Trailer running lights keep on blowing fuses

nitrox6118 · May 6, 2005

I have a 01 silverado 2500hd. I first noticed that my running lights werent working yesterday when my lights turned on and they didnt, then i check plug and noticed it was working, then went under the hood and check the fuse, blown, i replaced it, today i checked again, and they didnt work. Checked the fuse again and it was blown.

I dont know whats going on, but its a hazard having the lights out. I do have a back up camera hooked up to my reverse lights, but there connected directly to the backup light.

PLEASE HELP! ASAP

HillHound · May 6, 2005

This happened to me a few times. Both times some some bare wiring was contacting the metal trailer frame and shorting out fuses. The insulation had been torn/stripped from the wires which allowed it to happen.

Check to make sure that's not what's happening in your case and rule it out before you start looking for more comlicated causes. Hope you get it fixed quick. Trailer wiring problems can be a big PITA!!

nitrox6118 · May 6, 2005

k so should i start from the hitch and work my way back to the cab? or is there a junction around the rear for the wires to go to?

HillHound · May 6, 2005

I'd start at each of the lights and work my way towards the front of the trailer until the wire gets bundled. Both of the times it happened to me the spot where the insulation was torn was pretty close to where the light bolted onto the trailer.

My trailer's frame has some sharp edges and after so long the sharp spots tear the wire insulation. Just look for places where the trailer frame is touching wires and then take a close look to see if there's a rip in the wire cover.

On second thought, I reread your first post and thought for some reason you were talking about a trailer's tail lights! Sorry for the misunderstanding. You could still check for bare spots in wires that are touching metal parts of your truck-that would cause the fuse to blow out.

MemphisDoug · May 6, 2005

Nitro - Your title for the post indicates that you have trailer lights blowing a fuse. Is that the case or is it just your truck lights alone that are blowing the fuse? If it only happens when you have a trailer hitched up, then I would start looking at the wiring on the trailer for a short. If it happens with no trailer hitched and you have a trailer wiring connector on the back of your truck, take it apart and look for corrosion. They can get pretty nasty sometimes.

KyleBst264 · May 6, 2005

This happened to me a few times. Both times some some bare wiring was contacting the metal trailer frame and shorting out fuses. The insulation had been torn/stripped from the wires which allowed it to happen.

Check to make sure that's not what's happening in your case and rule it out before you start looking for more comlicated causes. Hope you get it fixed quick. Trailer wiring problems can be a big PITA!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I had the same exact thing happen to me. Face it the person at does the wiring at these trailer factories is a monkey, that moves wires around while scratching his head with one finger.

I was towing my trailer with my '98 1500, I'm going down the highway and all of sudden the lights on the cluster go out, the parking lights on the truck and all the lights on the trailer. Changed fuses when this happened a few time son this trip. We started hunting around looking for the problem and we found a wire with a bare spot in it touching metal. Fixed it and it never did it again.

If what you're towing is a car trailer, whether it be open or enclosed, they always have some sort of wiring problem.

nitrox6118 · May 6, 2005

its the fuse for the trailer ground lights, on the truck. So everyones saying check the trailer for bare wires? thats gonna be a pita

GMC6000 · May 7, 2005

If you verified that you have no wires shorting, next question to ask is how many lights are you trying to run? You may have to upsize your fuse. I had the same problem with my camper, I kept blowing fuses. It didn't take me long to realize I had a lot more current draw than I was fused for. BE SURE you eliminate any shorts before upsizing the fuse, or you could have another problem.

nitrox6118 · May 7, 2005

16 lights i think

GMC6000 · May 8, 2005

If you eliminated any shorts, try going up 5 amps on the fuse. If I remember correctly, mine was fused for 20 amps and I went to a 25. The other way to be sure, if you have access to one, is to put an amp meter in series at your fuse panel to check current draw. Just pull your fuse, and plug the leads from your amp meter into where your fuse come out, turn on all of your lights, and you will know real quick how much current you are drawing.