Trailer Connected/Disconnected warnings

[GreyAreaRanger]

Well, a new issue occurred today. Houston is starting to rain and flood again. Got home after driving in the rain with no issues. Pick up some stuff to go back out to run a quick errand, and as I am backing into a spot at my destination, I get a trailer connected, then a disconnected warning soon after. I haven't had a trailer hooked up to it in a few months. When returning home, the same warnings appeared on the dashboard and increased in frequency the closer I got to home. In addition, after using the signal for the first time on the return trip, I started getting warnings for trailer left and right turn indicator malfunctions. It still has not stopped raining, and I currently have the truck in the driveway with the negative terminal off the battery. I presume the wiring harness is the first place to look when the rain stops. Has anyone else had this issue before? Is this a common issue or something to expect now that I have almost 108k miles?

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[Mighty Little Blue]

I have had similar errors, but under different circumstances. My issue was I had a rear light bar plugged into 4 pin connector. With it being plugged in the cover was pushing down on the wires which loosened or broke the wires. The errors would come and go with bumps in the road. Rewired the connector from the light bar to fix the issue.
I would think your problem is somewhat similar. I would start at the trailer connector and work backwards looking for loose connections or water that got into one of them. Unplug the connectors and spray in some electrical contact cleaner, then make sure they are dry and tightly connected.

 

[GreyAreaRanger]

I am hoping tomorrow will be dry enough for me to take a look before I work tomorrow. Any chance the wiring harness for the backup camera could be part of the issue? I never did get around replacing it and since it started working properly, I had forgotten about it

 

[Mighty Little Blue]

Maybe Airline Tech or Ranger Bill can answer that. I do not know if that is the same circuit? I would think no, but a lot of these are tied together for power. Yours seems to be acting the same as mine was, and it was the trailer wiring circuit.

 

[alcohenusa]

I am hoping tomorrow will be dry enough for me to take a look before I work tomorrow. Any chance the wiring harness for the backup camera could be part of the issue? I never did get around replacing it and since it started working properly, I had forgotten about it

Check out this TSB for this issue. At your mileage, I don’t think Ford will cover it.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10181937-0001.pdf

 

[GreyAreaRanger]

Check out this TSB for this issue. At your mileage, I don’t think Ford will cover it.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10181937-0001.pdf

Looks like the fix is to replace the wiring according to that TSB. Just so happens that I want to add the 7-pin connector, and now have the excuse to replace it.

 

[RangerBill]

Looks like the fix is to replace the wiring according to that TSB. Just so happens that I want to add the 7-pin connector, and now have the excuse to replace it.

You can pull apart the connectors under the truck (follow the trailer connector wiring back) and dry out any that have water or moisture in them. Also clean any corrosion up in the connectors that had water in them.

 

[GreyAreaRanger]

You can pull apart the connectors under the truck (follow the trailer connector wiring back) and dry out any that have water or moisture in them. Also clean any corrosion up in the connectors that had water in them.

I'll probably start with that so that I am not hearing the beeping every couple seconds

 

[Dereku]

Use electric cleaner on them. Basically an alcohol spray. It will dry them out. Had that issue in several trucks in the last where the brake controller detected a trailer and would light up. Or the plug/harness went bad. Semi common issue in wet areas or after winter

 

[airline tech]

Ref- Associated Connectors that tie into the (Trailer-Connected Message)

Inspect for moisture and corrosion at these connectors

C4099 - Back side of 4/7 Connector

And C422

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