Service trailer brake system message

[bitternut]

Hi

I have a 2009 Silverado 2500HD which has the factory trailer brake controller. When I hooked up my dump trailer I saw the message of SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM on my dash. After fiddling with the plug several times the message went away and the brakes on the trailer were working fine. After driving about ten miles with the trailer behind the message came on again and when I went to stop it was obvious that my trailer brakes were not working. Fortunately the trailer was empty. Any ways after much plugging and unplugging, spraying connectors with pb blaster the message went away again but only to return once again. Now it is on every time I start the truck even though the trailer is not hooked up.

Searching the web I found many with the same problem but with varied causes which can be quite expensive to track down. I found one solution that seems like it might be the most economical which is to junk the factory controller and install a after market one. It seemed to me that most thought the factory unit was prone to several kinds of problems and that the after market ones all had great reviews and were superior.

Have any of you other Silverado owners had this problem and been able to find a lasting solution without breaking the bank.

 

[aczlan]

Have you opened up the jack on the truck to look inside? It sounds like you have corrosion or something inside that makes it think that your trailer isn't hooked up.
If you have someone hold the manual brake lever in the cab with the engine running and the trailer connected, how many volts do you see at the trailer brake wires?
From what I have heard, the factory controller is a better unit, but it is "smarter" than the cheap units and it will see errors that they will ignore.

Aaron Z

 

[wolfpack2]

Do you have another trailer you could try? I have had several of the 7 pin RV type plugs fail on the trailer side (the connector blades break internally). I would try another trailer to verify that the issue is with the truck. The message may just be due to an error code being set in the computer. I would also do as Aaron suggests and check the truck side connector for corrosion or something stuck in it.

If you don't have another trailer, you could check with a friend or even a trailer dealer to see if they will let you just plug one in.