Trailer disconnect warning
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Elder User
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From: Florida
Trailer disconnect warning
Anyone had any problem getting a "trailer disconnect" warning when towing a trailer with electric brakes with a '05 PSD? When I tow my horse trailer, it continuously gives me the warning and beeps, but everything is hooked up and working, including the brakes. I can toggle the manual brake actuaator and feel them engaging.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: New Jersey
Getting that message with a trailer connected means that you have an intermittent wiring concern. This could be anything from a loose connection to a corroded ground wire. One mistake I commonly see is that people dismiss the ground wiring included in the trailer connector and assume that the hitch provides the best ground circuit.
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Joined: May 2005
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I'm fighting this right now as well. I spent most of yesterday on the ground under the trailer. I did find 1 broken wire coming off one of the brakes and also found a faulty emergency disconnect switch.
Was thinking the integrated controller was too smart for itself (and annoying) but then based on what I found as well as remembering that with the other truck we "ignored" some occasional erratic brake manorisms I think it's actually a seriously well designed piece of equipment. Keeping my fingers crossed I fixed all the trailer faults so we can tow in peace next weekend.
Keep looking, if it's telling you something's at fault in the trailer, it's probably right, you'll find it.
Was thinking the integrated controller was too smart for itself (and annoying) but then based on what I found as well as remembering that with the other truck we "ignored" some occasional erratic brake manorisms I think it's actually a seriously well designed piece of equipment. Keeping my fingers crossed I fixed all the trailer faults so we can tow in peace next weekend.
Keep looking, if it's telling you something's at fault in the trailer, it's probably right, you'll find it.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Nothern Indiana
I have the same concern . Just got back pulling my fiver 2k miles . Thing was driving me nuts then it quit then it came back. ???? I checked wiring ran voltage drop test on all the wires and everything checked out .When I did have the connector not in all the way it did the same thing but it also showed red on the controler.The other times it just beeped and sometimes said trailer disconected but allways showed green on the controler. I thought the same thing at first it was my trailer but I hooked it up to my freinds 05 and never made a beep.?????? I'm thinking wire harness on the truck rubbing somewhere but thought it would do it when trailer was not there. Quess next thing is checking truck wiring .
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From: 3rd Rock
The only time I have seen this is with a wiring problem, tuned out to be in the trailer harness all three times, three different trailers.
IMO Ford_Doctor is spot on!
IMO Ford_Doctor is spot on!
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From: Florida
I'll get out the tester. I seldom use this horse trailer, so I keep putting it off. Tim, I've been in Eurpoe for the last 3 weeks, now it's time to stay and play at home. We are planning to take the boat to the keys next month. I can't wait to see how the 6.0 does on a 450 mile trip towing 13,500 pounds of boat, motors and trailer with a 120 square foot "windbrake". This is the first thing I've ever hooked to that the truck really Knows is back there.
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From: Lynden, WA.
Looks like the cause of this issue has been diagnosed, So I'll attempt to hijack this thread.
Have any of you that have the 05' integrated brake controller ever used a Techonsha Prodigy controller? How do they compare to each other?
I have an 04' with the Prodigy, but have to wonder if I'm missing out on a good thing from Ford.
Have any of you that have the 05' integrated brake controller ever used a Techonsha Prodigy controller? How do they compare to each other?
I have an 04' with the Prodigy, but have to wonder if I'm missing out on a good thing from Ford.
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Boy, Hjudge49 you must be well liked on this site. 
Just last month I posted this same question about my 05 and only got two replies. Any how I will share my diagnosis. I checked all of the cables on the truck and could not find any problems. I then towed my Dad’s trailer with my truck and could not get it to act up. Then I figured that I would solder all of my connection that run under my trailer. Now mind you that my trailer is a 2001 so it is fairly new. I found one of the wires had been stripped back to bare wire and could have been rubbing against the frame. This was a manufacturing flaw in the trailer that I never noticed with my old break controller. Is this the demon that was making me pull out my hair…… I hope so I am going on a trip to Virginia this weekend and i will let you all know.
By the way I did find a connector under the hood on the driver side wheel well that connected the trailer connector to the mass of wire that goes into the cab. You might want to check that connector as well.
Rob
Just last month I posted this same question about my 05 and only got two replies. Any how I will share my diagnosis. I checked all of the cables on the truck and could not find any problems. I then towed my Dad’s trailer with my truck and could not get it to act up. Then I figured that I would solder all of my connection that run under my trailer. Now mind you that my trailer is a 2001 so it is fairly new. I found one of the wires had been stripped back to bare wire and could have been rubbing against the frame. This was a manufacturing flaw in the trailer that I never noticed with my old break controller. Is this the demon that was making me pull out my hair…… I hope so I am going on a trip to Virginia this weekend and i will let you all know. By the way I did find a connector under the hood on the driver side wheel well that connected the trailer connector to the mass of wire that goes into the cab. You might want to check that connector as well.
Rob
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From: Nothern Indiana
Originally Posted by Tim Lamkin
The only time I have seen this is with a wiring problem, tuned out to be in the trailer harness all three times, three different trailers.
IMO Ford_Doctor is spot on!
IMO Ford_Doctor is spot on!
. It seems to be my truck thats the problem .I can go 500 miles and it will not act up and other times it goes off like crazy .Most of the time I only get a beep and nothing on the display .
I think its a homotron .
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From: Florida
Thanks for the help guys. That will save me a lot of blind looking.
Tim, anytime you want to go fishing, just come on down. I'm retired and can fish any day. But August is DEAD
... October- November and March thru May are the best months for us in North East Florida. The Tuna and Marlin move North in the spring and back South in the fall and so we get the best fishing days then. 
Or come in September and I'll take you alligator hunting, it's much more exciting... 
Tim, anytime you want to go fishing, just come on down. I'm retired and can fish any day. But August is DEAD
... October- November and March thru May are the best months for us in North East Florida. The Tuna and Marlin move North in the spring and back South in the fall and so we get the best fishing days then. Or come in September and I'll take you alligator hunting, it's much more exciting...