Dumb trick

[Jerry M.]

Just happened yesterday. On the way home from fishing, I discovered my right tail light/turn signal on the trailer didn't work. Checked the bulb-ok, unscrewed the terminals on the light to check for rust-ok, unwrapped the tape on the splice I had made to extend the plug-ok. Must be the car, but it couldn't be I thought, it's only 3 years old and the trailer is 10.. Regardless, traced the wires from the recepticle to the back tail lights, no connections for the trailer lights. Looked under the hood, too tight to see anything. Now I've been at it for 3 hours. Finally, rigged a bulb to the recepticle, and discovered no current on the right plug at the recpticle. Jiggled the wire in the back....lights worked. Turned out ot be an open of some kind in the recepticle. Still under waurantee so Toyota will replace the recepticle monday.<br /><br />I have been working on cars for 50 years, and this is the dumbest thing I have done in a long time. I should know better to start at the power source and work back rather than start at the back and work forward.<br /><br />Jerry

 

[codyandamber]

Re: Dumb trick

I was an electronics tech in the Navy for 6 years. I will admit I always start at the trailer, too.

 

[Red Rider]

Re: Dumb trick

It doesn't matter where you start, the problem is always at the other end. <br /><br />Red<br /><br />Work, What people do that don't know how to fish or hunt.

 

[chads15]

Re: Dumb trick

I have been quite successfull by allways starting in the middle.... Electric acts just like water. Just dont mix them. They dont seem to get along to well...

 

[martyscher]

Re: Dumb trick

I think it is probably normal to look first at the more commom points of failure, which would be the trailer wiring and lights.<br /><br />But as far as looking under the hood - you must have been tired by then <br /><br />Oh well, you figured out what the problem was. At least the time was spent not doing something else. <br /><br />Marty

 

[Valv]

Re: Dumb trick

I do hate trailer lights.<br />For instance why do they have to have 1,000 different connectors, when there are only 4 wires of same color ? It's always a fight trying to find correct one for your vehicle. Where are the standards when they make them ?<br />Another lesson learned many times is to hook up trailer hitch and lights, take off for few feet an back up again, it will make better ground with ball and many problems disappear, I spent 1 hour last weekend, rewired whole trailer in a hurry, then discovered white (ground) wire wasn't grounding it, and the contact was made from towing hitch metal-to-metal, customer drove ahead 20 feet then backed up, and all lights were fine.

 

[Jerry M.]

Re: Dumb trick

This gets better. I make an appointment and go into Toyota dealer monday. After several hours the tech comes back and says he needs to replace the wire harness, but has to order it, he'll call me. No call so I go back today and the guy says no part yet, but it's on priortiy order. The dealer parts counter is about 10 feet away so I walk over there and ask if they have the wiring harness in stock. He comes right back with it. I carry it over to the tech counter and tell him "here it is"!! Where did you get that??? Over at the parts counter sez I. They were embarassed. Not too embarassed tho since I had to make another appointment for next week to put it on.<br /><br />All this for a stinking tail light. "Free Iraq" took less time!!!<br /><br />Jerry