Factory brake controller

[jhenderson]

Oxidation doesn’t happen on a brand new truck. And if it does, mph doesn’t affect voltage output. It’s either there or it’s not. I know you’re bored but telling people go through their wiring to give you something to do is a bit much.

 

[GCroyle]

Well alrighty now for a slight change here's the inline test rig I made up and it passed first field test more to follow.

Yup, believe it or not made it with my own two clumsy hands. I've had the ammeter for unknown years, had 7 way's in my gotta have it's trailer tool box, bought voltmeter, the box is a plain box, the handle protects a selector switch for brake VDC or charge line VDC.

 

[Wiredawg]

I had two new ram trucks that had oxidation and a TSB on it. I am speaking from experience here. Once I get my truck out of the shop, I plan on doing what I'm suggesting here and documenting it even though I dont have a problem.

I might be bored, but I'm sincerely trying to help and not trying to offend anyone. And I may have a little more experience with corrosion issues than most having spent 30 years in the communications and IT career field.

Anyway, I'm still going to press on. It'll likely be 8 to 10 weeks before I can baseline my truck and gather data on my RV and dump trailer.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Wiredawg]

View attachment 113021 Well alrighty now for a slight change here's the inline test rig I made up and it passed first field test more to follow.

Yup, believe it or not made it with my own two clumsy hands. I've had the ammeter for unknown years, had 7 way's in my gotta have it's trailer tool box, bought voltmeter, the box is a plain box, the handle protects a selector switch for brake VDC or charge line VDC.

SWEET! Did I shout? Heck yeah. I might start working on a spreadsheet tomorrow and throw in some ohms law formulas. I have trailers with both 2 axle EOH and heavy electric that I can baseline. I'm even thinking of doing everything before optimising connections and after to see if there is any measurable difference.

Pretty impressive!

Cheers. Ron

 

[Dan_69GTX]

......(snip). You really think you’re that smart, or I’m that stupid?

On multiple choice tests always go with C - all of the above!

The way you responded, sure sounds like you’re taking offense to something. What is wrong with letting him do all the work, to verify your conclusion, Or disprove it.

 

[jhenderson]

I had two new ram trucks that had oxidation and a TSB on it. I am speaking from experience here. Once I get my truck out of the shop, I plan on doing what I'm suggesting here and documenting it even though I dont have a problem.

I might be bored, but I'm sincerely trying to help and not trying to offend anyone. And I may have a little more experience with corrosion issues than most having spent 30 years in the communications and IT career field.

Anyway, I'm still going to press on. It'll likely be 8 to 10 weeks before I can baseline my truck and gather data on my RV and dump trailer.

Cheers, Ron

I guarantee the corrosion wasn’t in wiring under the dash. Just answer the obvious question. What does a road speed variation in voltage have to do with corrosion. If it gets 7 volts at 20 mph it should get 7 at 60 if corrosion has anything to do with it. But by all means, rave on.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

GCroyle, I like that!

 

[Wiredawg]

I guarantee the corrosion wasn’t in wiring under the dash. Just answer the obvious question. What does a road speed variation in voltage have to do with corrosion. If it gets 7 volts at 20 mph it should get 7 at 60 if corrosion has anything to do with it. But by all means, rave on.

I'm not doing this with you in this forum. You can ignore my posts and consider they are not directed at you.

I'm not answering you any more. bye

Cheers, Ron

 

[Wiredawg]

Friends,
For the pickup trucks with trailer tow pkg, are there two 7 pin connectors, one in the bed and one on the bumper?

Thanks, Ron

 

[SnoKing]

Friends,
For the pickup trucks with trailer tow pkg, are there two 7 pin connectors, one in the bed and one on the bumper?

Thanks, Ron

Yes the factory 5th wheel/gooseneck option puts a second one in the bed. When I installed my own 5th wheel pucks, I bought the wiring harness also. It was in a Curt box with a Mopar number. SnoKing

 

[Joseph Sobiech]

At what speed are you measuring voltage? I believe 15+ models the ITBM only allows 70% of max voltage below 30mph, or roughly 7 volts. I am not positive if this programming continued into the 17 model year.

Yes it does makes no sence when you the brakes the most it drops voltage.

 

[SnoKing]

Yes it does makes no sence when you the brakes the most it drops voltage.

Does the peak voltage actually decrease or does the duty cycle decrease the pulses which appears on a meter "like" decreased voltage. At any rate it is all in RAM programming of the controller.

 

[jhenderson]

I'm not doing this with you in this forum. You can ignore my posts and consider they are not directed at you.

I'm not answering you any more. bye

Cheers, Ron

It’s not a tough question, just embarrassing to answer honestly.

