Trailer lights stopped working

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Sep 30, 2005 | 09:53 AM

rangerxlt02

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 513

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From: Zimmerman, MN

Trailer lights stopped working

Morning everyone,
Last week my trailer lights on my Ranger were working fine (running, turn, brake, all in working order).

Two days ago I hooked up my trailer, and I no longer have turn or brake lights on the trailer. They function fine on the truck.

I replaced the connector on the truck and still the problem persists.

I checked the wiring up from the connector, and that all enclosed in that plastic wrapper, with no visible wear spots or breaks.

Any ideas out there? Do the wires that feed the connector come right from the lights (if so I'll re-wire it myself) or do they come from another connector somewhere under the vehicle that I didn't see?

Thanks for your time.

Sep 30, 2005 | 10:00 AM

Betaracer

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 162

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From: Whistler, BC, Canada

Fuse? Or maybe a grounding issue.

Sep 30, 2005 | 10:05 AM

rangerxlt02

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 513

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From: Zimmerman, MN

Is this something that is controlled by a seperate fuse somewhere? I don't have the owner's manual for my truck and so cannot tell the fuse panel layout (I have a print-out of it somewhere, just can't find it after moving).

Wouldn't a grounding issue impact the running lights, as they still work, just not the brake and turn signals?

Sep 30, 2005 | 10:09 AM

alchymist

"Mifflin Clay"

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 3,177

Likes: 4

From: Mifflin, PA

Most later model tow vehicles have seperate fused relays for the turn sig/brakes/running lights. If they work on the truck, either blown fuse or bad relay - if both side quit, I'd guess fuse. Good Luck.

Sep 30, 2005 | 12:27 PM

53wa2fl

Elder User

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 525

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From: Floriduh

I say check the pigtail on the truck first with a tester.....the kind with a light.....Then assuming you have power at the pigtail, move on to the trailer wiring.

Sep 30, 2005 | 12:36 PM

rangerxlt02

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 513

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From: Zimmerman, MN

It is the truck (have 2 trailers and a testing light). Only running lights on all 3 devices.

I will have to start searching for a fuse (wish I could find my diagram of the fuse panel) and also anything else that may have changed from Sunday.

FUP:
Found my fuse panel layout at motercraft.com

Somehow my truck blew both left and right fuses for trailer\tow on signals and brake light. Very odd.

Well now that I have a new connector on the back of the truck, hopefully this won't happen again.

Thanks for the advice people.

Last edited by rangerxlt02; Sep 30, 2005 at 01:00 PM.

Oct 1, 2005 | 09:42 AM

Sycostang67

Lead Driver

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 5,491

Likes: 16

From: Kuna ID

I wasn't aware the newer trucks had separate fuses for trailer lights now. When my sister had her 2000 F-250, I couldn't get the trailer lights to work. I checked the plug and had her take it back to the dealer, I thought maybe someone had messed up the install on the plug. They just swapped a fuse and all was good. It would be kind of nice not to lose lights on the truck as well when something shorts out.