Tow Trailer Lights
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Portsmouth,VA
Tow Trailer Lights
Rented a U-haul trailer last night to pick up furniture today, when I picked it up last night got the trailer hooked up and all the lights worked. Had to disconnect the trailer over night, after I hooked it back up today hooked the wires up and I had nothing. Checked fuses and had one blow, so replaced fuse, still no lights. played with wires and a couple more blown fuses (the same fuse), and still nothing.
Returned trailer, and went to part store and bought a test plug that you plug into the tow light harness and it lights up to tell you what works. I have parking lights but not turn signals or brake light.
what steps do I need to take to trouble shot?
THANKS
P.S. it factory 4 pin connector
1997 f-150 4.2L SC
Returned trailer, and went to part store and bought a test plug that you plug into the tow light harness and it lights up to tell you what works. I have parking lights but not turn signals or brake light.
what steps do I need to take to trouble shot?
THANKS
P.S. it factory 4 pin connector
1997 f-150 4.2L SC
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,209
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
If your 4-pole connector has power to the running lights socket but the trailer's running lights didn't work, it was a trailer problem. Do the brake/turn signal lights work OK on the truck? I THINK there are separate fuses for the trailer circuits (maybe under the hood?). Sounds like the rental had a bad ground/messed-up wiring.
Steve
Steve
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Senior User
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From: Portsmouth,VA
everythimg worked/works on the truck, I put a test light on the 4 pin connector and all I get power to is the running lights.
maybe back probing w/ a test light, the 4 pin connector until i get power in the turn signal lights.
maybe back probing w/ a test light, the 4 pin connector until i get power in the turn signal lights.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
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From: Atlanta GA
Correct me if I am wrong, everything works on the truck, just not the 4 pin plug? In that case, check the relays.
It is possible the harness was not long enough on the trailer, or got bound, and pulled on the factory harness and pulled its connectors. Sometimes the connector will pull forward while teh wires stay in place. I have seen that happen, though mostly on people that forget to disconnect the harnesses before driving away.
Back probing will not work. If you have the factory towing, you will find the wire harness goes from the back of your truck to a connector on the left side of the frame near the cross member support. The easiest way to get at this connector to disconnect it for tests, is to remove the spare tire. Try not to break the tabs. If you do, plastic wire tie the connectors together with a big loop around both.
It is possible the harness was not long enough on the trailer, or got bound, and pulled on the factory harness and pulled its connectors. Sometimes the connector will pull forward while teh wires stay in place. I have seen that happen, though mostly on people that forget to disconnect the harnesses before driving away.
Back probing will not work. If you have the factory towing, you will find the wire harness goes from the back of your truck to a connector on the left side of the frame near the cross member support. The easiest way to get at this connector to disconnect it for tests, is to remove the spare tire. Try not to break the tabs. If you do, plastic wire tie the connectors together with a big loop around both.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Portsmouth,VA
Problem Solved!!! Just a simple fuse
Man it was like you were reading my mind as I was doing this, I was doing what you were describing.
I had parking lights, but no turn or brake lights at the 4-pin.
I went out there and removed spare tire disconnected the wiring harness, used a test light and probed the connectors, had still had nothing but ruck turn lights, truck parking lights, and 4 pin parking lights.
After an hour of checking all teh fuses in the cab and in the engine, and checking the relays in the engine. Thats when I notices a little rectangler box behind the relay box, when I opened it it had two mini fuses in it, so I checked both of them and one was blown, replaced it and guess what
EVERYTHING AT THE FOUR PIN CONNECTOR WORKS NOW!!!!
Thanks a lot for everything guys!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man it was like you were reading my mind as I was doing this, I was doing what you were describing.
I had parking lights, but no turn or brake lights at the 4-pin.
I went out there and removed spare tire disconnected the wiring harness, used a test light and probed the connectors, had still had nothing but ruck turn lights, truck parking lights, and 4 pin parking lights.
After an hour of checking all teh fuses in the cab and in the engine, and checking the relays in the engine. Thats when I notices a little rectangler box behind the relay box, when I opened it it had two mini fuses in it, so I checked both of them and one was blown, replaced it and guess what
EVERYTHING AT THE FOUR PIN CONNECTOR WORKS NOW!!!!
Thanks a lot for everything guys!!!!!!!!!!!!
