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Hey guys and gals. In low right now heading north. Applied the brakes. Got a beep and a trailer fault and it seemed it was hard to stop the trailer. My SCT programmer doesn't show any codes and there has to be some.
When I stopped to check wires seemed ok. Just wondering is there a common issue when this occurs until I get to the camp site?
We had a number of issues with ours, except it ended up each and every time to NOT be the TBC -- it has always been a connection, loose ground, loose wires in the connector plug or receptacle itself. For our camper extension I finally put a small bungee cord on to hold the plug from the trailer in tight to the receptacle. That was what happened to us was going down the road all of the sudden a trailer fault, or the running lights would go out. The bungee works like a charm, off road or on, so hoaky or not, that's the way we roll these days...
If you have someone in the cab watching the TBC display, go back and wiggle the plug slowly and see if it goes away at any point. Make sure the plug and receptacle contacts are clean, and I'd pull apart the plug even to be sure there's no corrosion or loose wires hidden in there...
Almost never the TBC. Almost always the seven pin connection on either the front or back side of the plug. Connection issues are overwhelming first likelihood. The TBC is usually telling you it can't find your trailer.
Ok, funny thing happened. Just started raining. Had to apply the brakes exiting the off ramp of HWY 35. Low and behold, I had trailer brakes again??? Did it again. Yep brakes. Got back on HWY, no brakes when I tested them away from traffic.
Just got fuel and I'll wiggle the wires at connector. Check plugs at both ends but yep. Seems to be the harness.
Didn't know about the harness issue. Did some reading. Some who replaced their harness put silicone in the end (wire ends, not connector end) to keep the water out
Thx for all the tips everyone. Forgot anout manually pushing the levers together to stop, duhhh! I'll be pulling into Minnesota tonight and do some more checking. So far looks like new harness.
I would not do an entire harness. The most common problem area on these trucks is actually at the back of the seven pin, that is behind the bumper under the truck. Pull back the cover so you can see the connections. The ground is vulnerable as it is a low point on the standard seven pin and often picks up a lot of moisture. Usually just clean and make a good connection is all it takes. If you want to check and see if it is the ground use a battery cable and connect to a good clean spot on your trailer and the frame of your truck.
I would not do an entire harness. The most common problem area on these trucks is actually at the back of the seven pin, that is behind the bumper under the truck. Pull back the cover so you can see the connections. The ground is vulnerable as it is a low point on the standard seven pin and often picks up a lot of moisture. Usually just clean and make a good connection is all it takes. If you want to check and see if it is the ground use a battery cable and connect to a good clean spot on your trailer and the frame of your truck.
Steve
Well, got parked in Minnesota to check the back of the connector. No cover to pull back. All wet inside. Don't know if this harness didn't come with one or came off. In any case. More than likely that's where the problem is. It's still raining here so I'll do more checking in the morning.
I would not do an entire harness. The most common problem area on these trucks is actually at the back of the seven pin, that is behind the bumper under the truck. Pull back the cover so you can see the connections. The ground is vulnerable as it is a low point on the standard seven pin and often picks up a lot of moisture. Usually just clean and make a good connection is all it takes. If you want to check and see if it is the ground use a battery cable and connect to a good clean spot on your trailer and the frame of your truck.
Steve
Well, got parked in Minnesota to check the back of the connector. No cover to pull back. All wet inside. Don't know if this harness didn't come with one or came off. In any case. More than likely that's where the problem is. It's still raining here so I'll do more checking in the morning.
I was having some problems with mine.
Turned out to be the connection on the back side of the
hitch plug. Green fuzz. Some contact cleaner and a new
plug fixed that problem. I also put some dielectric grease
on the plug to keep water and other crap out of it.
Something to keep in mind on a truck and trailer.
Even with a ground wire in the wireing harness, you still have to have good contact between the 2 to complete the ground circuit. Most lights are still body/chassie ground.
Went out this morning to check the plug (still raining in Minnesota), 2 Pins closed. Set them all open and sprayed WD 40 on them. Going to have breakfast inside and test when we leave.
You will need a small screwdriver for this part.
If you keep having problems after that look at the
back side of that plug and remove the connector
(screwdriver needed) and see if there is green fuzz
on the contacts in there.
Well, got parked in Minnesota to check the back of the connector. No cover to pull back. All wet inside. Don't know if this harness didn't come with one or came off. In any case. More than likely that's where the problem is. It's still raining here so I'll do more checking in the morning.
Thx for all the help.
Might want to just toss a new trailer connector on the truck side.
