Trailer brakes disconnecting

[banbear]

Okay, I am hoping someone can help me. I have a brand new 2022 GMC dually that is towing my 2020 Cyclone. During my trips, i am getting a random Trailer Wiring / Trailer Brakes Disconnected notification on my dash. This occurs very sporadically and will typically reconnect within a few seconds of the notification. But during that time, i am without trailer brakes.

All other lights and turn signals work on the trailer when this occurs as i had someone behind me when it happened and they confirmed.

I also had the same issued with this Cyclone on my old truck, so i am confident its not on the truck side of things

I have already replaced the 7 pin plug and that didn't fix anything.

Is there a brake controller somewhere on the Cyclone that i should check? Is there anything else that could be causing this issue? Its very frustrating.

Thank you for your help.
Brandon

 

[JohnDar]

Check the connections in the junction box the cord goes into. They use wire nuts to join the cord to the trailer wiring and one may have come loose. Another cause could be some corrosion on the truck socket terminals. Some electrical contact cleaner and working the plug in and out will clean it. Doesn’t take much oxidation to interfere with the connection. BTDT.

With the chip shortage and acres of trucks sitting idle in fields waiting for them, your 2022 GMC may have been one of them for a while.

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[Dahillbilly]

Like JohnDar stated above check those connections, have the same problem with my 2015 Chev. Now I make sure the plug (7way & 4 flat) mounted in the bumper stays clean. Has lessen the problem

 

[banbear]

Check the connections in the junction box the cord goes into. They use wire nuts to join the cord to the trailer wiring and one may have come loose. Another cause could be some corrosion on the truck socket terminals. Some electrical contact cleaner and working the plug in and out will clean it. Doesn’t take much oxidation to interfere with the connection. BTDT.

With the chip shortage and acres of trucks sitting idle in fields waiting for them, your 2022 GMC may have been one of them for a while.

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I will definitely check those wire nut connections - thank you

The only reason i don't think its on the truck side, is i also have a 30 foot enclosed car trailer with the same 7 pin setup and i don't have any brake issues on that unit. Plus i also tried to connect at the bumper 7pin connector too and it has the same issue with losing trailer brakes. By process of elimination i am thinking its more somewhere in the Cyclone side.

But obviously it can't hurt to spray electrical contact cleaner on there.

Thank you again!!

 

[LBR]

I think your CY is a triple axle, and am assuming all your other ones are single or dual axles......correct?

 

[banbear]

I think your CY is a triple axle, and am assuming all your other ones are single or dual axles......correct?

yes, that is correct.

 

[carl.swoyer]

Mine did that and it was a shorted terminal in the pigtail. Found out that my wife wasn't pushing it in far enough.

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[NYSUPstater]

Also double check the wiring on top of the axles as well starting at where the power for the brakes 1st comes to the axle. Have heard where this can cause power not to flow thru to rest of the brakes thus towing the message.

 

[wdk450]

If you are uncertain about the umbilical cable and its connections to the trailer wiring, you may want to re-do the entire setup including this termination box instead of the nest of wirenuts. It doesn't cost much.

https://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Inline-Trailer-Weatherproof-Junction/dp/B087RHK66T/ref=asc_df_B087RHK66T/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459710007596&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12490916651053795234&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031267&hvtargid=pla-1136360327432&psc=1

 

[banbear]

is there any other control boxes or modules that the wiring runs through that i would need to check for connections? I just don't want to miss anything when i am checking.

 

[Hollandt]

Okay, I am hoping someone can help me. I have a brand new 2022 GMC dually that is towing my 2020 Cyclone. During my trips, i am getting a random Trailer Wiring / Trailer Brakes Disconnected notification on my dash. This occurs very sporadically and will typically reconnect within a few seconds of the notification. But during that time, i am without trailer brakes.

All other lights and turn signals work on the trailer when this occurs as i had someone behind me when it happened and they confirmed.

I also had the same issued with this Cyclone on my old truck, so i am confident its not on the truck side of things

I have already replaced the 7 pin plug and that didn't fix anything.

Is there a brake controller somewhere on the Cyclone that i should check? Is there anything else that could be causing this issue? Its very frustrating.

Thank you for your help.
Brandon

Depending how many miles you have on the brakes the magnets maybe worn out and shorting. The magnets will wear against the drum surface and must be replaced from time to time as well as the brake shoes. I think Dexter has a thickness spec on the wear point. Also there could be a short in the wiring inside the drum as well.

 

[mlpeloquin]

Try spraying your connector contacts with DeOxit.

 

[mlpeloquin]

What Bill Knight said will cure a lot of ills for $35 bucks and a little time.
View attachment 64324

 

[banbear]

If you are uncertain about the umbilical cable and its connections to the trailer wiring, you may want to re-do the entire setup including this termination box instead of the nest of wirenuts. It doesn't cost much.

https://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Inline-Trailer-Weatherproof-Junction/dp/B087RHK66T/ref=asc_df_B087RHK66T/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459710007596&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12490916651053795234&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031267&hvtargid=pla-1136360327432&psc=1

thank you, this is a great idea and probably a good place to start.

 

[DickO]

Lots of info here BUT here is what was wrong with my Bighorn. Two things. One of the brake wires was rubbing on the frame and there was a bare spot. This was from the factory. My tech took out about 18 inches of wire to shorten the length. Also they found a connector from the factory that had been partially pinched but NOT heated to seal. The joined wires were slightly seperated.

 

[Dahillbilly]

just thought of something else, on my 2015 I've gotten that message without a trailer connected to the truck; have yet to figure that out.

 

[banbear]

Lots of info here BUT here is what was wrong with my Bighorn. Two things. One of the brake wires was rubbing on the frame and there was a bare spot. This was from the factory. My tech took out about 18 inches of wire to shorten the length. Also they found a connector from the factory that had been partially pinched but NOT heated to seal. The joined wires were slightly seperated.

this is what i am worried about. A small wiring issue that might be hard to spot. I almost feel like having it re-wired if the other solutions above don't fix it. Its one thing to deal with a turn signal not working, but when you are pulling an 18k trailer and the brakes don't work....white knuckles for sure!!!

 

[DickO]

I hope this gets to everyone. I started having the check trailer wiring as we started cross country. Spent a fortune trying to get it fixed. There is a GM bulletin PITT5311F stating GM vehicles from2014 to 2020 need a 7 prong plug on the trailer made by Pollak. This makes NO sense since the manufacturers buy the cords by the hundreds. Plus I changed mine plus the whole cord and the plug on the truck and that did not solve the problem I have filed a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission. Someone is going to get killed. I did talk to one guy who had to put his 5th wheel in the median during an emergency ahead of him just as the brakes went out

 

[carl.swoyer]

Yes that's happened to me. 2015 silverado dually long bed 4 door. It only happened in a monsoon downpour. It's the wiring harness connector near the spare
tire. Some dielectric grease can help.

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[Dahillbilly]

2015 Chev 3500 HD Durmax & I've changed both the cord & plug in the box, used dialectic grease, cleaned both and every now & then I get a message check trailer brakes even if no trailer is connected. Anyone else have this happen & a cure for it?