Still getting "Check trailer wiring" message 2014 Silverado

[plasticmaster]

I posted this about 6 months ago, but didn't want to resurrect an old thread. My truck is a 2014 Silverado with factory ITBC brake controller built in. While towing, I randomly get the "Check trailer wiring" message on the dash and then a second later, it says "Trailer connected". During that split second, I indeed have no trailer brakes. Several months ago, I replaced the plug on the trailer end with the Pollack brand plug as that is what some here recommended. I was hoping that would fix the problem, but it did not. This weekend was my first time towing any distance since doing this and while towing it home today on a 4 hour drive it was doing this constantly, for 4 hours. Obviously, this was making me very nervous. Wiggling the plug and plugging it in better did not help the problem. I crawled under the trailer and found the end of the main trailer plug where it goes into a metal junction box. I opened the juction box and had my son sit in the truck with it running while I wiggled these wires in the junction box, and nothing happened. The only way I could recreate the message was to unplug the camper and then plug it back in. What should I check next? Could a short between this junction box and the actual brakes be causing this problem? Could it be a problem with the truck or the truck end of the plug? I'm hoping someone here can help. Thanks.

[WayneAt63044]

Hook up your trailer to the truck and have one person wiggle the trailer brake wires while another person monitors the brake controller to find where the intermittent connection (open) or short is. Any work around could still leave you without brakes.

[enblethen]

I would not use a wire jumper. Use a light bulb to show resistance. I would be concerned about too much amperage going through the brake controller.

[plasticmaster]

Here's a crazy thought I had. Could I trick the truck into thinking there's a trailer connected? I could plug in a spare 7 pin plug and only use the ground wire and blue brake wire. I would wire these to a normal spare tail light that I could lay in the bed of the truck. If I press the brake pedal, would the spair light illuminate according to how hard I press the brake? If it were to work, the truck would think a trailer is connected and I could drive it this way a few days and see if I get the "check trailer wiring " message. If I did, I would think something in the truck is causing the problem. If not, I would think the problem is in the trailer. Would this work?

[plasticmaster]

If it is a wiring issue on the trailer, is it limited to the ground wire and the wires going to the 4 individual brakes? I hope I wouldn't have to replace wires going to all the lights.

[Nv_Guy]

Gdetrailer wrote:
Junk wiring on the trailer.

Typical spot for intermittent wiring faults is the wires that run INSIDE the axle tubes. Those wires are loose inside the tube which leads to chaffed insulation which leads to intermittent shorts in the wiring.

The moving wires also can eventually break leading to loss of brakes..

Best bet is to scrap the existing brake wiring on the trailer and run NEW wire and wire tie the wires to the OUTSIDE of the axle tubes.

Replacing the wire is the easiest and fastest way to fix intermittent issues.

You can also use that as a upgrade route, move up a couple of wire gauge sizes and pickup better braking..

X2
100% of the intermittent issues I saw it was exactly that- wires in the axles that had insulation worn thru.

[Gdetrailer]

Junk wiring on the trailer.

Typical spot for intermittent wiring faults is the wires that run INSIDE the axle tubes. Those wires are loose inside the tube which leads to chaffed insulation which leads to intermittent shorts in the wiring.

The moving wires also can eventually break leading to loss of brakes..

Best bet is to scrap the existing brake wiring on the trailer and run NEW wire and wire tie the wires to the OUTSIDE of the axle tubes.

Replacing the wire is the easiest and fastest way to fix intermittent issues.

You can also use that as a upgrade route, move up a couple of wire gauge sizes and pickup better braking..

[wnjj]

An intermittent open circuit is possible. Check the wires all the way to the brakes themselves, including any grounds.

Ideally you’d have another trailer to try pulling or have someone else pull your trailer to determine if it’s a truck or a trailer issue.

[enblethen]

Many trucks have an adapter on the truck. The chassis wiring has a large connector
that the blade assembly connects to.

Note the connector and then package with replacement truck wiring pigtail and connector.
Pollak replacement

[CincyGus]

I'm thinking after reading your testing info so far that it's on the truck end of the plug.