HELP
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New User
Joined: May 2001
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HELP
I need help with my 83 Ford F-100. My neighbor came over yesterday, said that he knew how to hook up triler lights. Well, I have no parking lights now. Nothing has been changed, and the fuses 1 is dead, and one keeps blowing... my battery keeps draininig... it is a mess. He must have burnt something out. If I could get a wire schematic, and some trouble shooting help, I need to get this truck ready for my fishin trip... now this...
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 772
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From: Glen Burnie Maryland
HELP
1st off DIS-CONNECT everything he installed. Sounds like one or more of the wires are touching ground or cross-connected,
Trailer wiring is fairly simple with the correct tools.
volt-meter (or test light).
Simple electrical tools
make sure all your lights work next. Replace the blown fuse and troubleshoot the one that keeps blowing out. You'll probably find that it will hold once you remove all your neighbors wiring.
NEXT! Remove BOTH TAIL LIGHT HOUSINGS. plug your truck connector into the trailer connector. Assuming that your going with a "FLAT FOUR CONNECTOR", Your concerned with 4 wires.
Tail, Left Turn, Right Turn, and Ground. the brake lights are actually the turn signals both on and not flashing. The ground wire on most harnesses I've ever seen is white. Verify your trailer ground and go from there. Connect the white wire to a CLEAN body ground (Drill a hole in the body, frame or bumper,; and attach ground wire with a lug connector (Looks like a looped end.) and a screw.
Next your gonna connect the tail lights. Provided that your tail-lights are working, turn the parking lights on. Next test out the three wires to the light socket. One will have power and the other two won't. Attach a wire (strip back insulation, splice and solder then tape or you can use the 3-M (tm) quick connects. attach the other end to the "BROWN" or which ever one gives you both lights and all markers.
Once you've done that it's time for the Turn signals.
Turn on your left turn signal. Check the other two wires for a on-off-on voltage or blinking light effect from your circuit tester. Once you've found that, attach a wire (use same technique as above) and attach to the truck harness (you will have two choices here, green or yellow....can't remember which is which so test it out.) once you get the left trailer light blinking with the left truck light, do the same with the right side.
Tie wrap all loose wires, tape all joints (liquid electrical tape is great for this...marine supply stores have it) double check lights(get a heavy duty #554 flasher the stock 224 won't handle the load)........go catch some fish!
This shouldn't take more than an hour and a 1/2 to do.
Larry
Trailer wiring is fairly simple with the correct tools.
volt-meter (or test light).
Simple electrical tools
make sure all your lights work next. Replace the blown fuse and troubleshoot the one that keeps blowing out. You'll probably find that it will hold once you remove all your neighbors wiring.
NEXT! Remove BOTH TAIL LIGHT HOUSINGS. plug your truck connector into the trailer connector. Assuming that your going with a "FLAT FOUR CONNECTOR", Your concerned with 4 wires.
Tail, Left Turn, Right Turn, and Ground. the brake lights are actually the turn signals both on and not flashing. The ground wire on most harnesses I've ever seen is white. Verify your trailer ground and go from there. Connect the white wire to a CLEAN body ground (Drill a hole in the body, frame or bumper,; and attach ground wire with a lug connector (Looks like a looped end.) and a screw.
Next your gonna connect the tail lights. Provided that your tail-lights are working, turn the parking lights on. Next test out the three wires to the light socket. One will have power and the other two won't. Attach a wire (strip back insulation, splice and solder then tape or you can use the 3-M (tm) quick connects. attach the other end to the "BROWN" or which ever one gives you both lights and all markers.
Once you've done that it's time for the Turn signals.
Turn on your left turn signal. Check the other two wires for a on-off-on voltage or blinking light effect from your circuit tester. Once you've found that, attach a wire (use same technique as above) and attach to the truck harness (you will have two choices here, green or yellow....can't remember which is which so test it out.) once you get the left trailer light blinking with the left truck light, do the same with the right side.
Tie wrap all loose wires, tape all joints (liquid electrical tape is great for this...marine supply stores have it) double check lights(get a heavy duty #554 flasher the stock 224 won't handle the load)........go catch some fish!
This shouldn't take more than an hour and a 1/2 to do.
Larry
Senior User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
HELP
Go cut the taillight wires under your neighbor's truck and see if he can hook it all back up right. Did he used to own an '88 Chevy, because I swear he did the work on my trailer pigtail. I've seen odd stuff come from very subtle ground outs. You find this stuff out with an old truck with 30% functional wiring. One time I had a truck that, when the headlights were on, if you hit the 4 ways, the taillights would wig wag. Fun to watch.
