Trailer lights
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New User
Joined: Sep 2004
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Trailer lights
I just bought a brand new trailer light set for a small trailer - 4-pin system? I got it all hooked up as per instructions - yellow to yellow, green to green etc and the ground wires in place - and the brake lights don't come on.
All other lights - turn signals and tailights - work, just not the brakes.
Any ideas?
All other lights - turn signals and tailights - work, just not the brakes.
Any ideas?
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Sep 2004
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Hi Steve,
Thanks for the reply.
Yes, the lights are combination brake and turn signal. I checked the bulbs, they are 1157's. The tow vehicle is a 1992 Ford Ranger.
But I have an update. When I apply the brakes ALL the lights on the trailer go OFF!!
Thanks for the reply.
Yes, the lights are combination brake and turn signal. I checked the bulbs, they are 1157's. The tow vehicle is a 1992 Ford Ranger.
But I have an update. When I apply the brakes ALL the lights on the trailer go OFF!!
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,997
Likes: 2,744
From: Virginia
When I apply the brakes ALL the lights on the trailer go OFF
Steina was referring to the truck and if it has seperate amber turnsignals. I think the explorers do, but I don't know about the ranger. If it has amber turn lights on the truck, you will have to buy an adapter box.
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,209
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Red -
With combo lights, the same wire is used for brake and turn signal so it sounds like the trailer is OK if the turn signals work....did the old light set work? Have you tried hooking up the lights without the trailer on the ball?
If you have a helper and a VOM, you need to check the Ranger's 4-pin connector to find out what happens when you hit the brakes. Also, make sure the Ranger's 4-pin ground is hooked up so you're not grounding thru the ball. Check all ground connections for dirt and rust.
Steve
With combo lights, the same wire is used for brake and turn signal so it sounds like the trailer is OK if the turn signals work....did the old light set work? Have you tried hooking up the lights without the trailer on the ball?
If you have a helper and a VOM, you need to check the Ranger's 4-pin connector to find out what happens when you hit the brakes. Also, make sure the Ranger's 4-pin ground is hooked up so you're not grounding thru the ball. Check all ground connections for dirt and rust.
Steve
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,816
Likes: 3
From: River Valley AR
Run a jumper cable from an unpainted ground on the trailer frame to an unpainted ground on the truck frame. If that fixes it you have a ground problem. You must have good grounds from truck lights to truck ground, from trailer lights to trailer ground, and from truck ground to trailer ground.
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 455
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From: Alaska
It sounds like a poor ground,
You should have a white wire on each side of your 4 pin plug, this is the ground wire from the trailer to the tow vehicle so the ground path will not be through the hitch.
You should have a white wire on each side of your 4 pin plug, this is the ground wire from the trailer to the tow vehicle so the ground path will not be through the hitch.
