Funky Trailer Lights

[brichbk]

I replaced my trailer lights with some Led Tail Lights. I had the typical ground issues and got that fixed and I have tried my lights on both my tow vehicles with the following results.

2002 Caravan
tail lights work, but no turn signals or brake lights
trailer flat 4 to vehicle flat 4

2006 Jeep Commander
turn signals and brake lights work, but no tail lights
trailer flat 4 to vehicle flat 4-RV converter

Any ideas?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

I had the typical ground issues and got that fixed

Ayuh,... My guess is, ya Still got a Ground issues somewhere...
Possibly between the trailer, 'n tow units...

 

[brichbk]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

Possibly between the trailer, 'n tow units...

Each tail light has it's own ground and then another at the tongue from the trailer side flat-4 plug, you think most likely it's the one at the tongue?

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

Each tail light has its own ground to what? The frame? I ran a ground wire loop around to each light and back to the connector. That's really the only way to ensure continuity.

 

[brichbk]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

Each tail light has its own ground to what? The frame? I ran a ground wire loop around to each light and back to the connector. That's really the only way to ensure continuity.

The directions say to ground each light to the frame and includes a white wire for the grounding. I like the idea of 1 ground wire as opposed to 3.

 

[royal0014]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

The directions say to ground each light to the frame and includes a white wire for the grounding. I like the idea of 1 ground wire as opposed to 3.

...sure you do, but if it ain't workin'......


<<)))(((>>

 

[NYBo]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

Are you sure you have the color-coding right when you rewired the trailer? Did the old lights work properly with both vehicles?

 

[brichbk]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

Are you sure you have the color-coding right when you rewired the trailer? Did the old lights work properly with both vehicles?

I double and triple checked the wire connections, but I am thinking of switching them just to check. It wouldn't be the first time I was wrong or that I found something wired funny from the factory. On Monday I will have time to check them out and try switching the wires.

The old lights did work but at the end of last year before winterization I dunked them in water while still plugged in and blew the bulbs in both sides. I decided then just replace them this year.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

While I agree with the concensus that you probably still have a grounding problem and have also chosen to run full ground wires to all lights on my trailer, you might find one of these testers at the link below is a good method to help identify the problem location. Good luck!

http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Trailer-...0461717--**********.518711001--view_id.217589

 

[brichbk]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

Thanks for the link Willyclay, I bought a 4-pin tester at Wal-Mart and found that it was not my trailer but my Jeep where the problem was. Checked my owners manual for fuse locations and found that on my Jeep there is a separate fuse for my towing tail lights that was blown, replaced it and now my trailer lights work with my Jeep. When the wife gets home I'll check the caravan and hope for the same problem.

 

[cajunman83]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

While I was reading through this thread I kept thinking you may have a blown fuse...I dealt with the same issue on my F-150.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

Rule number 1......use the same method for testing, do not swap between vehicles and multiple plug types and adapters.

Rule number 2......some newer vehicles use an isolator for trailer wiring due to the way the electrical system is wired for the lights on the vehicle while others use seperate fuses for not only the brake/tail/turn functions, but left and right circuits, the older cars did not use this system.

You need to have a solid baseline for testing to start with and you have to be familiar with your tow rig's lighting system before trying to diagnose the trailer.

 

[brichbk]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

I checked out my van today and found that all the lights worked on the tester except for the right tail light.

The van has one of those aftermarket trailer light units that plug into the tail lights (my left tail light) and it appears that the control unit has malfunctioned. I stripped some insulation from the problem wire on the vehicle side of the control unit, tested it with a test light and it passed. Then I tried on the trailer plug side and it failed to light up. It appears that the control unit has malfunctioned. It's a sealed unit so it appears that there isn't any thing to do but to replace it. Does anyone else know of another option other than replacing it?

 

[boaterinsd]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

If you run into trouble in the future, just put the wires to a battery with a fused jumper wire and see if its good. Then you know and can go from there. And the ground is an easy test just run a jumper from the tow rig to the trailer to ck for a ground problem between them. And ck fuses like you said and did.

 

[boaterinsd]

Re: Funky Trailer Lights

I checked out my van today and found that all the lights worked on the tester except for the right tail light.

The van has one of those aftermarket trailer light units that plug into the tail lights (my left tail light) and it appears that the control unit has malfunctioned. I stripped some insulation from the problem wire on the vehicle side of the control unit, tested it with a test light and it passed. Then I tried on the trailer plug side and it failed to light up. It appears that the control unit has malfunctioned. It's a sealed unit so it appears that there isn't any thing to do but to replace it. Does anyone else know of another option other than replacing it?

So the vans got seperate brake and turn signals ? The box is a converter then. They are found at many autoparts stores , or Wally world.