaxle]

Most dealers are worthless other than just fixing it if it's broke. If the truck doesn't run they'll get you going other than that we're on our own.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Most dealers are worthless other than just fixing it if it's broke. If the truck doesn't run they'll get you going other than that we're on our own.

Too often they have to rely on codes - if you see this code, do this, then that, or there are charts "if customer says this, fix it that way". There's no independent troubleshooting.
If it's not a set code or not in their flow charts - well...........

 

[Monte.Trumbull]

OK, here's my interesting story. I ordered a Rubicon diesel from my local small town dealership. I also ordered the brake controller from the parts parts department and it came in a while back. I told the parts manager and my salesman that I was going to install it myself.

My new Rubicon diesel came in Thursday and was at the dealer yesterday getting tires and wheels installed. I picked it up from the dealer this morning. So when I pull up, the salesman tells me I am not going to be happy. He opens the door and shows me that the service department had installed the controller and showed me the invoice for it. I blew a gasket! After hearing me rant for a bit the sales manager says don't worry about it and told them take the labor off the invoice (so I got it installed for free). They told me that the service manager saw the part in my backseat and said that it had to be installed by them because if needed a special cable and a flash.

So when I got home I tested it out and it works just fine. I hooked it up to my camper and all lights work as expected including the controller itself. Of course the only thing that doesn't light up is the trailer brake lights when I press the button. I checked underneath and did not see where they installed a new cable anywhere.

 

[Jaxmax]

Uh there is no cable and none of us flashed ours, and mine works, Glad it worked out for you though , welcome to the glady crew.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

OK, here's my interesting story. I ordered a Rubicon diesel from my local small town dealership. I also ordered the brake controller from the parts parts department and it came in a while back. I told the parts manager and my salesman that I was going to install it myself.

My new Rubicon diesel came in Thursday and was at the dealer yesterday getting tires and wheels installed. I picked it up from the dealer this morning. So when I pull up, the salesman tells me I am not going to be happy. He opens the door and shows me that the service department had installed the controller and showed me the invoice for it. I blew a gasket! After hearing me rant for a bit the sales manager says don't worry about it and told them take the labor off the invoice (so I got it installed for free). They told me that the service manager saw the part in my backseat and said that it had to be installed by them because if needed a special cable and a flash.

So when I got home I tested it out and it works just fine. I hooked it up to my camper and all lights work as expected including the controller itself. Of course the only thing that doesn't light up is the trailer brake lights when I press the button. I checked underneath and did not see where they installed a new cable anywhere.

If they installed it there should be a cable listed on your invoice - is it there and what's the part number?

No flash - at least nothing anyone else has proven need or existing. Others have installed this and it worked fine for THEM.

But mopar, parts, service, no one is aware of a cable fix.

 

[jwilson2899]

So when I got home I tested it out and it works just fine. I hooked it up to my camper and all lights work as expected including the controller itself. Of course the only thing that doesn't light up is the trailer brake lights when I press the button. I checked underneath and did not see where they installed a new cable anywhere.

That‘s an interesting note. It jives with the instructions included with the co troller and would seem to indicate that there is a diode somewhere in the line. I’m beginning to suspect the newer models have a diode on the truck side of the brake controller plug and that explains why some of us see The issue and some don’t.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That‘s an interesting note. It jives with the instructions included with the co troller and would seem to indicate that there is a diode somewhere in the line. I’m beginning to suspect the newer models have a diode on the truck side of the brake controller plug and that explains why some of us see The issue and some don’t.

I wondered that - but - somewhere in these threads is a person with a build older than mine - and he has no errors.
Also- Monte was told he needed a different harness. (and a flash?)
Why can we never get any confirmation or other info aside from "I was told" ?

I need to go through every post in the last week or two to find who else has this - I KNOW at least one person has an older Jeep with no issues and I could swear a newer one had the issue - but it's the older one that worked I do remember.

User​	Errors?​	Build date​	ACC?​	LED lighting?​
jaxmax​	N​	08/21/20​	N​	N​
Pitch​	N​	08/20/20​	Y​	?​
Aberk​	Y​	06/09/19​	Y​	Y​
atoy74​	Y​	07/09/19​	Y​	Y​
kclendaniel​	N​	09/11/20​	Y​	?​
jeepfitter​	N​	11/17/20​	Y​	Y​

 

[jalbrecht55]

Regarding the ECM flash: I thought I read that in the Jscan app there was a toggle for brake controller. I wonder if this has anything to do with the issue that shadow has but monte doesn’t?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Regarding the ECM flash: I thought I read that in the Jscan app there was a toggle for brake controller. I wonder if this has anything to do with the issue that shadow has but monte doesn’t?

Good thought, but 'Been there, done that.'
It's for "integrated" which this is not. The wiring diagrams show these using a connector labeled "third party brake controller".
I already toggled that with my jscan.

I thought - what the heck, some people insist a flash is needed while others - nope, no flash and it's fine. My dealer tech indicated no flash was needed after looking into it and finding those error codes set. But I set that to "on" and it mattered not, errors there were still.

 

[Stevevdbh]

Can someone provide where the best price to buy the brake controller?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Can someone provide where the best price to buy the brake controller?

This brake controller?
The Mopar version that works on about 70% of the Gladiators out there?
Probably Benny here on the forum.

For about 120 less - there's Redarc if you want A brake controller and not THE brake controller.

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