Trailer wiring problem

[sacjon]

For starters, I am a total novice when it comes to anything electrical so please excuse my ignorance.

Here's the situation: I have 2 rear lights on the trailer with the double filament bulbs for tail/brake/turn functions. I hooked up the 4 flat connector to my car to check the lights and all lights (tail, turn signals, brakes) on the car worked, but only the left tail light on the trailer worked - nothing happened when I tried the brakes and signals.

I know now why the right one didnt work - the light fixture on the right side was broken and the socket wasn't grounded (just hanging by the 2 wires.) Could the fact that the right fixture wasnt grounded be the reason that the brake and signal light on the left side didnt work? Both filaments in the bulb looked fine - any tips?


Thanks!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Trailer wiring problem

i add an additional wire to my harness, a ground wire, that connects to the white ground wire on the connector, and run it to the mounting bolts of the fixtures. this solves the ground problem to the trailer frame.

"http://www.accessconnect.com/trailer_wiring_diagram.htm"

 

[wire2]

Re: Trailer wiring problem

I'd suggest you first establish that it's a trailer wiring problem by testing the plug on the car.

Do you have a VOM? Test light? Small lamp in a socket with wires?

Connect to the white wire (ground) and the other 3, 1 at a time. Brown is running, yellow is left brake/sig, green is right brake/sig. Operate the car signals, if all is ok, then move on to the trailer.

A battery charger is handy to test trailer wiring. Connect (-) to tongue, clip (+) on the 3 male pins 1 at a time and follow wires to lamps.

 

[gunner1]

Re: Trailer wiring problem

If you go to your local wal-mart, look in the towing section of the automotive department. They sell a four blade flat tester that you plug into your car's/truck's plug and it had green indicator LED's for brakes, lights, left and right turn signals. You'll need someone to work the stuff for you, but it's worth it to know for sure that everything is good on the automotive side of the equation.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Trailer wiring problem

best tool in the box http://www.iboats.com/Marine_Store/...bmit.x.34--submit.Search--search_type.keyword

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Trailer wiring problem

If you go to your local wal-mart, look in the towing section of the automotive department. They sell a four blade flat tester that you plug into your car's/truck's plug and it had green indicator LED's for brakes, lights, left and right turn signals. You'll need someone to work the stuff for you, but it's worth it to know for sure that everything is good on the automotive side of the equation.

You can also get the wire harness there at walmart that is self explanatory, the wires are marked for were they need to be hooked. If you half to do a rewire. Depending on your vehicle and how new, it may have an individual fuse for each light, take a Ford for example.