Break light problem

[John Bussom]

Ok, I am not the smartest for figuring these things out like I thought I was so I need some help!

Running lights work, turn signals work, when I hit the brakes both lights go dim, any ideas what I have wrong!

Older sterling trailer pulled with 2005 chevy trailblazer, factory installed plugin, using adapter round to 4 pin flat, white wire grounded on trailer.

Fuses are good, don't know what I am missing.

John

 

[bako88fan]

Re: Break light problem

I would check that ground on the trailer. If it is loose or if it is in a rusted spot, it won't accurately ground. I would sand that area and reset it if there is rust. You and splice and move it to a different spot as well. One last thing, I would check your bulbs. If you have a two bulb setup on your lights, bulbs could be bad and the dim you're seeing is from the running lights working.

 

[GTS225]

Re: Break light problem

Check the grounds at the lamp fixtures, too. (typically one of the mounting bolts.) Grounding is a rather high percentage of all trailer lighting problems. That's why I eliminated using the trailer frame for the ground, and ran dedicated grounds to all my light fixtures.

Roger

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: Break light problem

Have you done any work on the lights or did this just happen? Check the ground and don't forget to check it at the light. Some lights ground through the mounting bolts. Make sure the bulbs are in good shape and installed properly. But i'm betting on a bad ground.

 

[John Bussom]

Re: Break light problem

As soon as the rain stops I'll be back out there and run a ground wire to each light and get back withthe results.

John

 

[John Bussom]

Re: Break light problem

Well I finally made it back to let you know how I made out.

I did check out the ground, it was ok, then I checked the bulbs, found passenger side rusted in, broke bulb getting it out then went and bought LED lights, just got them in today!

Daughter finally arrived with my trailblazer just before dark, hooked up the lights then looked for some nitro when the darn things did not work. I did run a seperate ground to each side.

Correct me if I am wrong but I think I should have 12 volts at the vehicle connector? ! ? For some reason I only show 10 volts on my ampmeter, pulled out a charged battery and hooked up to lights, light work so I am thinking it may be the adapter to the 4 pin fat, tomorrow I'll be lookin at hookin up to the wires and eliminate the adapter the way the instructions say and hopefully that will work.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Break light problem

Do you have 12 on the vehicle outlet?

Perhaps it is bad somewhere in the vehicle.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Break light problem

Agree with Roscoe. You may want to invest in one of those cheap plug in testers for your vehicle. Then every time one of your friends or neighbors wants to borrow it they usually bring you a beer. Pays for itself over and over again. Have you tried plugging the trailer in to a known good vehicle ??? I have a 2006 Trailblazer and all has been well with that department of it so far.
The usual top 3 issues with trailer lights are as follows.
#1. Bad ground
#2. Bad ground
#3. Bad ground.