Trailer Brake Ligths does not work

[sammy29926]

Hi,
i just finished redoing the wiring on my trailer. It is hooked to a 98 volvo S70GLT via 4 wire connector. Everything works except my brake lights does not come on when i pressed onto my brake pedal. Parking lights work, turn signals work and i am in need of advice...
thank you
Sammy

 

[VintageBlueOval]

Re: Trailer Brake Ligths does not work

Well, if the turn signals and the running lights on your trailer are both working, you can eliminate the bulbs being bad. Assuming that everything was correctly done when you rewired the trailer, my guess is that it's the wiring in the car. Does your volvo have a bulb for the turn signal and a sepatate bulb for the brake light? If so, whoever wired the 4-pin into the car used the wrong harness. Whenever the tow vehicle has a seperate bulb for the blinker and the brake light on either side, you have to use a harness with a built in junction block for those seperate functions. Without that junction block, the 4-pin has only one choice, either brakes or turn signals. One or the other won't work. Give that a check.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Trailer Brake Ligths does not work

Volvos (I've had three), like most European cars, have a separate brake and signal light. To make your trailer lights work properly, it's quite easy. You need a separate module installed with your 4 wire harness. These are common and available at most auto supply places. It isn't expensive but prices vary between $10 and $50. Get a decent one. Instructions come with it.

 

[kamby]

Re: Trailer Brake Ligths does not work

Volvos (I've had three), like most European cars, have a separate brake and signal light. To make your trailer lights work properly, it's quite easy. You need a separate module installed with your 4 wire harness. These are common and available at most auto supply places. It isn't expensive but prices vary between $10 and $50. Get a decent one. Instructions come with it.

Something like this little fellow will get you from 3 wire to 2 wire for your break lights. Good luck

http://www.etrailer.com/pc-ELEB~118175.htm

 

[thepotroast]

Re: Trailer Brake Ligths does not work

Well, if the turn signals and the running lights on your trailer are both working, you can eliminate the bulbs being bad.

Not necessarily true. Most trailer's use a dual-filament bulb (1157 or 3157) for the parking/brake light. If the brighter filament (brake side) has burnt out, the brake light won't work. Albeit the likelihood that both of them have failed at the same time while the parking filament still burns, is not likely....but it can happen.

I would follow what Jeep Man recommends.

 

[sammy29926]

Re: Trailer Brake Ligths does not work

Thank you for everybodies help.
I did install the 4 wire connector on the car and when i was rechecking my work i relized that i did not hook the yellow and green colored 4 wire connector wires to my brake light circuit wire. Those are connected to the turn signal wires but not to my brake light signal. i feel so stupid..
thank you
Sammy