turn signal only works with lights on???

[fsds123]

The right turn signal on my trailer only works with the running lights on. The same bulb is used for the running lights, brake lights, and turn signal.The left side works fine. I have a 98 ford ranger with 7 pin connected to 4 pin on trailer with adapter. I have good ground at the light and at the front of the trailer. I just replaced the light assembly including the 3 wires and am sure I have good ground. Any ideas?<br /><br />Thanks

 

[y2jericho]

Re: turn signal only works with lights on???

hello and welcome to ground problems..<br /><br />I had same issues :/

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: turn signal only works with lights on???

Look at the light closely as you have the turn signal on and see if it even trys to blink, even faintly.<br /><br />I would take a test light and check to see if the power is even getting back there.<br /><br />Just start at the plug on the truck and work you way back to the light.<br /><br />If you have power at the plug and not at the light, you might have a wire or 2 wires that have gotten together and that is possibly why it just works when you have the tail lights on.<br /><br />Just start checking at the front and work back and you will find it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: turn signal only works with lights on???

Sure Sounds Like a Bad Ground....

 

[fsds123]

Re: turn signal only works with lights on???

Might be a dumb question, but is there any way to check the wires without pulling them out completely? How do you get new ones back in, since they are inside the metal part of the trailer and it seems to only have openings at the front and back.<br /><br />Also, if it is the ground, wouldn't it be MORE likely to work with the running lights off, since it is pulling less current that way?

 

[blifsey]

Re: turn signal only works with lights on???

If you replace wires, tie a strong, small string to old wire as you pull it out and use string to pull new wire in. As you pull in new wire, pull another string just in case you find you need to pull yet another wire through trailer.<br /><br />Ground problems can do real wierd things. What seems logically doesn't fit when troubleshooting a grounding problem.

 

[fsds123]

Re: turn signal only works with lights on???

Thanks. I'll check the ground one more time and then pull new wires through

 

[blifsey]

Re: turn signal only works with lights on???

One final thought...make sure you are getting ground through the wire plugs and not depending on ground through the hitch coupler/ball. Ground should be the white wire on the 4-way plug on boat.

 

[bubbaboater]

Re: turn signal only works with lights on???

It sounds like ground. Check the ground at the light also.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: turn signal only works with lights on???

it would be nice to find out the problem is due to improper grounding, and the root cause is magnetism or difference in potential of the parking light contact changing when running lights are on versus off. lol sorry, its late and i just was trying to come up with the answer to "why is it?"... i've got a 4yr old, so forget i even replied... i'm going nutz anyway. it basically boils down to - the weird symptoms indicate a grounding problem, but the logic is similar to explaining why there aren't pink bumblebees with pink flowers and pink pollen... <br />time for a nap

 

[blifsey]

Re: turn signal only works with lights on???

So those pink bumblebees and elephants I often see aren't real? I'm confused now.

 

[MrBill]

Re: turn signal only works with lights on???

If the left side works fine and the same bulb controls all the things you've mentioned...check to be sure the left and right side bulbs are identical, verify the numbers. If they're the same, put the left side bulb in the right lens, may be one filament in the bulb is out, or the socket is not making proper contact.

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: turn signal only works with lights on???

I just had similar sort of problem with left turn and stop being linked but under powered after replacing both rear lights. After usual waste of an hour trying to fix all the things it wasn't, it turned out to be a ground wire on right light feeding left light had come adrift and left was somehow grounding through a power wire on right. Reconnected the ground on left and works fine.