Strange trailer light problem????

[richg99]

Everything worked just fine up until a few days ago. Then, the boat trailer's "trailer lights" ( on all of the time when Tahoe's lights are on) stopped working. I checked the bulbs and they are fine...<br /><br />The Tahoe's own rear lights works just fine! The turn indicators continue to work just fine; brake lights still work...one fuse fits all so it is not the fuse.<br /> <br />I pulled the connection and no power is coming out of the auto side connector at the trailer light (pin only). I pulled the wire that goes back into the auto's wiring harness... it tests out (for continuity) fine, but no power comes out of the proper pin. The next wiring harness back seems to be a dealer only item. Any ideas??? RichG

 

[Boatist]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

Your just going to have to trace it back to where it connects to the Tahoe's wireing. If they used those clips like U-Haul then the problem will probably be right there.

 

[jlshields]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

If it's a factory wiring job it probably has a separate fuse for the trailer wiring. Check under the hood for a fuse box. And your 'Owner's Manual'.

 

[Richok]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

Rich if I am understanding your problem correctly check out the plug. You may have a bad plug or loose wire inside the plug depending on what type it is. This is the way I am understanding, You unplugged the trailer checked the pin on the Tahoe (no power). You pulled the wire from the plug and have continuity on vehicle wire. <br /><br />I have found those cheap $3 or $5 test lights you can get at parts houses with a wire attached work great for this type of problem. You can use the vehicle power and push the ice pick looking end into the wire at any point to see if you have a broken wire. <br /><br />Boatist is correct on those clips, soldier the wire is best and cover with shrink wrap.

 

[richg99]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

On both this and another board, the suggestion was that maybe I had ANOTHER FUSE BLOCK UNDER THE HOOD... The "manual" , under fuses, only references the fuse block inside of the vehicle. <br /><br />Maybe God won't mind, but I was at church this morning and I said " maybe there ARE some MORE fuses under the hood". In the church parking lot.....I checked the book and they were in the Underhood Electrical Center. No mention of that great big item (UEC) at the fuse point in the book!!!!...but the UEC has about twenty more fuses. Pulled the thing apart while still in my Sunday best....One was blown and it was the item I needed!!!!! THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE HELP ON THE BOARD! RichG

 

[jlshields]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

Well, how about that. I wrote my advice right before we left for church. I'm sure God don't mind, IF you went ahead and attended services!<br />Now, what caused it to blow? Replace the fuse then try your turn signals one at a time, checking the fuse after each try. If that blows it the trouble is in the vehicle side. Hook up your trailer and do the same thing. If it blows now, the trouble is in the trailer wiring. If it still doesn't blow, well, sometimes they just blow. Maybe He was testing YOU.

 

[richg99]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

Well, you bring up a good point. Actually I did the "fix" after services. I'm certain that the straying of my thoughts is a common offense of mine in during all of these 60+ years!<br /><br />I think the fuse blew because I sunk the trailer lights ( even though they are mounted up about two feet ) the last time out before she stopped working. Nothing like a little cold water to break the glass in the bulb and sometimes blow the fuse too. Hasn't happened during the last three or four bulbs, but I'll watch it carefully. <br /><br />I need the trailer lights on when I back into my boat barn in the evening, so I will notice their condition easily. Easy enough to check everytime I go out too. Thanks for all the help. RichG

 

[cp]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

To keep the bulbs from popping upon contact with water, everyone I know disconnects the trailer connector when prepping the boat prior to launch. That way the bulbs won't light and get hot and will have cooled before they hit the water. Because the sea water here would cause corrosion, most also use sealed waterproof lights. That works - I've been disconnecting and dunking mine for over 5 years and they still work. The guys who don't have the waterproof lights usually take them off the trailer/boat before launch. LED lights may be another possibility since they don't run hot, but I've no personal experience with them on trailers. No sense chancing another bulb bursting and blowing your fuse. God helps those who help themselves .

 

[richg99]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

Actually, I used to dis-connect my lights. I then forgot, on occasion, to re-connect them when I went down the road. I'm getting older, daily...imagine that!<br /><br />My solution (and it works mostly) was to move the lghts to the very top of the white guide-ons. Unfortunately, every now and then, someone ( me ) puts the boat too deep into the launch and that sinks the bulbs. As usual, operator error, not equipment, is the problem. Thanks, though for the advice. RichG

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

well my right turn signal stayed solid when tail light is turned on. they work fine when tail light is off. this is a combo light that does everything, no problem on the truck side. has anyone ran into this problem? I thinking about taking it to the marina and have them rewire the whole thing and get charge a ridiculous amount for the job. any suggestion would be great. Thanks.

 

[bomar76]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

99.9999% of all screwy light issues are a ground problem.<br /><br />I don't think this will be an exception to that rule.<br /><br />Check the grounds.....(on the trailer!)

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

I ohmed out all the wires on the trailer and got perfect connectivity between the trailer frame and all of the wires and also between the ground wire and the brown and green wire. Could a burn out bulb on the rear clearance light bar or side marker caused the problem? If ground is really the problem then should it not work all the time instead of just when the tail light is on?? this thing have been really frustrating. I could be fishing instead of stuck at home messing with it..

 

[OBJ]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

gonefishie.....check the main grounds like bomar suggested. Believe me, a bad ground will do strange things to trailer lights. When I hook up grounds, I go right for the frames of both the tow vehicle and trailer. I clean a small spot to bare metal, drill a hole for self tap screw and connect. Finish off the job with a coat of liquid vinyl. This keeps the moisture out.

 

[bomar76]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

Again, it's your grounds......this is one instance where you cannot trust a ohm meter to tell you anything. Check every stinking ground connection, at every light, and renew the frame connections on both vehicles as OBJ says.<br />More than likely you have a poor ground on one of the lights and it's backfeeding through another. Bad grounds will do screwy things...

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

I got it fellas!!!! first redo all the ground points, it works for a few second and then back to the same problem so I replaced the trailer plug and voila, everything good as new. Thanks for all the help!

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: Strange trailer light problem????

I would have solved this for you except for the fact that I have never had a trailer of any discription that did not have screwy light problems. Think I should check my grounds