Trailer disconnected message
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Trailer disconnected message
I have (2) 2014 f250's both have given the trailer disconnected message randomly from the day they were new. Dealer says everything is with in specification. I just live with it now but something must be wrong with the design. Any ideas? Only does it when no trailer is connected an might be worse when it rains. Might have to hit the ok button every 10 minutes so on bad days.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
Likes: 10
From: Parker, CO
It means there's something wrong with the trailer.
The system is designed to see a variety of parameters when a trailer is connected. If you have bad grounds, corroded connections, overloads, a dead breakaway battery, etc, it will cause the message to pop up saying the trailer is disconnected. Basically the truck is protecting itself.
Since it's worse when it rains, my money is on faulty ground or corroded connections on the trailer itself.
The system is designed to see a variety of parameters when a trailer is connected. If you have bad grounds, corroded connections, overloads, a dead breakaway battery, etc, it will cause the message to pop up saying the trailer is disconnected. Basically the truck is protecting itself.
Since it's worse when it rains, my money is on faulty ground or corroded connections on the trailer itself.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 22
From: very South Texas
it states it ever when NO TRAILER is Connected.
this design has been used for years...
I get it about once a month.. NO trailer connected....
have the truck 7 pin connector checked for dirt/sand/water inside connector.
leakage of voltage between pins. just an Idea.
this design has been used for years...
I get it about once a month.. NO trailer connected....
have the truck 7 pin connector checked for dirt/sand/water inside connector.
leakage of voltage between pins. just an Idea.
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New User
Joined: Dec 2015
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I never pull a trailer.
It means there's something wrong with the trailer.
The system is designed to see a variety of parameters when a trailer is connected. If you have bad grounds, corroded connections, overloads, a dead breakaway battery, etc, it will cause the message to pop up saying the trailer is disconnected. Basically the truck is protecting itself.
Since it's worse when it rains, my money is on faulty ground or corroded connections on the trailer itself.
The system is designed to see a variety of parameters when a trailer is connected. If you have bad grounds, corroded connections, overloads, a dead breakaway battery, etc, it will cause the message to pop up saying the trailer is disconnected. Basically the truck is protecting itself.
Since it's worse when it rains, my money is on faulty ground or corroded connections on the trailer itself.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
Likes: 10
From: Parker, CO
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 397
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From: Nortern FL
Not a Ford, but I got this message when the connection on the back side of the 7 pin on my Ram was lose. Unplugged it, cleaned it, and made sure it was plugged in good and never had another issue. I did that after the dealer told me there was nothing wrong (400 miles on truck). Apparently they didn't plug it in good at the factory and the dealer obviously didn't physically check anything because I knew it was lose the second I put my hand on the harness from under the truck.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 68
Likes: 2
From: Stanton, Ca.
I had the same error many times with my newer trailer. To diagnose it one night I was on a side road when it happened with no traffic so I just stopped and it was while I was turning right.
I got out and wiggled the connector while the wife told me that it then said that it was connected again.
The problem I found is when it is cold outside this cord doesn’t seem to be the same quality as my older trailer connector and it gets much stiffer than the older cord.
When turning right the cord would be stiff enough that it would lift the door on the truck side of the connector and the trailer brakes would come disconnected as that connection is on the bottom side of the plug.
Even though the cord still had play in it I ended up re-routing the cord around the left side of my front jack and it does hang a bit lower now while driving straight, I don’t get the error anymore of it coming disconnected.
I got out and wiggled the connector while the wife told me that it then said that it was connected again.
The problem I found is when it is cold outside this cord doesn’t seem to be the same quality as my older trailer connector and it gets much stiffer than the older cord.
When turning right the cord would be stiff enough that it would lift the door on the truck side of the connector and the trailer brakes would come disconnected as that connection is on the bottom side of the plug.
Even though the cord still had play in it I ended up re-routing the cord around the left side of my front jack and it does hang a bit lower now while driving straight, I don’t get the error anymore of it coming disconnected.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Michigan
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: West Virginia
I use this: http://www.amazon.com/CRC-02083-Di-E...c+grease+spray much cleaner than the grease and a can seems to last forever.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2015
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I have the same message in my 2012 while not pulling a trailer only at startups. I cleaned it and it went away for a while and it is now back. I will try taking apart and putting back together in the spring. I a different thread someone said they ended up replacing the control panel in-cab and it went away. That is a $100+ fix so i will try the free ones first.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 397
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From: Nortern FL
I have the same message in my 2012 while not pulling a trailer only at startups. I cleaned it and it went away for a while and it is now back. I will try taking apart and putting back together in the spring. I a different thread someone said they ended up replacing the control panel in-cab and it went away. That is a $100+ fix so i will try the free ones first.
If I just had the message at start up and it went away I don't know if I'd spend $100 to make it go away.