Thank you for the reply. I've told my SC that I will be happy to pay for the pigtail if they will just order it for me. Also pointed out to them that it is "over the counter", No VIN in the Model X parts. So far that approach hasn't worked, but they are still looking into it, so I am hopeful this will get resolved.
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Model Y Brake Controller
- Thread starter velocty
- Start date
Happy to say the Littleton SC came thru for me with the pigtail. I would have paid for it, but they apparently had no way to create a ticket for it, since it was a Model X part in their system. So they just gave it to me. I imagine it won't be too long before that gets fixed.
Can't say enough good things about the Mobile Service rep I worked with. He even dropped by to make sure it actually fit with the vehicle's connector in the driver's foot well, and took a picture of it connected. I'm hoping that means it will get documented that it works fine.
I have it connecting a Tekonsha P3.
Thanks again to Velocty for posting the video of his installation. It was really helpful.
Can't say enough good things about the Mobile Service rep I worked with. He even dropped by to make sure it actually fit with the vehicle's connector in the driver's foot well, and took a picture of it connected. I'm hoping that means it will get documented that it works fine.
I have it connecting a Tekonsha P3.
Thanks again to Velocty for posting the video of his installation. It was really helpful.
Yes, they recommend you secure the phone with a holder. I use a RAM Mount that's quite flexible in mounting locations. It worked Plug n Play with my Carson trailer brakes. Sorry don't have a photo of it in use. Will try to remember to take one next time. I also posted this elsewhere on the Model Y community with my towing experience, which was drama free.
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Dithermaster
Member
In the same boat looking for a connector, thanks for the part number, I'll give our service center a call.
BTW, these braking controllers that use your smartphone just for the accelerometer seem silly. Those are cheap parts nowdays, maybe cheaper than the bluetooth chip to connect to the phone. Weird.
BTW, these braking controllers that use your smartphone just for the accelerometer seem silly. Those are cheap parts nowdays, maybe cheaper than the bluetooth chip to connect to the phone. Weird.
Dithermaster
Member
I think the actual part number is 1072586-00-A. The number you posted (1027584-00-A) seems to be the Model X hitch, which will cost you more and won't work on your Model Y.
Dithermaster
Member
@velocty: Do you know, does the Model Y activate the "brake light input signal" to the braking controller any time the brake lights are on, or only when the brake pedal is used? The difference being that regen can turn on the brake lights even when the brake pedal is not used. I'd like to not have the trailer brakes applied unless I'm using the brake pedal, in order to maximize regen. Then again, if the Model Y activates the brake lights during regen based on actual deceleration rate and not the amount of regen, maybe they won't even come on as much due to the extra total weight (f=ma and all that). If you're not sure, I'll have to check once we get it all working. BTW, I found a friendly Model X owner who doesn't need his pigtail and is giving it to me. How fortunate!
I think the odds are probably good it's set up right. Trailer brake lights and trailer brakes are two separate pins on the seven-pin connector. It seems fairly obvious the brake controller should only be activated when the Tesla's actual brake pads are engaged. Indeed, I think when I wired up my other car, the brake controller was wired to the brake pedal sensor, not the taillights.
Flybuddy
Member
After almost 3 months, finally got my hitch installed HOWEVER, despite my being assured 3 times that they had a brake controller pigtail for me, they didn't, and started order process again with the usual stipulations like "that part doesn't exist for the Y", "you might have to pay for it", "not sure we can get it". Despite my providing copies of owners manual showing it's supposed to be included and copy of their own parts list showing no restrictions on purchasing (I'll gladly pay). This is an obvious internal mistake BUT they seem have to no concern or method toward fixing and seem to just accept crappy systemics and throw their hands up. So I now have a hitch that I can't tow with and in limbo again as to if and when the pigtail might show up.
Is your “other car” an EV? Tesla regen braking can be pretty strong even when the driver is not pressing on the brake pedal. In my opinion it could be desirable to have the trailer brakes activated to a moderate degree during strong regen braking with no corresponding pedal application by the driver.