 

[Wiredawg]

Friends,
I had an interesting day of researching Ram ITBM part numbers from 2011 to 2019. Here it is:

2011-2012 part # 82212548
2013-2014 part # 82213474
2015. part # 82214492 AB
2016-2019 part # 82215040AB

Notice anything that stands out? MY 2015. I can't tell you the differences between these controllers and as a disclaimer I got the info from MOPAR PARTS FOR LESS I have doubts about compatibility as well.

I had an FCA parts guy explain to me the alpha characters suffix indicates a change in vendor. So, not sure any of the 2015 owners could purchase the 2016-2019 controller that it would even work, or fix your problem.

Just more facts to consider.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Wiredawg]

With all this skin in the game who don't have problems with our ITBCMs working to help y'all with problems with yours, I respectfully ask you to do the following:
1. get yourselves some spray contact cleaner small swabs, plastic non conductive pick and dielectric grease
2. open all the connectors you can find related to the trailer connector and clean the conductors on both ends with the contact cleaner swabs and pick. note any discolored (white, red, gray) that isn't shiney. Make it shiney.
3. Apply dielectric grease into female connector and squarely and securely fasten connectors.
4. look for any crimped, pinched, or crushed wiring.

I know we've mentioned this, but haven't seen any feedback that it's been done. We're here to help, so would be nice if you let us help you.

Thanks, hope to see some positive feedback on this.

Cheers, Ron

Friends,
Thought I would add some more information for those who may be checking your connectors and circuits. Corrosion is oxidation of metal. On silver metals, you could see dull or white color and on copper also dull or green color. A condition can occur, more common in low voltage data circuits, where the oxidation can have higher resistance to low current and lower resistance to higher current. In the old days you could see this condition in a cold solder joint.

Anyway, I'm not an IT or electronics super tech like some of you, so happy to be corrected if I'm off on some of my recollections on this.

Also, could someone check under their dash to see if the factory ITBM output is plugged into a blue connector to the left of the steering column. For those concerned about safety of the ITBN, you might be able to unplug it and use an aftermarket controller using the downstream part of the trucks trailer wiring.

Interesting to hear if converting controller to after market is that easy.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Joseph Sobiech]

So this is an update where I am at now. I have taken my truck to a different dealership a country dealership that sells hundreds of trucks they have a tester like a simulator that they put in a cab of the truck as you drive it around and as many of you have said that the voltage changes less than 30 mph you only get around 70% about 7 volts. That is where my problem is I cannot stop to trailer. They are working with a engineer from Dodge hope to get some Answers this week. If you have a trailer they has a massive overkill brake system then you don't notice it so much my trailer is well equipped it's good for 7000 pounds per axle so that would be 21000 pounds. I am taking my truck and trailer over to the dealership this Friday and they gonna go for a ride with me. I'm alright with putting a after market system in. But I've read some articles when you have a integrated brake system and you put in after market in there are certain things that you have to do so you don't burn it out. Someone said that the person that design the integrated brake system in the Dodge rams between 2013 and 17 has Obviously never pull a heavy trailer in there life. Is there a after market brake system that will plug into the same condition at the integrated system?

 

[jhenderson]

Friends,
I had an interesting day of researching Ram ITBM part numbers from 2011 to 2019. Here it is:

2011-2012 part # 82212548
2013-2014 part # 82213474
2015. part # 82214492 AB
2016-2019 part # 82215040AB

Notice anything that stands out? MY 2015. I can't tell you the differences between these controllers and as a disclaimer I got the info from MOPAR PARTS FOR LESS I have doubts about compatibility as well.

I had an FCA parts guy explain to me the alpha characters suffix indicates a change in vendor. So, not sure any of the 2015 owners could purchase the 2016-2019 controller that it would even work, or fix your problem.

Just more facts to consider.

Cheers, Ron

Quite a revelation. I refer you to post 98.

 

[Joseph Sobiech]

Quite a revelation. I refer you to post 98.

Yes very interesting. My truck is a 17. I was thinking a 18 or 19 would be better but it does not look like it.

 

[Wiredawg]

Quite a revelation. I refer you to post 98.

Do you mean post 93? 98 was my post. No revelation, just more facts. Like 2015 version produced only one year. And it appears 16 and up, not 17 and up changed. AND, the two previous versions before 2015 only were produced 2 years each. you're welcome.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Wiredawg]

Yes very interesting. My truck is a 17. I was thinking a 18 or 19 would be better but it does not look like it.

Joe, I recommend verifying with an FCA dealer on the part # and compatibility. My research is from non-OEM sellers, I have zero tech info on the changes, and would check to be certain.

My BIL came by with his 2017 F350 4x4 crew cab SRW Long Bed Lariat he just got last week. He pulls 25Klb+ goosenecks with it. He has ITBM set on 6.5 to keep from burning the trailer tires up. So, could it be Ram doesn't have the best or strongest ITBM? Not a revelation, but interesting to hear first hand. Mine is set on 10 Heavy EOH, and may have left a little rubber when performing a couple of emergency stops real world.

Cheers, Ron