Jump to content

Trailer Lights

MattDewalt

Recommended Posts

MattDewalt Enthusiast

MattDewalt

Posted
Posted

After getting a $105 ticket 2 weeks ago for the lights being out on my trailer, I finally decided to find out what was wrong. It turns out I had a number of problems with both my truck and trailer. I ended up putting a new plug on the truck and replacing all the lights on my trailer. Everything now works great except that when I step on the brakes, all the trailer lights go out. I'd like to get this fixed because tomorrow, I will be going through the same town that gave me the ticket. Any ideas?

NOS#9BIGMAC Enthusiast

NOS#9BIGMAC

Posted
Posted

I had the same problem with a 89 bronco II, but I cant remember how I fixed it. I would double check your wiring and make sure something isn't grounding out somewhere along the lines. There is also a wiring kit out there that doest require any cutting it just plugs into the existing harness behind the rear bumper. but I think it only works on late model vehicles. thats all I can think of right now, good luck :thumbs:

I've got to hook up a wiring kit on my rig as well cause its set up to tow trailers with electric brakes :seeya:

hercman Enthusiast

hercman

Posted
Posted

I had a similar problem. I have a tilt trailer and had to run a ground wire between the two halves of the trailer. Also check and see if your bulbs making proper contact. to do that have put something on the brake pedal to keep the light on and then go wiggle and push on the bulb. If it works intermitantly then its your light housing. I had to modify my trailer lights to hold tighter to the bulb so it would get enough contact to operate.

MattDewalt Enthusiast

MattDewalt

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It's a tilt trailer, but it has never been tilted because it has a gate on the back. I thought it was a ground too, and I noticed last night that the ground wire on the trailer harness was never hooked up from the factory and I've been grounding through the ball for 3 years. So I pulled it out from the tongue channel and grounded it to the tongue lip. Problem still existed. So, what you are saying is to run the ground back to the end of the tongue channel and ground it to the trailer frame instead of the tongue? I'll try running a jumper wire from the ground I did last night to the frame and see if the problem goes away.

hercman Enthusiast

hercman

Posted
Posted

I had to add a jumper across the hinge of the tilt trailer. The hinge tends to corrode and doesn't have enough continuity for a good ground.

MattDewalt Enthusiast

MattDewalt

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I ran a ground directly to the trailer frame beyond where the trailer would tilt. The problem is now fixed and everything works perfect. Thanks for the help.

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

Great!!! Your hired.

 

I'll expect you by noon tomorrow to re-wire my trailer. :seeya: It's not a tilt, so you should be able to rewire it standing on your head! :thumbs:

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    250.6k
    Total Topics
    2.7m
    Total Posts

  • Member Statistics

    343,007
    Total Members
    8,960
    Most Online
    Brendan C
    Newest Member
    Brendan C
    Joined

  • Who's Online   4 Members, 1 Anonymous, 1,163 Guests (See full list)

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • richard wysong
      Electrical Problem - solved

      By richard wysong · Posted

      Thanks for posting, I'm sure it will help someone
    • Brendan C
      2026 6.6 L5P oil cooler leaking oil at 4,000 miles

      By Brendan C · Posted

      New to diesel trucks. I happened to find my oil cooler leaking oil externally with only 4,000 miles on the truck. I didn’t realize this was an issue until I started researching it. Dealer is going to replace it under warranty but I’m wondering if there’s anything GM is working on to fix this issue. I’ve heard the oil filter used is the same as they use on their V6 motors and that’s what is causing the problems. Should I switch to a bigger filter or keep using the OEM recommended? 
    • Vu1can
      Seems to be Missing a lot of Updates

      By Vu1can · Posted

      So, GMCustomerService:  Judging by the Update History pictured above, is this truck missing any updates that it actually needs. If it's just for the infotainment system, the radio is working fine and no trouble with SeriusXM. and Android Auto is working fine wirelessly with my phone. Some months ago, an update notice was sent to my truck. I approved the update and it finished saying that the update was successful, but it seems that whatever that update was, it didn't actually get installed - at least not if I'm to go by the Update History shown above.   So, again, are there any updates that this truck really should have? I've checked with my dealer but they're reluctant or commit to anything and if I want them to check, they require a $200.00 fee just to check it out and then I'd have to pay for the actual update(s).    Ignorance is bliss, and if none of the updates goes to fixing any mechanical discrepancies, I'll just leave things as is.  
    • CNH-320
      Electrical Problem - solved

      By CNH-320 · Posted

      Hey everyone, I recently had an issue with my 07 2500HD GMT900. My DRL’s stay on at all times. Right front turn and right mirror turn signal indicator stay on solid at all times. By “at all times” I mean the only way to make them go off is disconnecting the battery. I tore the headlight assemblies out, tried disconnecting the harnesses to eliminate bad wiring at the harness, I unplugged the headlight switch, no change and the mirror turn signal still stayed on. My first thoughts were : Bad bulb and/or socket somewhere, under hood fuse panel bad, bcm bad, tail light or trailer wiring problem, or some random short to power in the harness.  Possibly a bad ground but unlikely. I had a big clue in the fuse panel, it had a burnt smell. I started pulling every fuse that had to do with DRL or right turn/park lamp. Nothing made the right directional turn off but pulling the DRL2 fuse made the DRL’s go out.  After studying wiring diagrams, I found that both problems had that fuse panel in common, the bcm also controls both problems but knowing the fuse panel had a burnt smell I removed and disassembled the fuse panel and found a little corrosion on the printed circuit board.  I ordered a new fuse panel from Amazon for like $260. When it arrived I installed it, and put everything back together, the problem was fixed. I figured the fuse panel needed to be replaced anyway so that was a logical place to start. Hopefully this story helps someone in the future. Regretfully I didn’t scan for codes before I did everything.
    • 2022LtTbZ71
      Service 4wd, ESC light, traction control light on, Service charging system (vehicle may stall)

      By 2022LtTbZ71 · Posted

      That stinks. I’m sitting on the side of the road right now with the same issue. Never had an issue before taking it in for the ground strap recall. Now I’m outside of warranty and they’ll probably want $200 just to diagnose what they already “fixed”. 

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...