Brakes

[Scottld]

2015 redwood has started sending 2 messages to my rams dashboard. 1. Check trailer electrical connection. 2. Trailer brake disconnected. At times it happens every minute and at other times nothing happens for 200 miles. I’m thinking brake ground. Anyone have hints on best place to start looking for this intermittent problem.

[hoosierguy]

I have used one of wiring testers to make sure everything is functioning correctly at the truck connector. https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Tekonsha/6562.html

There are other brands available at less cost. This type of tester will at least help to narrow down a problem to the tow vehicle or trailer wiring.

[Elliott & Vicky]

Buy some contact cleaner from NAPA and spray your connections. I do this several times a year, and it keeps the contacts clean. A worth while chore.

[XCMARK]

Also I would suggest you get 4 blue butt splices and 4 pieces of heat shrink that you can put the butt splices in it and seal it up from water/salt and crap. Cut the wire running thru the axle tube , after some miles of driving with unbalanced tires the wire breaks or develops a short to ground because the wire is unsupported in the tube. After you pull it out just run it on the tops back side of the tube with tie raps every 8~10". you will never have a problem outside the tube but I guaranty inside it fails and grounds out.

loose fitting plug at the trailer to truck connection is also a big offender. check the tabs on the truck side often they need to be bent open some, Make sure the truck is off and the fuse for battery + is pulled out. or you could be looking for a secondary issue of blown fuses.

[RV4us2]

Scottld....Is the truck or RW new to you? I had the same messages when we first picked up our 2015 38GK. Turned out we had the wrong controller module in the RW....an earlier model that did not properly communicate with our '15 GMC. Once I got the newer controller module, it worked perfectly.

[atom ant]

If you have drum brakes, save yourself some time and start at the wheels. Chances are a magnet wire wore through in the drum and is intermittently shorting out.

[travelin' texans]

The easiest place to start would be the junction box behind the pin box, those factory guys get a little weak at twisting on the wire nuts close to quitting time.

[xtasee]

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

The easiest place to start would be the junction box behind the pin box, those factory guys get a little weak at twisting on the wire nuts close to quitting time.

Yep and in my case, they connected it to the wrong wires in that box. It took me days to trace it and get it right. The issue did not show up until I changed trucks and the truck was smarter than the old one....