lights still not functioning properly

[mrbadfish]

i was getting intermittent light from my trailer lights, so i just assumed instead of find the problem, spend the 10$ and just rewire it entirely. After doing so, running lights are on but I cannot get any turn signal or breaking function. I bought one of those testers that you hook up direvtly to the truck and it has 4 lights on it which light up according to turn sigmal, breaks etc. Is it possible that the bulbs have 2 parts?? 1 that is a constant to serve as the running lights and another filament that works breaking and turning??? And may just both happen 2 be out??

 

[bruceb58]

Re: lights still not functioning properly

DId you wire it like this?

The bulbs have two filaments. One is for brake/turn and the other is for tail/running lights.

The ground for each light comes through the mounting screws of the light and the plug on your trailer also needs to be attatched to a clean ground.

It is not necessary to run a seperate ground to each light.

 

[mrbadfish]

Re: lights still not functioning properly

this is exactly how i have it, and after a little tinkering, i am getting brake and turn and now no running, go figure lol

 

[Bondo]

Re: lights still not functioning properly

I'd BET that you have a Bad Ground between the Trailer,+ the Tow Unit.......

 

[bruceb58]

Re: lights still not functioning properly

I agree that it can be a ground problem between your trailer and car.

Just as a test, connect a jumper cable between your car frame and a good clean ground on your trailer. If the lights now work, you need to work on the ground through the connector. If they still don't work, your ground problem is at the lights themselves.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: lights still not functioning properly

i solved all my light problems, except for bulbs, by running a contious ground wire to every fixture, and to the white wire. forget the trailer for the ground. hook the ground wire to the nut and bolt on the fixture.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: lights still not functioning properly

Ground problems on a trailer pop up in three basic areas. 1) the spot where the lamp assembly bolts to the frame. 2) Tilt mechanisms without a ground strap joining hitch end and tilt ends. 3) the white wire at the tongue ground point. The trailer frame is an excellent ground conductor but it must be continuous from front to back. If you have a tilt mechanism or the tongue is not welded to the rest of the frame, ground jumpers are needed at the junctions.

 

[DrD]

Re: lights still not functioning properly

If you find you still have problems after doing all the wiring checks as mentioned here, then check the lamp sockets. It's likely that the lamp bulb base is not making reliable contact with either the positive or negative conductor.

I have seen the twist base socket being corroded or expanded in such a way that the bulb did not find its electrical return reliably. It was very intermittant until the base was cleaned and squeezed a little!

 

[Texasmark]

Re: lights still not functioning properly

Din't forget the connectors at the tow vehicle. Stop and turn require more current than running lights so a sloppy connection would show up there first.

Lot of people (self included in the past) have sophistocated connectors on the tow vehicle, but I have had the least amount of trouble with the plain jane flat 4 terminal rubber that hangs down from under the vehicle and looks like ssssssssssssssssshazam.

Mark

 

[Silvertip]

Re: lights still not functioning properly

Another thing often overlooked is that #1034 and #1157 bulbs are keyed so "theoretically" they can only be inserted into the socket one way. If you look at those bulbs from the side, the little pins are offset (one higher than the other). However, the sockets are made so sloppy that it is sometimes possible to get the bulbs in wrong. This will create some weird action from the lights.

 

[wncrjb]

Re: lights still not functioning properly

I was having the same problem on a flat bed trailer I have and it turned out being the female connector on the towing vehicle. It had just enough corrosion in it to drive me nuts. I could wiggle the plug one way and have a few lights and wiggle it another way to get a few more but never could get all of them to light at the same time. I just took a real small screw driver and scraped each terminal and it's been fine now for the last few years. just my $.02

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: lights still not functioning properly

It is always connections or grounds. Syart at one end and work your way through. Tedious and frustrating but it works.

 

[JRJ]

Re: lights still not functioning properly

Sometimes you just have to hook up and make a few turns to get things working8)