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Trailer lights
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 3:19 pm
by Muskie Dave
I am having trouble with my signal light on my trailer. The running light works but the turn signal and the emergency blinker wont work on one side. I tried a new bulb, switching bulbs etc...Does anyone have a simple fix?
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 3:40 pm
by DropShotr
Insure all connections are good and corrosion free.
Insure your ground wire connection is in good order as well. A poor ground is the root of a lot of trailer light evils.
Good luck,
DS
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 3:47 pm
by hook&shoot
Dave ,
In my tortured experiences, I find the running lights are another circuit or loop than the rest. You might have another ground you have not discovered.
Good luck they are an infuriating, poorly designed thing
Mark
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:20 pm
by MLR
using a test lamp, is every thing working on the vehicle side of the trailer wire plug?
Broken Blinker
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:21 am
by Muskie Dave
Haven't the foggiest!
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:56 am
by troutnmuskiehunter
I have the exact same problem with my EZ Loader trailer!!!!....it started last fall and I haven't looked at it yet!! I changed the bulb but it didn't fix the problem....running light works fine..
I will put a meter on it and try and figure it out...
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 8:55 pm
by Flipper
That happened to me once with a pick up truck I used to tow with. Had me baffled for a while but a search on the internet suggested I change the flasher in the truck to a heavy duty flasher. It solved it.
Also, does your tow vehicle have two colour tail lights? If so, the converter box may have become defective. Walmart has them for about $12.00 (last time I bought one). I had an SUV that needed the transformer changed twice over a ten year period.
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 9:28 pm
by waynerb66
A lot of Japanese cars require special converter boxes. I think there is an extra connection. I can't remember exactly what it is for though. Maybe your old one is defective. Mine became that way after a couple of years.(It was a U-Haul one) I would definitely check that out. It sounds like the same type of problems that I was experiencing.
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 7:17 am
by Lunker Larry
Get a tester. That way you can check power from the vehicle to the tail lights. 99% of the time it is the ground or corroded light socket. I had a trailer that, every spring, I had to take the lights apart and sand all the connections before it would work. Also had to redo the ground each time also. Washed it out with WD40.
It's also a good idea to lightly sand the mail and femalel plug. Just roll up the sand paper and twist into the female plug.
When you think about it there is not much to the hookup.
Trailer lights
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 7:34 am
by Seaweed
Gentlemen ....
Newer trucks have seperate fuses for trailer tuning lights... I know hard to believe but check your manual before you pull your hair out rewiring and overtesting.
I found out the hard way... then I installed LED lights and didn't worry about blowing them if they stayed plugged in while I was launching the boat.
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 8:53 am
by Wabler
I had the same problem. I just cleaned and reattached all the ground connections and it seems to have worked.
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:32 pm
by orrsey
I would go with getting a tester....I would check to see if there is current coming from the vehicle connection ( running light wire, signal wires etc..) if all turns out ok then you have it pinned down to a trailer problem. If not, you know its your vehicle.
good luck with it
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:21 am
by Muskie Dave
This web site is awesome. It is great to have so many people wanting to help each other. Thank you for the advice.
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 6:45 am
by Lunker Larry
This is a bit off topic, but if you have an older trailer and need to replace the lights, Princess Auto has a waterproof trailer light set on sale for I think $22.99 (give or take a dollar). Complete with wiring and plugs.
Fist brand.