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05-13-2019, 02:36 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
2014 22' FB Sport
South Shore
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 52
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Intermittent Trailer Disconnected Message
Recently got back from a MA to FL trip. During my travels I began to get "Trailer Disconnected" message on my 2018 F150 instrument panel. So I taped the trailer cord tight and it seemed to fix for a while but got more frequent to a point that it was almost continuous on my last leg home. The lights on the trailer worked even when the "disconnected" message came on but not the trailer brakes.
The Ford dealer replaced the 7 pin receptacle as a courtesy but said the old one didn't seem to be defective.
Next time I use the trailer I'll use some electrical cleaner and grease on the contacts but I am wondering if the issue might be with the trailer.
Has anyone else had experience with this occurrence?
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05-13-2019, 02:40 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Jupiter
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,140
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I had the same thing happen on my 2017 GMC Sierra. It started right after going too fast over a bumpy railroad crossing. After a day and a half of troubleshooting at JD Sanders near Gainesville, it turned out to be something in the trailer brake wiring on the trailer. We tried all the things you mentioned (plus more) first, and then took off each wheel and redid the brake wiring connections. Bam. Problem fixed.
__________________
"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving." - Lao Tzu
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05-13-2019, 02:45 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2013 20' Flying Cloud
Westerly
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 654
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Yes, the trailer's original 7-way connector died on ours a year ago. Tried cleaning the contacts but that did not help since the problem was the original plug uses two bladed contacts. On one or two wires the two contacts had lost their "spring" and there was a gap. Same intermittent "trailer disconnected" warning as you have. I replaced just the connector with a Bargman metal connector.
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05-13-2019, 03:16 PM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member
2018 28' Flying Cloud
Clayton
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 400
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smithcreek
Yes, the trailer's original 7-way connector died on ours a year ago. Tried cleaning the contacts but that did not help since the problem was the original plug uses two bladed contacts. On one or two wires the two contacts had lost their "spring" and there was a gap. Same intermittent "trailer disconnected" warning as you have. I replaced just the connector with a Bargman metal connector.
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Same situation here. Replaced Airstream 7 way plug with this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
__________________
Erik & Carol
Clayton, Georgia
AS: 2018 Flying Cloud 28 "Baby Zeppelin"
TV: 2017 Ford F250 Lariat w/ Blue Ox Sway Pro
AIRForums #126944 WBCCI #1297
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05-13-2019, 03:22 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2022 20' Basecamp
1968 17' Caravel
Los Osos
, California
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 613
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I always zip tie my 7-way plug to the truck's receptacle cover. Keeps it in contact and prevents an accidental dis-connect on the road.
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05-13-2019, 09:49 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,077
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carry some contact cleaner
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05-14-2019, 09:48 AM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
2005 25' Safari
Currently Looking...
Versailles
, Indiana
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 262
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Thanks for the new plug link, Baby Zeppelin! We were experiencing this issue recently while towing another trailer. However, our 7 way cord length is rather short, so I think we'll go ahead and replace it with a longer one and hopefully take care of this issue at the same time.
__________________
Robb, Jenn & The Brown Dog (Dex)
Maizie, The Black Dog, May You Rest Peacefully
2005 Safari 25
WBCCI #4447
AIR #70157
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05-14-2019, 10:46 AM
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#8
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2 Rivet Member
1961 16' Bambi
Hot Springs
, South Dakota
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 47
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I have a 2016 Ford F250 which will give me the occasional disconnect light. After checking several times that everything was working I found out if I turn the key off and back on the light goes out. I am assuming a computer problem.
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05-14-2019, 11:20 AM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
2017 27' International
Currently Looking...
Antes Fort
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 166
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In my case it was a short in the 7 way. Clean the contacts and make sure they are spread apart. Use a screwdriver to spread them apart.
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05-14-2019, 11:24 AM
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#10
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New Member
Bellevue
, Nebraska
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 1
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I had a problem a couple of years ago about the trailer disconnected message being intermittently displayed on my 2015 Ford Expedition EL. I thought at the time that it was the wind (very high cross winds), but no matter what I did the message wouldn't go away. I tried checking all of the connections on the 7-pin and everything was perfect. But the problem still persisted and even got worse such that the message was being displayed at least once per minute. Super annoying!
I did eventually figure it out and it wasn't the 7-pin connector. The problem was that an electric brake wire going to one of my camper axles was loose. It fell out of the crimp when I pulled on it. I re-crimped everything and I haven't had a problem since. Ford must use the brake line to determine if a trailer is connected.
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05-14-2019, 11:35 AM
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#11
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2 Rivet Member
2015 22' FB Sport
Boothbay Harbor
, Maine
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 79
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We experienced the same thing with our Bambi just recently. Had me holding my breath since we were in Vail, Colorado climbing up to 12,000' at the time. The lights were still on, so we figured the plug or contacts had to be loose. We took the scenic route back to Maine from Florida. Went to the Grand Canyon and to Arches. If you can, stay at Devil's Garden, Arches, Moab, Utah. Breathtaking! 6,000+ miles later and we are safe and sound in Boothbay Harbor, ME.
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05-14-2019, 11:47 AM
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#12
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3 Rivet Member
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Nanoose Bay
, British Columbia
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 137
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I traced my same issue to the poor fit between the plug and truck receptacle and I installed the EZ Connector system. See my thread http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...rs-188152.html
__________________
Gary Nijman
2016 Flying Cloud 25 FB Twin
2018 GMC 3500 Denali Duramax
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05-14-2019, 12:04 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2002 19' Bambi
Lafayette
, California
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,554
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We had a consistent "not-connected" warning when I first installed a DirecLink brake controller. After considerable back and forth, a Tuson technician noted that our trailer is single-axle and suggested putting one or two extra brake magnets in the circuit. I put in one and the controller now says "connected."
