Need Help with Trailer Lights Quick!

P

Pat Anderson

New member
Things seem to be conspiring to keep us from getting off to Friday Harbor.

First, the socket for the trailer lights on the Titan was inacessible because the whole deal had been bent down below the bumper, probably as a result of hauling the BS, but who knows. A visit to Model Garage, and they got that fixed.

Now, although there is 13.6 volts at the socket on the circuits for the lights and turn signals (the only ones I checked), when I insert the trailer plug, none of the lights work. The trailer is hooked up, and I have used the trailer frame as ground for my tests, so I don't think it is anything a simple as a ground wire, bu there is a white wire hanging loose out of the trailer harness.

No lights = no we go, and this is driving me crazy, so any help would be greatly appreciated... :sad
 
OK you tested at the harness and read voltage. I would spray some WD40 into the harness connection and do the usual fiddling to make sure you have a good connection when you insert the plug. Keep the lights on in your truck and have someone watching the lights on the trailer as you fiddle in case they see signs of life.

If that does not work I would then take the voltmeter to the back of the trailer and remove one of the light bulbs - check to see you are getting voltage at the light.

I had a strange problem with my trailer a few weeks ago...all lights worked except for left tail/blinker/break. I had power at the light bulb socket per voltmeter and tried a new bulb - still would not come on. No idea why it would not light...will try a new tail light assembly to see if that fixes the problem.

Good luck!
 
White is ground, little nephew. If you grounded to the frame AND the hitch is connected, you might have a rather precarious ground through the ball and the hitch between trailer and truck. If you are not hitched up then you do not have a ground connection at all with that white wire disconnected. Attach that loose white wire to the frame then head on out.
Don
 
Pat have fun at FH. Nearly all my trailer light problems have been the ground system, one way or another. I finally bought a wireless, magnetic mount trailer light system from Northern Tool. Before I spend too much time on a problem and miss an event, I slap that on and go.

Good insurance.

Charlie
 
Well, when I touched the white wire (stripped the end) to the frame, and it made the lights work. Now attached it via a spade under a screw into the frame and it doesn't work. What do I do now?
 
Pat,

Try again. Loosen the screw and wiggle the connector. Remove the connector from the screw and ground it manually to the frame. If that works, try another screw.

I have found that after hooking up the trailer, the ground thru the trailer ball sometimes doesn't work. I have placed a foot against the trailer tongue and wiggled the whole works sideways.
That sometimes gets it working.

Good luck.
 
Pat this is a long shot but I had a intermittent problem with my lights. I cleaned both plugs well and they looked good. Anyway to cut to the chase on the trailer plug the little contact prongs inside the socket have a slit in them. I put a tiny instrument screw driver in each one and spread the gap a little which made the diameter of the prong slightly larger giving it a better fit in the female socket and better contact problem solved. Probably not your problem but something to check. Check a known hot terminal on your tow vehicle to the trailer frame to insure your trailer is grounded.
 
You are on the right track, just aren't making the total connection solidly. Take the spade off and strip back two inches of bare wire and find another bolt or screw to try. Maybe loosen the ball and put it under there. By plug I meant the electrical plug. If your truck wiring has a white wire grounded then the white wire on the trailer should be running through the plug on the trailer harness.
 
Thanks all for your quick replies. Turns out the metal I attached it to (the slider) was the wrong metal. It's now wrapped around a nut on the solid part and that's what we'll do for now.
 
Pat, just do what I always do,

"Officer, I checked them when we left and they were working fine. I'll fix them when I get to where we are going, after all it's not dark yet and you can see my truck lights on the side of the boat so it's not really a safety hazard." :roll: :thup

charlie
 
Man, I would hate to see Pat's clevage. He's not even a plumber.. :monty

:cry

You guys have fun at FH, let us know if Pat got there "all lit up". :lol:

Charlie
 
Pat Anderson":1r58fyyc said:
Well, when I touched the white wire (stripped the end) to the frame, and it made the lights work. Now attached it via a spade under a screw into the frame and it doesn't work. What do I do now?
Click to expand...

I can't believe it, Pat. You're a lawyer fercrissake. You have a degree in screwing! Now get in there and do it right!

Oh, I see you already did.

Never mind.

Don
 
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