Trailer Wiring Type or Connection Fault

Here are the facts:

Getting this error on my dash intermittently when towing my old/restored camper.
Using integrated brake controller.
When the error comes on, my trailer brakes do not work.
Error will clear itself but then may come back on.
Just started happening on my recent trip when raining heavily.
Have towed this camper with this truck for two years and many miles with no issues.
Have towed other trailers with brakes with no issues.
I don't think it is the truck, I'm looking into the camper as the issue.
No water is getting into the vehicle plug.

What causes this error to appear? (the instruction manual said something about reverse voltage??) The vehicle must see that there is a trailer attached but is seeing a problem. Dead short on the brake circuit?

I'm thinking about re-wiring the brakes back to the plug just to eliminate a possible problem with worn insulation on wiring.

Thoughts?
Thanks
Adam

 

In the research that I've done, it seams the message that most people are getting is "trailer disconnected, so I really do not think it is the truck. I know I'm on a Tundra forum and not a trailer forum, but was hoping to get a few techie guys to help anyway. I did some testing today. Right now I cannot get the message to appear under normal conditions. I was thinking why this message and not "trailer disconnected" message. Well the truck must be seeing that the trailer is there but sees a problem. A direct short maybe? So I disconnected my trailer's main brake wires and tied them together creating a short. Sure enough, without even applying the brakes, the message appeared. So it seams the truck must send out a periodic signal and can tell when there is a direct short. It did not blow a fuse so it must cut power under this condition.

I don't think this particular message is an issue with the OEM brake controller.

 

***Problem found***

**The manufacturers run the brake wires through the inside of the axle to get from one side to the other. Problem is that since the wires are not tied down, they vibrate and rub through the insulation. I pulled mine out of one axle and sure enough! I found a spot where that had happened and bare wire was exposed. That would cause a direct short and would cause that message to come up on the dash.

This is not an issue with the OEM brake controller.

I am rewiring the camper this week.

Adam

 

Update: Problem solved

 

Yes

 

Thanks for the update. Just read this entire post. Having the same issue, I'll check this tomorrow. Thanks for the update..

 

I just took my travel trailer out today... and on the way home experience the dash warning light.. "trailer disconnected". I will check what was mentioned here and see if that's the issue. Mine is also a restored trailer and the wiring was done by the previous owner. I have already found an improperly wired left turn/brake signal on the trailer 7 pin terminal box. So I will try to hunt this down too.

 

This sounds like an open circuit instead of a short circuit. Loose wire that is disconnecting while driving.

 

Turns out is was a software issue with the trailer brake controller... There is a TSB T-SB-0036-19 out for 2018-2019. The error was very frequent in my case. Every couple minutes. Not cool when towing the trailer! Took it to the dealership and paid $80 for them to update the software. No issues after that... so far.

 

They charge for a TSB update?

 

That's what I said... they told me since it was passed warranty the 1 hour service would be applied (I'm the second owner). I asked for the regional service rep's info to inquire about a reimbursement.

 

Can’t believe they charged for a safety related defect. Warranty or not.

 

Same message on my 2018 Tundra. Towing my new 28ft TT from Texas to Alaska. On the way home, about 6800mi in to the trip, message "Trailer Wiring, type, or connection fault" message appears on the dashboard. Trailer lights work fine, but no trailer brakes. Rained a lot last night. I drove carefully for a while then pulled into a campsite, set up camp, then got back in the truck to take a picture of the message, and no message anymore. Hmm, maybe it is a trailer wiring short. I'll watch it and reply.

 

After all those miles, connects and disconnects, the connectors in the 7pin plug from my trailer were kind of wollered out and it was not making good connections. It was also wet which made the connections worse. I cleaned and tightened it up with a screwdriver, made sure it was plugged in securely, and my breaks work fine, and I have had no more dash messages. The connection fault part of the message is accurate. Problem was the wires. I jumped to wrong conclusion. Tundra is fine. Thanks to our forum contributors.

 

Put a little dialectic grease on the pins in your wiring plug if having water induced problems.

 

Just got a new utility trailer in April w led lights. Getting trailer disconnected warning now. I bought warranty so will see if covered. Otherwise dealer said will charge 270 since past warranty. Floors me if known issue w programming they will charge. I have platinum so may be fine but really?

checking w another center as this group didn’t seem familiar

 

Sorry, I'm a bit late to this discussion however I'm getting this same error message WITHOUT any trailer being connected. I've never connected a trailer to my truck. I've also got the Trailer Brake Error, while driving with NO trailer connected. I'm thinking this is one of those Gremlins. I guess I may have to get my ECU flashed.

 

Check this out and see if helps. May not be same message but maybe if change settings to off may help

https://www.tundras.com/threads/message-trailer-brakes-turned-off.50264/

 

Did you check for moisture in the connector. Let us know if solved.

 

No moisture in the connector. Just replaced the battery. The message still appears. It's a bit too cold now to get under the truck to look for a short, but I'm thinking this is the next step. I'm trying not go to the dealer, just yet.