2015 Dodge Grand caravan SE trailer wires installation failed

[liusigou]

I am trying to install the wires for my 2015 Dodge grand caravan se. The wires is bought from U-hual and its part No. 14486. The instructions is following, https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Image/GetMedia/?id=13684&media=5663&doc=1

I marked the dodge caravan tail light with 1 .2 and 3 section, Which section should I try to connect?

Currently tried to connect the trailer wire from the section of 1 , but it seems fails.

Thank you so much

 

[briangcc]

1 & 2 are probably your blinkers and brakes right? Those would be the ones to tie into. 3 is more than likely your reverse light which since you're only hooking up a 4 pin converter box is unused.

I'd start by retracing all the wiring and confirm which is the feed and which is the ground - as outlined in the instructions from U-haul. I'd also make sure your ground from the convertor box is a good chassis ground - clean the paint from under the ring terminal, reinstall ring terminal and bolt, then top coat with whatever paint you have to prevent rust.

This may be an instance where either paying U-haul to install OR going with the more expensive plug & play Mopar option might be a better option. Here's a link to Mopar's trailer wiring...

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[Sprig]

Wiring/electrical can be tricky and frustrating . With out hands on I can’t diagnose the problem. One word of advice, be sure the trailer is actually hooked up to the trailer ball. This has to do with grounding. If you don’t have the proper ground, things ain’t going to work. Numerous times I’ve seen people trying to get their trailer lights to work but wouldn’t because the trailer wasn’t making a solid ground with the vehicl. Over the years 90% of problems I’ve had with wiring trailer/vehicle has been ground related.

 

[HRG]

I am trying to install the wires for my 2015 Dodge grand caravan se. The wires is bought from U-hual and its part No. 14486. The instructions is following, https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Image/GetMedia/?id=13684&media=5663&doc=1

Deleted. Mis-read the wiring diagram.

FWIW, I bought the Tekonsha T-One® T-Connector Harness, 4-Way Flat unit from amazon and it works perfectly on our 2019 Honda Odyssey.

 

[Alumarine]

Wiring/electrical can be tricky and frustrating . With out hands on I can’t diagnose the problem. One word of advice, be sure the trailer is actually hooked up to the trailer ball. This has to do with grounding. If you don’t have the proper ground, things ain’t going to work. Numerous times I’ve seen people trying to get their trailer lights to work but wouldn’t because the trailer wasn’t making a solid ground with the vehicl. Over the years 90% of problems I’ve had with wiring trailer/vehicle has been ground related.

If wired properly the ball shouldn't have anything to do with grounding.
That might be the case if the trailer isn't wired correctly.
There should be a ground from the vehicle harness connector that attaches to the ground on the trailer harness connector.

When I rewire a trailer I don't even attach the vehicle to test the wiring.
Just the connectors

 

[liusigou]

Today I went to u-haul and the technical tested it and found the package cannot fit my 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan, So I buy another one and it is easy to install.

Thank you everyone

 

[Sprig]

If wired properly the ball shouldn't have anything to do with grounding.
That might be the case if the trailer isn't wired correctly.
There should be a ground from the vehicle harness connector that attaches to the ground on the trailer harness connector.

When I rewire a trailer I don't even attach the vehicle to test the wiring.
Just the connectors

Sorry but I’ve seen this problem numerous times over the last 50 years on trailers supposedly wired correctly. One of them mine, a dozen friends and others. Sometimes the ground wire is faulty or weak ground. In any event it’s a good idea to hook up the trailer and vehicle when wiring. After everything is working then separate the two and go from there.

 

[poconojoe]

Wiring/electrical can be tricky and frustrating . With out hands on I can’t diagnose the problem. One word of advice, be sure the trailer is actually hooked up to the trailer ball. This has to do with grounding. If you don’t have the proper ground, things ain’t going to work. Numerous times I’ve seen people trying to get their trailer lights to work but wouldn’t because the trailer wasn’t making a solid ground with the vehicl. Over the years 90% of problems I’ve had with wiring trailer/vehicle has been ground related.

Agree that you need a proper ground and a bad ground is indeed a common problem.
BUT, NEVER EVER DEPEND ON THE HITCH BALL FOR A GROUND. That will always cause problems.
You need a dedicated ground within your harness....period. No way around it.

 

[poconojoe]

Sorry but I’ve seen this problem numerous times over the last 50 years on trailers supposedly wired correctly. One of them mine, a dozen friends and others. Sometimes the ground wire is faulty or weak ground. In any event it’s a good idea to hook up the trailer and vehicle when wiring. After everything is working then separate the two and go from there.

You do not need the trailer connected to the hitch ball to diagnose wiring problems. Period.

The hitch has absolutely nothing to do with the wiring. If you need the ball for a ground, your wiring is incorrect. You are missing a ground wire in your harness.

If you use the ball for a ground, your trailer lights will be blinking as you're driving down the street.

If you use the hitch ball as a ground and you have a modern integrated trailer brake controller in your tow vehicle from the factory, you will get constant warnings in your dash that there are connection problems.

I'll even go as far as to not use the trailer frame for grounding, but run a ground wire to each light. You can ground the frame, but don't use it exclusively as a ground for the lights.

