Loosing trailer brakes

[DickOK]

I have a 2008 Chevrolet 2500 HD. The other day while driving on the X-way a message came on the dash to service trailer brakes. OOPS no brakes on trailer. Long story short there is a bulletin out that it has to do with the electrical system and the computer has to be reprogrammed.

[carringb]

Try swapping either the truck or trailer, to isolate the truck. Lots of trailers have sub-par brake wiring prone to shorts and open connections.

[mkirsch]

What do you mean by, "OOPS no brakes on trailer?"

Do you mean, OOPS the brakes don't work?

Do you mean, OOPS, there are no brakes physically installed on the trailer you are towing?

[kw_00]

Guys,

The message will come on without any trailer hooked up in a lot of cases. Yes a great idea is to clean the connectors. Also OP google it up, there is a lot of info out there concerning this problem. Did u have the computer reprogrammed ye? Just curious if you had and if it has resolved your issue.

[campigloo]

Mine used to flash that same message and it was very erratic. I finally found damaged wires in the axle tubes on the trailer. The ratty little rubber bushing used to protect the wires had long since failed and rubbed a hole in the wire insulation. There was plenty of slack in the wiring so I pulled it out and wrapped it with electrical tape. Has worked fine ever since.

[Chuck_thehammer]

when was the last time you cleaned both sides of the 7 pin connectors...
should do it once a year... every year... its a weak point (contact)..

bad connection = no brakes. and the controller senses it.

[kw_00]

I had this before on my truck, the message has flashed up on my screen before. There are a few things that can cause this. There has been a post a few months ago on the same subject and I hope that OP can respond to what he had found. Mine has come on after it rains so I think that water gets in the rear control box or just a connection. I have not replaced anything because it goes back to normal. Google up what others have found, and the box by the spare tire seems to be a possible problem. I ordered one of those off eBay for around 70.00 just to keep if that's the case, cause the dealer charges alooooootttttt more..... Also get under neith the truck and follow the wiring harness, u may find a spot of rubbing or where water can enter. Hope this helps, and others will chime in.

[deltabravo]

There's an 08 and 09 DRW 3500HD in my driveway, both with the ITBC. I've never had any trouble, nor heard of a bulletin indicating a computer reprogram was required.

[Bigfoot_affair]

DickOK wrote:
I have a 2008 Chevrolet 2500 HD. The other day while driving on the X-way a message came on the dash to service trailer brakes. OOPS no brakes on trailer. Long story short there is a bulletin out that it has to do with the electrical system and the computer has to be reprogrammed.

You have owned this truck and trailer for awhile I take it? Strange it would just pop up out of the blue, I'd suspect something is up with your trailer.

[Vette_Racer]

DickOK wrote:
I have a 2008 Chevrolet 2500 HD. The other day while driving on the X-way a message came on the dash to service trailer brakes. OOPS no brakes on trailer. Long story short there is a bulletin out that it has to do with the electrical system and the computer has to be reprogrammed.

OR, in my case it was a matter of the chipmunks chewing through the wiring going to the controller unit. Lol.

[DickOK]

Typing toooooo fast.

[lanerd]

Dick, I believe the word is "losing"... not sure if there is such a word as loosing.

Just saying...no disrespect intended.

Ron