Trailer brake message

[Dive Bar Casanova]

Yeah the proper fix is the proper designed actuator.
Removing the pathway for disaster fuse is working fine for everyone with solar.
In this case it's 100% right.
Most with this issues have monster banks of Lithium batteries that are powering the DX refer in transit.
GM's "fix" almost got my family and others killed.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

The solution I ended up using was putting a large amp diode in the trailer wiring box so that the battery voltage is unable to feed back into the truck if its higher than the truck voltage. Since that is not needed if the charge is high due to solar charging or full batteries. Then if you are driving all night and the batteries are getting depleted when they get low enough, the truck will charge them up.

I since sold the GMC and got a ford, and now it complains that the trailer is not charging. LOL. But it does charge if the trailer battery is low.

This is the diode I used and it worked great. Never had the issue again:

Amazon.com

Good take and good to know.

 

[redfernclan]

My 2016 canyon did this, ended up selling it for a bigger truck. Got a 2023 gmc sierra. Guess what, I get the trailer disconnected warning SOMETIMES. Usually when I haven't towed for a bit and when I disconnect the 7 way plug and plug it back in half a dozen times, it goes away. Yes, I coated the pins with dielectric grease.
Thinking back, also had this issue with my Durango. Ended up replacing the 7-way on the truck but I tried 2 or 3 before finding one that worked well.
I found that there are quite a few manufactures of the 7 way receptacles. Some just do not fit well with some of the plugs. Trial and error and I finally got one that works well with my plugs.
The receptacle was the issue with the Durango.
The canyon went a few hundred miles after I cleaned and greased the brake module connections. May or may not have fixed it.
So far, the Sierra appears to be the 7 way connector.
And for those about to suggest the trailer plug, this is going back to 1996 with four different RV's and three different boats.

FWIW. Sometimes you wish things would just work..........

 

[bossman2024]

Correct me if I am wrong on this, after pulling the fuse, anyone with a residential frig and the factory 300W solar would not have enough battery to keep the frig going after several hours. I get that if you have sufficient solar, or not driving at night, this is a good temp solution, but not the permanent one. The diode solution is the only reliable one until GM figures it out in a year or two.

Right, if you need to drive for a long period at night you want the batteries to get a charge from the truck.

One thing that you need to be aware of is that if you do get the issue while the solar has been charging the batteries, the battery voltage will be up over the value that will trigger the issue with the trailer brake controller long after the solar is disconnected. Disconnecting the solar will NOT immediately fix the problem as the problem will not go away until the batteries have discharged enough to get below the threshold voltage that triggers the problem. Which can be confusing as it will make you think the problem is not solved, but be patient and wait. That happened to me when I had the issue and was on the phone with Grand Design about it. I disconnected solar and still had the issue. I was setting up an appointment for a mobile tech to come out with Grand Design on the phone when after like 10-15 minutes or so, it started working. To speed it up, maybe turn on the inverter and run some stuff to drain the batteries quicker

So the only real fix until GM solves it correctly is to install the diode as then it will allow your solar to work during the day and keep things topped up, and allow the truck to charge things while driving at night. Note that since the truck voltage is not going to be high enough to fully charge the lithium batteries, they won't be fully charged when you get to your destination but they will be close enough (at least maintaining 80% state of charge or more).

 

[lineman1234]

Its interesting, as some have had the recall or warranty work done and changed the chevy controller. Some it fixed the problem, some it did nothing for the problem.
I changed the factory 5ver 7 way plug, as it seemed sloppy, and still had a problem with the dash saying intermittently, trailer disconnected.
Strange how my first tow with the 5ver, it had 2 batts, was stored in a pole barn not plugged in, i bought it towed it about 70 miles and no problem with the brake warning. After being plugged in solid, next 2 tows even after changing the plug on the camper, i intermittently got the dash messages.
I have the diode installed on the camper part now for my trip south for the winter soon, so will be able to tell if i do or dont get a message.

I have a 2024 chevy 3500 gasser, as of date, not one recall for it has been sent to me, and or no warranty work needed as well.

Ill wait for the better fix, if,,, they,,, come up with one before bringing it in for the fix.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

We disconnected the solar and all it did was make the problem intermittent and shut power off the refer.. Pulling the trucks TRL BATT CHRG fuse did fine and relieved tons of stress from the trip.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

Its interesting, as some have had the recall or warranty work done and changed the chevy controller. Some it fixed the problem, some it did nothing for the problem.
I changed the factory 5ver 7 way plug, as it seemed sloppy, and still had a problem with the dash saying intermittently, trailer disconnected.
Strange how my first tow with the 5ver, it had 2 batts, was stored in a pole barn not plugged in, i bought it towed it about 70 miles and no problem with the brake warning. After being plugged in solid, next 2 tows even after changing the plug on the camper, i intermittently got the dash messages.
I have the diode installed on the camper part now for my trip south for the winter soon, so will be able to tell if i do or dont get a message.

