Trailer Brake Controller: "Trailer Disconnected"

[Mustangnut6788]

Hey guys I'm working on my 08 F-350 KR and when I plugged my 28' enclosed trailer up to it the electric brakes are giving me fits. The lights work fine, just the brakes are giving me fits. I'm almost positive that the trailer is ok since it worked fine on my F150 last year. I also had a friend over with his 06 F350 KR and his worked fine too. We both have the integrated brake controller on our trucks.

At first the brakes would work intermittently and would somewhat function but now they seldom come on. When I squeeze the override button the dash says "trailer disconnected".

I have done the basic things like clean all the contacts on both the truck and trailer plugs. I even took the plug off the harness on the truck and cleaned it up. The truck is from Texas so it doesn't have much corrosion at all. The trailer plug was new last summer and was greased up for the winter to prevent corrosion. I have redone the main ground wire on the trailer frame by grinding down to bare metal and installing a new ring terminal. Still no luck so I'm beginning to think its in the truck side of things.

Has anyone experienced this problem or have any recommendations on how to troubleshoot or diagnosis this?

Thanks for the help guys.

Nate

[Clayton1985]

Had a similar issue. Check the fuse my man!

[rocknmj]

Mine will do it occasionally with my GN. Seems that I have to really push the trailer plug in hard. Even after it seats far enough to engage the lock I have to give it a little more otherwise I'll get the on-and-off "trailer disconnected" message. I've been meaning to swap out my trailer plug but haven't got it done yet. Would be interested to know if it ends up being the truck side.


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[Mustangnut6788]

Clayton, do you know what fuse to look for? Is it under the hood or pass side kick panel?

[Clayton1985]

I cant recall.


Actually, im pretty sure its under the hood now that I think about it.

[NCfarmboy]

Let me know where it is and what you find...having a similar issue

[44magnum]

Push the plug in REALLY REALLY hard. I went through the exact same thing. I even had a friend test the plug on the truck, when he just stuck it in (like any sane person would) it would have problems but when he shoved it in really hard it worked great. Doesn't make much sense to me but I haven't had any trouble since I started REALLY pushing the plug in.

[SuperCrutyPS]

Could there be a ground issue? If the circuit is not completing, I think it would give the Trailer Disconnected error. Maybe check under your truck in the back by the plug to see if the ground wire is attached. just throwing it out.

[510guy]

i had to get a small screwdriver and bend the contacts inside the trailer plug on one of my work trailers to get it to work. the lights all worked fine but intermittently i had no brakes and given the road i was on i stopped at a brake check and got them working.

[kevinah]

I had the same issue, it was the ground on the trailer. I then had a problem as a result of the ground problem, the fuse blew on the truck- the one under the hood.


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