Trailer lights of course

[jahoward1]

Hey everybody, I searched the site but didn't see anything on this specific problem so I wanted to ask why are my trailer's turn signals and brake light are not working.

I first thought that the lights didnt work at all but later saw that they do come on as long as my truck's parking lights are activated; however, the turn signals do not work.  The trailer was just re-wired and I've tried my best to discover the problem but no joy.  Anybody had this problem before? Thanks


James H

[Blue Agave]

You have a bad ground. Check the ground wires coming from the lights and see where they go, if they are grounded to the trailer make sure that the connections are clean. Also check the white wire on the pig tail on the front of the trailer, the white wire is probably grounded to the front of the trailer.

[John Jones]

It might be a bad ground connection.
Good chance that it's a bad ground connection.
Or possibly a bad ground connection.

[flounderpounder225]

It might be a bad ground connection.
Good chance that it's a bad ground connection.
Or possibly a bad ground connection.

I'd bet on one of three things JJ listed  

[Capt_E]

I would also try to hook up to a different vehicle, just to eliminate it being the vehicle wiring itself.

[jahoward1]

I would also try to hook up to a different vehicle, just to eliminate it being the vehicle wiring itself.

I'm working overnight but a friend of mine is bringing his truck by and we're gonna try the trailer on his truck.  I should know something after that.  Thanks


James H

[John Jones]

After you do that, check all the  ground connections.

[dburr]

I found out the hard way that not all vehicles are wired to a standard, especially if the work was not part of a factory towing package and you are not the single owner of the rig....

So after you are finished with checking the grounds, make sure the female on your buggy is wired the way it's supposed too be..  Then recheck the trailer.  If you are not the OO, then the PO could have glommed things up.

In a previous life I worked with a guy who could do wonders with a small block V8 but after he finished wireing up an equipment trailer when you stepped on the the brakes ALL the lights would dim and when he tried the right turn signal all the lights would flash.?.?!   (I swear when you hit the left turn signal the truck horn would blow )..  Found out that he had put the new turn/stop lights on top of a wood deck to keep them from getting knocked off in the woods.  Great idea, but they were 3 wire lights that grounded through the mounts   .  A ground wire from each light to the frame made everything happy..

[John Jones]

They will do some strange things with no ground or a poor ground.  I have been pulling a trailer of one kind or another since 1970.  Believe me, I know trailer lights.

GM/Chevy did throw me a curve when they started putting individual fuses under the hood for each lead to the factory trailer wiring.  It took me a half-hour or so to figure that one out.

[jahoward1]

I Did everything I could think of then finally took it back to the mechanic that rewired the trailer. He had it working in five minutes. He showed me that the trailer was having a grounding problem under the lights themselves and I'm embarrassed to say, both the blinker bulbs were blown.  Good thing, learned something else--thanks everybody.

James H

[jahoward1]

Here's a quick thought. This year has really been a year for learning. It's been nothing crazy but financial concerns have forced my non mechanically gifted hands to do more than I've ever had to do in the last 5 years

One thing for sure, I have perspective on how important a good trailer is. I used to be almost offended when a boat was offered with no trailer or the trailer cost extra.  But our old friend rust has forced me to look at different options concerning my own trailer.  More than one person has suggested that I either better start replacing parts off this trailer or think about investing in another one.  I'm at least thinking about replacing the axel next year.  

Well, I know this is old news to you more experienced boaters but I'd think some of the newer guys can relate to this.  And the real new guys really need to understand that when buying a boat, getting a trailer in good condition is a must.  If the trailer is an after thought, you wil pay, pay and pay later :cry: I was actually lucky.  My trailer has held up pretty good; especially being outside 360 days of the year.  

With all of that said, I must be a real boater though because I just want to fix whatever needs to be fixed, so I can make it back out there as soon as possible.  Of course fitting this in with the wife's emergency trip to the Philippines and my central air unit dying on the hottest, most humid day of the year and private school tuition and over $600 a month in child suppor and extra cash for private school for my other two kids, not to mention the mortgage, car payment and other bills, and, and, and... You guys get it.  Oh well, just ranting while there was a break in the action.  See you out there.

James H :afro:

[John Jones]

I kinda thought it might be a ground problem.  

Glad you got it fixed.

[wingtime]

Burned out bulbs are yet another frustrating reason to ditch bulb lights and replace them with sealed LED units.  Good sealed marine units will have pigtails that you wire using water tight butt connectors (with a ground wire).

[Blue Agave]

LED lights also fail, seen it on several occasions.

[wingtime]

Everything fails!  LOL  but the light bulb is guaranteed to burn out!