I have a 2024 chevy 3500 gasser, as of date, not one recall for it has been sent to me, and or no warranty work needed as well.

Ill wait for the better fix, if,,, they,,, come up with one before bringing it in for the fix.

No Tail gate dropping down recall? Look it up. Ours was dropping down for no reason, the recall fixed it.

 

[Wileykid]

My 2016 canyon did this, ended up selling it for a bigger truck. Got a 2023 gmc sierra. Guess what, I get the trailer disconnected warning SOMETIMES. Usually when I haven't towed for a bit and when I disconnect the 7 way plug and plug it back in half a dozen times, it goes away. Yes, I coated the pins with dielectric grease.
Thinking back, also had this issue with my Durango. Ended up replacing the 7-way on the truck but I tried 2 or 3 before finding one that worked well.
I found that there are quite a few manufactures of the 7 way receptacles. Some just do not fit well with some of the plugs. Trial and error and I finally got one that works well with my plugs.
The receptacle was the issue with the Durango.
The canyon went a few hundred miles after I cleaned and greased the brake module connections. May or may not have fixed it.
So far, the Sierra appears to be the 7 way connector.
And for those about to suggest the trailer plug, this is going back to 1996 with four different RV's and three different boats.

FWIW. Sometimes you wish things would just work..........

One of your problems could have been when you coated the blades with the dielectric grease. Dielectric grease is an insulator, which of course will protect the pins/blades already "bonded". Filling the plug with the grease prior to that, the contacts may be intermittent due to the grease in-between the blade contacts.

Not sure if it would fix the issue, but I wish GM would do the same as Ford/RAM, and have an EOH selection on the brake controller to tell it what you have and what to do, not having to automatically figure it out.

With my last trailer, I had the brake disconnect issue while on the freeway in heavy traffic several times, not fun. Finally isolated it to a pinched wire in the trailer.

 

[lineman1234]

No Tail gate dropping down recall? Look it up. Ours was dropping down for no reason, the recall fixed it.

I know or find out all about the recalls on the 2024 chevy. My friend has a 2024 GMC 3500 gasser and seems to get them all. He gets a call from his dealer.

Nope, no tailgate recall. It might just be for the fancy one vs the basic one i have. I wouldnt go in for it anyway, i put rtv silicon on the holes to seal them right off when i got it. Water getting in the holes up top were supposed to be the problem causing it to drop open.
All my information is currant up to date from when i got the new 2024 off the lot 186 miles south from where i sit, still no recalls or any gm emails.

 

[lineman1234]

One of your problems could have been when you coated the blades with the dielectric grease. Dielectric grease is an insulator, which of course will protect the pins/blades already "bonded". Filling the plug with the grease prior to that, the contacts may be intermittent due to the grease in-between the blade contacts.

Not sure if it would fix the issue, but I wish GM would do the same as Ford/RAM, and have an EOH selection on the brake controller to tell it what you have and what to do, not having to automatically figure it out.

With my last trailer, I had the brake disconnect issue while on the freeway in heavy traffic several times, not fun. Finally isolated it to a pinched wire in the trailer.

There is different dielectric grease, not all is a insulator.

Not normally found off the shelf. I had to order some,, said to be conductive type, online for when and or if i use it on 12 DC stuff.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

General Motors (GM) is recalling nearly 820,000 of its 2020–2024 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks in North America due to a potential tailgate safety issue:

• Issue
  The electronic latch mechanism that opens the tailgate can short circuit if water gets into the tailgate. This could cause the tailgate to open unexpectedly, even when the vehicle is in park.
  
  
  
• Affected vehicles
  The recall includes certain 2500/3500 series Heavy Duty trucks with power-unlatching tailgates.
  
  
  
• • Recall number
    The recall number is N232426400.
    
    
  • Remedy
    Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies at no cost to the customer once parts are available.
    
    
  • Safety recommendations
    Until the recall is completed, GM recommends that owners check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving.
    
    

GM has received 136 complaints of the tailgate opening while the vehicle was being driven, but the gate can only open when the vehicle is in park. GM estimates that only 1% of the recalled vehicles have the defect

 

[lineman1234]

If i have/had a dead battery, i couldnt open my tailgate. I find that strange.