Sorry to hear the saga is continuing. My mobile service guy told me he was going to try to submit some kind of engineering note, not sure what it would be called, but it was to let all service centers know that the Model X pigtail works just fine in a Model Y after verifying it in my Y.
This does shake my confidence a bit in Tesla's ability to support their customers. They can make a very good, and very complex EV, but can't seem to fix what seems to me to be a very trivial problem with their parts ordering system.
I guess that's a good point, you could argue that for retaining control under heavy regen the trailer brakes should be used. Unfortunately the car doesn't control the amount of brake activation; that's the job of the brake controller. The car only gets to decide when to send the "braking" signal.
My Tekonsha brake controller (installed in my X) is adjustable so I can set it to activate my trailer brakes at whatever vehicle deceleration level I want to. So in that sense, my car does “control” the amount of trailer brake activation.
I would like to add my 2 cents to this. So i just got my MY two weeks ago with the factory hitch. It still doesnt come with the pigtail and when I went to the service center in Tempe, AZ the parts guy still wasnt really sure what I was talking about. He was able to find the part and then I paid $4.76 for it. He said he could probably get it for free but it would require a little bit of time and I was sick of waiting. Also, installing it is a pain. Why would the plug be so hard to access? Anyway, I got it all together and the teknosha P3 is all set. Just as an FYI, I found a document that shows clearly what wires goto what, instead of trying to interpret the wiring diagram. This is for an X and a P2 controller but the wires are the same.
After using this for some time now, are you still happy with the Curt Echo BC? My 2021 Model Y delivers in two weeks. I want to get all my ducks in a row. Thanks!
Rshephorse
Member
Possibly a stupid question but - what is the interaction between the brake controller and trailer mode? I'm assuming the way this works is that the brake controller initiates trailer braking when the brake light comes on and intensifies braking by monitoring your deceleration? If so, light deceleration with regnerative braking that does not turn on the brake lights would allow you to 'harvest' that energy, but would kick on the trailer friction brakes when the tesla brake lights are triggered on? Also, does regenerative braking OR the point at which brake lights come on change in 'Trailer Mode'?
Flybuddy
Member
Seems to work as soon as you plug in the 7 pin trailer plug. Two days back I was installing a rear view trailer camera and had to plug in to the camper to get the running lights on as the camper has that circuit as pre-wiring for the camera. As soon as I plugged in the trailer mode icon came on. I've towed several times with it and the icon always comes on after plugging in and before towing. Conversely, it doesn't always come out of trailer mode after disconnecting and I have had to manually turn it off. Didn't work that way before so I think it's a byproduct of one of the recent updates.
salukidiaz
Member
This thread has been super helpful to me as I went through my Model Y purchase, so I wanted to share my success story in getting the 4-pin brake controller cable. First, knowing from this thread that obtaining the cable might be an issue, and since the Tesla delivery center is more than an hour and a half from home, I wanted to make sure I had done everything I could to make sure I wasn't going to walk away from the delivery without it. I started by emailing my sales advisor asking whether or not the cable would be included with the car (per the owners manual). He referred the question to his manager, who initially told me it was included, then emailed back a couple of minutes later and said that it wasn't. After a couple of back and forth emails, they committed to resolving it at delivery. Before the delivery was complete, I explained the situation to the delivery specialist, who initially tried to tell me the "wires" were already installed (she was referring to the 7-pin connector at the hitch), but after a little more discussion we finally came to an understanding. I think what helped most what that I was able to provide her with the part number from this thread (1072586-00-A). She made the trip over the parts department and had the cable for me within 5 minutes. FWIW, this was the Tysons, Virginia location, my vehicle was a Feb 14, 2021 build, and the delivery was on March 12, 2021 (so it would seem that corporate Tesla still hasn't straightened this out). Overall, the delivery was very smooth, and we're looking forward to taking our Model Y and a small travel trailer out camping this summer. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread!
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