Trailer wiring intermittent
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Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Louisiana
Trailer wiring intermittent
Recently experienced an apparent intermittent connection on my trailer causing the dash display to flash (Trailer Conneccted). Then a few seconds or a few minutes later the display reads ( trailer disconnected). I want to troubleshoot it this week, but not sure where to start without completely retiring trailer.
Does anyone knou what circuits are monitored for this system?
Thanks in advance for your help.
K
Does anyone knou what circuits are monitored for this system?
Thanks in advance for your help.
K
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,206
Likes: 3
From: Oakhust NJ Jersey Shore
All the circuits are monitored thru the GEM module, even trailer brakes, but it sounds like a main circuit, or else it would tell ya trailer brake problem ect, I have to look and see what connection the module is looking for when it reads trailer disconnected. I would think brake/turn signal cicuit, the gem detects the resistance in those circuits, Anyone else out there know some more please chime in.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,509
Likes: 662
From: Sioux Falls Area
AFAIK, it is only looking for resistance on the brake wire.
i don't have a truck this new, but everything i've read says that it will say "trailer disconnected" if you hook up to a trailer without brakes.
Start at the plug on the truck. check the prongs, clean them up, and bend them out slightly if needed to get some tension on them.
if possible borrow a truck and pull your trailer with that to see if the problem follows the trailer. or borrow a trailer with brakes and see if the problem follows the truck.
if it is the trailer, start at the plug and work back to the brakes. most trailers are made with crappy wire tap connections.... replace as needed. no easier way to do it that i know of, unfortunately.
i don't have a truck this new, but everything i've read says that it will say "trailer disconnected" if you hook up to a trailer without brakes.
Start at the plug on the truck. check the prongs, clean them up, and bend them out slightly if needed to get some tension on them.
if possible borrow a truck and pull your trailer with that to see if the problem follows the trailer. or borrow a trailer with brakes and see if the problem follows the truck.
if it is the trailer, start at the plug and work back to the brakes. most trailers are made with crappy wire tap connections.... replace as needed. no easier way to do it that i know of, unfortunately.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
AFAIK, it is only looking for resistance on the brake wire.
i don't have a truck this new, but everything i've read says that it will say "trailer disconnected" if you hook up to a trailer without brakes.
Start at the plug on the truck. check the prongs, clean them up, and bend them out slightly if needed to get some tension on them.
if possible borrow a truck and pull your trailer with that to see if the problem follows the trailer. or borrow a trailer with brakes and see if the problem follows the truck.
if it is the trailer, start at the plug and work back to the brakes. most trailers are made with crappy wire tap connections.... replace as needed. no easier way to do it that i know of, unfortunately.
i don't have a truck this new, but everything i've read says that it will say "trailer disconnected" if you hook up to a trailer without brakes.
Start at the plug on the truck. check the prongs, clean them up, and bend them out slightly if needed to get some tension on them.
if possible borrow a truck and pull your trailer with that to see if the problem follows the trailer. or borrow a trailer with brakes and see if the problem follows the truck.
if it is the trailer, start at the plug and work back to the brakes. most trailers are made with crappy wire tap connections.... replace as needed. no easier way to do it that i know of, unfortunately.
Agree, seven pin connection most likely candidate, trailer much less likely to be the problem, but it does happen when a brake lead chafes.
Common problem, dozens, if not hundreds of posts about it in this forum.
Steve
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
Likes: 1,432
From: Millersville, MD
Lots of trailer owners (not 5th wheel) rely on the hitch ball to act as the only ground between truck/trailer. Check this.... you HAVE TO have a solid ground wire between the two. OPEN the 7 way plug and check for corrosion there.
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