Trailer Brake Warning

[Cooter]

I keep getting warnings on my dash when hitting a rough road patch or going over a rough bridge. The warnings are "check brake wiring" and " electric brakes are not working" I checked the plug and cord which seem to be okay, I checked the wiring in the junction box at the pin box. I checked the wiring at each backing plate and at the axles and did not see anything obvious. Anyone experience this?

[Slow Hand]

Sounds like a broken wire. Check that the ground wire on the trailer is good. This will be a hard one to find.

[Ram Montana High Country]

ditto Slow Hand - also look where the break wire goes into the axle to the other side. Check the safety brake connection on the pin box. Mine jumped out and TV was too strong - had to replace all but axles&wheels.

[BB_TX]

You might also try some contact cleaner on the connector pins.

[Cooter]

Thanks I will try that

[sambam]

I had a similar issue a couple years ago. After many suggestions on where to find it, I ended up replacing the 7 pin connector in the bed of my truck which was added when I bought the 5th wheel. That was it for me. Good luck.

[jsb5717]

The first and easiest thing to check is the connection between the plug and receiver. The contacts get corroded. You can clean/scrape them a bit to improve connection but ultimately it's just better to replace both of them if that's the issue.

If not then chasing wires is next. The plug from controller to TV. I found a worn, mostly broken and corroded wire on my last truck up by the truck frame that kept disconnecting the system.

If you have a multimeter and a piece of wire that can reach the length of the truck you can unplug the controller and test the hot wire that goes back to the plug at the rear. That was once the culprit for me. I found that after I had replaced the plug and receiver but still had the issue. Cleaning and splicing the broken wire fixed it.

[Cook-Den]

Had my brake drums off to repack bearings and notice that a small clip that holds the wires going to the brake magnet came off (probably due to ruff roads) allowing the wires to protrude out and were rubbing on the drum wearing off the wire insulation and almost thru the wire it self! i was not getting any warnings as you were but im sure it was inevitable i was due for failure. If you only get this warning on ruff roads this might be your case. Its a pain to remove drums but sounds like something you need to check off your list. I guess you could service ,check brakes and repack bearings and it will at least be a productive move. Good luck
Denny

[Cooter]

Thanks everyone
I have eliminated all possibilities and now will pull the brake drums. Surely will find the problem there

[jble]

I had the same problem going to Florida this winter. After we got set up I went to work on the brakes, couldn't find anything visible. Ended up cutting the brake wire where it goes into the axle and pulling the wires out. Found six bare spots . Ended up running the wires on top of the axle tubes. The wires just bounce around and chaff inside the axle.

[Cooter]

I moved the wires in and out of the axles, but it did not make any difference. Your find could be a possibility, thanks

[laverdur]

Sounds like a chaffed wire within one of the axle tubes. Had that problem too. My truck would go nuts every time the bare wire shorted out when contacting the inside of the axle tube. Cut the wires going through the axle and zip tie new wires on the outside of the axle. I covered my external wires with plastic wiremold bought at HD and zip tied the wremold to the axle. One 5 ft. piece will do both axles. https://www.homedepot.com/p/5-ft-Non...NMW1/100038290

[lkennerly]

We had similar warnings while moving. We have about 16,000 miles on our 3160RL and during axle service a worn wire was discovered inside one axle. They replaced the wires running them on the outside attached to the backside of the axles. It is where Keystone should be putting the wires to begin with!

[cliff]

This one is easy to try. On our 2008 3485 we had the "check wiring" on the dash of our Ram. I took a knife and bent all of the contacts in the 7-pin from the fiver. The outside ones towards the center and the inside ones towards the outside edge. Used some spray on contact cleaner, like CRC. Now do this once per year.

[wed]

Have your 7way checked

[Cooter]

Thanks everyone for the tips. I did replace the cord and 7 pin plug. Thought I had it fixed and it started in again after driving 500 miles. I am thinking that the 7 pin recepticle on my truck might be the problem. I will investigate other suggestions that everyone has posted

[Slow Hand]

Could be something in the hub area. Have you removed the brake drums to inspect the wires in there?

[Cooter]

I did raise each tire/wheel and spin to listen for the possibility of something loose which I know don't eliminate a loose or damaged wire. Pulled the right wheel and drum that had some noise and found it all to be okay.
Thanks for the tip