Receiving the “Service Trailer Brake System” message on your truck dashboard is a
sure sign of something being amiss with its trailer brake system, but don’t despair:
Resetting this issue should only require minimal tools and expertise.
Fuse blowout is often at the root of this issue and you can quickly identify this fuse
by consulting your owner’s manual, then swapping it out if needed.
Brake Shoes
Brake shoes for trailers and fifth wheels are essential parts of the system that helps
slow and stop them, being made out of tough friction material that produces an
instant stop when they come in contact with either road surfaces or trailer tires.
Unfortunately, they tend to wear out quickly and must be regularly replaced in order
to ensure an efficient braking system in your trailer or fifth wheel.
Resetting the service trailer brake system can be done easily from your own home
with little mechanical experience required. First, consult your user manual and
locate the adjustment nut on the back of the controller; once found, remove your
wheel and use a star wheel adjuster or screwdriver to tighten them until they no longer turn.
Brake Pads
These high-performance brake pads are suitable for a range of vehicles and feature
heat management slots to enhance towing performance. Sold as a set of two for
ease of installation, however it is wise to consult the user manual first in order to ensure compatibility.
Once you locate your trailer’s adjusting nut, loosen it using a flathead screwdriver so
as to move quickly on to step two. Next, turn the adjusting nut clockwise until snug
against component’s backing plate – being careful not to overtighten as this may lead to complications later.
Once these steps have been taken, your trailer braking system should have been
reset and the “Service Trailer Brake System” warning message should have
disappeared from your dashboard. However, if the message continues to display on
its dashboard display screen, this indicates a possible problem with either its
controller or one of its components.
Brake Lines
No matter if it’s a boat trailer, horse trailer, camper trailer or whatever, keeping its
brake lines in good working order is of utmost importance. These lines form part of
the system which allows your truck to control and monitor the brakes on your trailer.
If they stop functioning as intended, an error message such as Service Trailer Brake
System could appear instead of giving an accurate reading of how your trailer brakes are operating.
These brake lines connect the brake controller with your trailer’s brakes, so any
damage or fraying in these wires could lead to the Service Trailer Brake System
error message on your dash. Additionally, it could occur if your controller itself is
defective and fails to connect correctly.
Noticing an unexpected warning on your dashboard can be both inconvenient and
disconcerting, particularly when towing heavy loads. This serious safety issue must
be corrected quickly by a professional to avoid potential accidents and damage to
brakes over time. Attempting to drive with this problem uncorrected could result in
unexpected accidents as well as cause irreparable harm to them in the form of
unexpected brake failure and costly repairs in the form of unexpected accidents or
repairs to them in the form of brake wear-and-tear.
Fuse
Fuse, used for monitoring voltage levels, is available for Chevy service trailer brake
system use and should be easy to replace if there’s too much current running
through your system. Simply locate and swap out the appropriate fuse from your
owner manual before getting back on the road!
Some buyers have reported seeing the “service trailer brake” message appear even
when their vehicle isn’t attached to a trailer, possibly due to frayed wires or defective fuses.
Some owners have successfully been able to reset this message by following three
straightforward steps. First, they need to locate and loosen the lock nut that secures
the adjustment nut using a flat screwdriver; next they must turn their clockwise until
their device rests snugly against its backing plate.