No Trailer Lights

bayman

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 2, 2000
Messages
669
It's been awhile since I've used my Jeep Cherokee as a tow vehicle. I tried hooking up a trailer the other day and couldn't get the lights to work on the traier.<br /><br />A few years ago I had U-haul install a hitch and a the U-haul after market 4-way flat trailer light system. It worked okay a few years ago, but I don't recall that it was totally flawless.<br /><br />When hooked up to other vehicles, the trailer lights come on with no problem so the problem has to be with a system on the Jeep.<br /><br />I bought a $3 tester and hooked it up to the Jeep. The lights came on for everything when tested. According to the tester, all was okay.<br />There is also a tester built into the U-haul system. As soon as I hook up the trailer lights though, the light on the tester which says the brake lights (or blinkers) are on, ends up turning off.<br /><br />At the advice of a mechanic I checked all of the fuses. I found 2 that were burned out and replaced them but the problem remains...I can't get lights on the trailer.<br /><br />Any ideas? So far this one has stumped a lot of people but I know there are many brilliant people on this board. Any help would be very, very much appreciated.<br /><br />- bayman
 

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: No Trailer Lights

Bayman<br />If the trailer works on other vehicle and the Jeep plug test good then the first thing I would test is the ground wire. Also make sure the plug terminals are clean.<br />To start connect a extra ground wire from Jeep Frame to Trailer frame. If the light all work then you are on the right track. Uhaul likes to use those quick connect connectors. So check out the ground wire on the Jeep and the Trailer. On my trailer I actually wire a ground wire to each light and to the trailer.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,130
Re: No Trailer Lights

Boatist, i think, is on the right track..... a quick test is hook a set of jumpercables to the Jeep frame,+ the other ends to the trailer frame...(be sure to wiggle/shake to get a "clean" connection).... i've done this on other peoples trailers, rather than spending time to fix some elses trailer....<br />Ground is the Most common problem,+ Most people don't Look in that direction....
 

bayman

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 2, 2000
Messages
669
Re: No Trailer Lights

Thanks Boatist and bondo, very good thinking! I'll try the ground wire with the jumper cables tonight.<br /><br />- bayman
 

bayman

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 2, 2000
Messages
669
Re: No Trailer Lights

By the way you were right Boatist. I used the jumper cables to do a quick test as suggested by bondo and it worked!<br /><br />Although I did already have a ground wire connecting the vehicle and trailer, it wasn't working for some reason. Adding another ground did the trick.<br /><br />Thanks again!<br /><br />- bayman
 

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: No Trailer Lights

Bayman<br />Glad you found your problem, thanks for letting us all know. Makes it all worthwild when some one comes back with the results.<br />Have fun Boating.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,130
Re: No Trailer Lights

YA !!!!! Glad to here you Liked My little Trick....
 
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