TRAILER LIGHTS

[cameraperson]

So, I got a new lighting kit for the trailer. 2 yellow and 2 red brake lights on the trailer, tested it all, tested as good circuits. Hooked it to a 4pin-to-7pin. The 4-7 lights up when working- it lights up when tested.

Plugged in, No lights on trailer.

Its a toyota tacoma.

Any ideas?

[cameraperson]

RE: TRAILER LIGHTS

The circuits are good, and the lights work, all is new.
The 4-7 is new.
The truck lights work and are on.

When properly connected, nothing works.

[skiinxs]

RE: TRAILER LIGHTS

Most likely a bad ground.
Dave

[DanielC]

RE: TRAILER LIGHTS

I am not familiar with how the trailer light connector get its power on your truck. But it is common for the trailer light system to be isolated from the truck light system by relays, sometimes each with its own separate fuse, and this relay pack and fuses may or may not be located by the main fuse block for the vehicle. Just because the truck lights work normally, it does not mean that power is actually being supplied to the trailer connector on the truck.

The ground is very important. you cannot depend on a ground through the trailer ball. You must have a separate good ground.

If everything works, the trailer lights have to work. There can be no other result. Something has to not be working, in your case.

Get a test light. Confirm that each pin in the socket on the truck is getting power. Then plug the adapter in, and then confirm power is actually getting through the adapter, at each pin.

Now for the trailer. You said you just rewired the trailer. In your case, I would get a separate FUSED power wire directly from a 12 volt battery, and see if you can make each trailer light circuit light up individually. Do not just check for continuity with an ohm meter, you could have a short circuit, and not know it.

There is still a possibility that if you connected it up so all four rear lights go bright when you brake, the amp draw for the brake light circuit is more than the fuse that supplies trailer brake light power, and it blows out.

[skijones]

RE: TRAILER LIGHTS

You should have a white wire in the harness coming off the truck. Make sure you have the white wire on the trailer directly to a good, clean ground.

More light and electrical problems are caused by bad grounds than anything else.

[tadelfio]

RE: TRAILER LIGHTS

I rewired my trailer once and could not figure out why they weren't working. To make a long story short, it ended up being the fuse for the trailer connector. Don't forget to check the fuse like Daniel suggested. It can save a lot of frustration.

[cameraperson]

RE: TRAILER LIGHTS

Thanks everyone. I really want to thank you all for the help. It's great for a novice like me.

I'll post my results!