In the last few weeks, I helped a friend with a new-for-him 20' Flying Cloud (single axle) and 2015 Ram 1500. The pickup has a built-in trailer brake controller. That controller first did not recognize that the trailer was connected. We added an extra brake magnet to the circuit and the controller now recognizes that the trailer is connected.
I think it is obvious that, if a controller sees too much resistance in the brake circuit, it will not recognize the trailer. How much resistance surely depends on the brand of controller. Poor plug connections and loose wires will result in higher than acceptable resistance for many controllers.
Tim
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05-14-2019, 01:09 PM
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#14
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4 Rivet Member
Napa
, California
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 464
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We lived that nightmare with a 2019 GT and our 2015 Chevy Silverado. It beeped and bleeped every few minutes everytime we took it out. First the Airstream folks worked hard (replaced the connection, checked the wiring, added straps, among other things) since we'd towed another trailer with no issue at all. Then the Chevy dealer did everything else; replacing all the connections and wiring, loaning us a different truck (no disconnect message there), checking a different Airstream on our truck (no message there either), checking with the Airstream guys on the phone. Both groups of techs started ducking everytime we saw them.
Eventually Chevy offered us a fabulous trade-in and a complete 100% return guarantee if the new truck did the same thing the old one did with the trailer. Fiixed the problem -we still have no clue why our first truck hated that trailer so much, but driving is no fun when the truck is beeping every couple of minutes!
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05-14-2019, 01:26 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2017 28' Flying Cloud
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Georgetown (winter)Thayne (summer)
, Texas & Wyoming
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,602
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Yep! Ductape last couple trips...been meaning to get a new connector...maybe this week.
__________________
Empty Nesters; Gypsies on the road! 2017 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2017 F250 King Ranch, 4X4, 6.7L, Blue-Ox WDH
Summer-Star Valley Ranch RV Resort (Thayne, WY); Winter-Sun City (Georgetown,TX)
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05-14-2019, 01:35 PM
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#16
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2 Rivet Member
2014 22' FB Sport
South Shore
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 52
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thanks
Thanks everyone. I'll replace the trailer connector 1st and if that doesn't work I'll look at the brake connections or have someone that knows what they are doing look at the brakes.
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05-14-2019, 01:47 PM
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#17
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3 Rivet Member
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
Sandy
, Utah
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 229
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Quote:
Originally Posted by breton
Recently got back from a MA to FL trip. During my travels I began to get "Trailer Disconnected" message on my 2018 F150 instrument panel. So I taped the trailer cord tight and it seemed to fix for a while but got more frequent to a point that it was almost continuous on my last leg home. The lights on the trailer worked even when the "disconnected" message came on but not the trailer brakes.
The Ford dealer replaced the 7 pin receptacle as a courtesy but said the old one didn't seem to be defective.
Next time I use the trailer I'll use some electrical cleaner and grease on the contacts but I am wondering if the issue might be with the trailer.
Has anyone else had experience with this occurrence?
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The same thing happened to me a couple years ago. I changed the plugin on the truck, the 7 pin connector on the trailer and went the rounds trying to figure this out for weeks. I finally checked the wires underneath going to the wheels and found one that had been hit by something and was basically hanging by a strand or two. Wish I would have looked underneath first!
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05-14-2019, 02:34 PM
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#18
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1 Rivet Member
2019 27' Globetrotter
Ottawa
, Ontario
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 16
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Trailer Disconnected Message
We had the same problem, also on a 2018 Ford (F150 Platinum in our case) and a brand new 27' GT. We had all sorts of other weird messages about systems being disabled and our GPS went nuts. Showed us in Idaho while we were driving in Virginia for example. Turned out the 7 pin plug did not fit tightly into the receptacle on the truck. We taped it in for a temporary fix while we were troubleshooting and took it to Airstream and Ford to figure it out. Fast forward to knowing what the problem was and our choice was basically to cut the connector off the trailer, which I thought might introduce other problems. So I added layers of electrical tape to the top and bottom where there are 'slots' that go into grooves on the receptacle. I also put some tape on the flap that holds the connector in to make it snug. Problem has not reoccured. I do put new tape on from time to time. We put 17000 km on from Jan - April without an issue.
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05-15-2019, 06:22 AM
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#19
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4 Rivet Member
2019 27' Globetrotter
2023 30' Classic
Denver
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 277
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Same problem, intermittent "trailer disconnected", no trailer brakes and trailer lights working on 2017 F250 a 2019 27 GT and a Pro Pride with 7 way extension.
After tightening all connectors, and removing some of the dielectric grease (connector packed like it was a wheel bearing) on the second trip to the Ford dealer the mechanic said he found a loose connection where the plug coming from the back of the 7 way connector plugged into another wiring harness just above and under the bumper.
No problems since then. Before fixing this connection, when the brakes were working, brake performance was wimpy with the gain set at 10, probably from inadequate current thru a loose connection. Afterward the brakes would lock up with the gain set at 6 to 7 on the Ford controller.
May not be your issue but something else to check.
Dave S
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05-15-2019, 09:33 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2017 28' Flying Cloud
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Georgetown (winter)Thayne (summer)
, Texas & Wyoming
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,602
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F250 plug replacement?
OK; so tape works for now, but on my 2017 F250, has anyone replaced with an easy "plug and play" replacment they can recommend?
__________________
Empty Nesters; Gypsies on the road! 2017 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2017 F250 King Ranch, 4X4, 6.7L, Blue-Ox WDH
Summer-Star Valley Ranch RV Resort (Thayne, WY); Winter-Sun City (Georgetown,TX)
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