Do this and your trailer lighting problems will be a thing of the past.

 

[Sprig]

Will just have to agree to disagree. I hook the trailer to the vehicle and then get it to the point where everything works properly, lights, wiring etc. Then I disconnect trailer from vehicle. If there are then any problems with the lights then you know it’s 99% a ground problem. Since you now know the cause of the problem it’s easy easy to find the problem and remedy it. It’s just the way I do things. It’s worked fine my entire trailer towing life, never ever a problem. But each to their own. Just have to do what’s comfortable for each and what works for each.

 

[Lou C]

The white wire in the harness for the trailer is the ground, this goes back to the electric ground for the vehicle, that is a better ground than depending on the hitch....

 

[Lou C]

Using the hitch remember you are depending on a hitch, that slides into a bolted on receiver mount that is bolted to the frame, etc. The white wire on the other hand goes to one of the actual vehicle grounds.
For the same reason some people wire up seperate grounds for each light on the trailer, instead of depending upon the bolted together/welded structure to function as the return path.

 

[poconojoe]

Using the hitch remember you are depending on a hitch, that slides into a bolted on receiver mount that is bolted to the frame, etc. The white wire on the other hand goes to one of the actual vehicle grounds.
For the same reason some people wire up seperate grounds for each light on the trailer, instead of depending upon the bolted together/welded structure to function as the return path.

Exactly.

 

[poconojoe]

When troubleshooting, it is a priority to take every questionable connection out of the equation.
Without that, you may get false readings prolonging your investigation, keeping your attention away from the actual problem. Tricking you into believing the problem lies elsewhere. You may even get different results when testing the same wire a second time.
Solid connections are the key.

Notably, when wierd things happen in these types of simple circuits, many times it is due to a bad ground.

Sometimes it gets to a point where it's just better to buy a whole new trailer harness if your trailer has any age to it.
They are not expensive and you can use the opportunity to switch over to LED lights while you're at it. A great improvement and you won't be blowing out any more hot light bulbs if you forget to unplug your trailer when dunking it into the water.

 

[Lou C]

I switched to LED Lights in 2015 and haven't had to fiddle with them every time I use the trailer, like before with the incandescent ones. Tec Nic I think is the brand name, very good quality made in USA

 

[poconojoe]

I switched to LED Lights in 2015 and haven't had to fiddle with them every time I use the trailer, like before with the incandescent ones. Tec Nic I think is the brand name, very good quality made in USA

Did that on my last trailer, but sold that rig.

It's nice to hear that something is still made here in the U.S.A.

My current trailer is still incandescent and I haven't had any problems yet even though it's nearly 20 years old.
If and when I start having trouble, I will switch to LED in a heartbeat.
Incandescent lamps and sockets are just not worth fixing considering the advantages of LED.

 

[poconojoe]

Oh, back subject....sort of....

My brother-in-law has a Chrysler product he wanted to add a hitch to.
It's a Dodge Journey.
I was almost going to volunteer my help since I added that complete setup to my daughter's Ram 1500 with absolutely no problems.

When I looked into it, it seemed like a nightmare. Nothing was plug and play. I'm so glad I didnt volunteer!
If I recall, you needed to access the wiring in the driver's door sill. Tap in there and work it all back to the rear of the vehicle.

The Ram was simple. The reciever bolted right in after removing the stock support bar. The wiring for the hitch was right under the back of the truck and there was a connector under the steering wheel for an aftermarket electric brake controller. Totally plug and play. No BS.

I hope the OP had a plug and play experience.

 

[airshot]

When I buy a vehicle, even used ones, my first need is the vehicle to have a trailer towing package !!! Been a must for my last 5 vehicles...never had a wiring issue since...

 

[HRG]

When I buy a vehicle, even used ones, my first need is the vehicle to have a trailer towing package !!! Been a must for my last 5 vehicles...never had a wiring issue since...

When we bought our 2019 Honda Odyssey EX van new in 2019, I never even thought about building and towing a boat.

Now that I did build a boat, I lucked out that the van came with 3 threaded holes on each side for mounting a hitch and a connector in the rear fuse box for a trailer harness. The Drawtite 76170 trailer hitch fit perfect and the "Tekonsha T-One® T-Connector Harness, 4-Way Flat, Compatible with Select Honda Odyssey" unit works perfectly.

We bought the van for hauling home repair materials (me) and large bags of potting soil, compost, cinders and sand (for the wife) but so glad that it was designed to haul a trailer.

 

[Lou C]

One thing I always worried about with my Jeeps is Chrysler's electrical systems. I was concerned about adding aftermarket electronics so in 2000 I installed the Mopar hitch and Mopar factory 7 way trailer wiring (that allows you to connect an electric brake controller) in our '98 Jeep. Just recently the right blinker quit working (trailer wiring). Not wanting to use an aftermarket kit (because I liked having the option for electric brakes) I started searching for a new harness....found on on Just for Jeeps...brand new in box one of 10 left in the country! I will take the one that's in there apart, see if it is simple thing like oxidized terminal but if not....the original lasted 22 years!