Trailer lights keep blowing

[sunbird20]

Need some help - putting new lights on trailer and the electrical connectors inside the light keep breaking/melting - not the bulbs, but the actual metal strips that the wires are soldered to. The lights and wires are brand new. This is what killed my old lights, originally, I thought it was just rust. I have done this before on this trailer and I don't know why I am having a problem this time. Also, the fuse inside on my truck (2002 Explorer)keeps popping. Before I buy any more lights, what should I check? Also, I have to use a adapter to go from a 4 wire to 7 wire in the truck harness. Could the adapter be bad or the harness on the truck? Also, this was happening when I was checking during installation, I didn't even get it in the water. - Thanks

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Trailer lights keep blowing

Did you order the Explorer with tow package..I got my Explorer with a tow package and the one feature is a circuit protection unit for the tailights, which is needed because the tail lights on the truck are 6 wire (amber turn signals) and need to be converted to 4 wire Trailer lights you have to have the box to do it, you cannot wire directly into the tail light harness, and then you must have the correct tee connector for your application.

 

[sunbird20]

Re: Trailer lights keep blowing

Yes, it does have the tow package. I have been using it for over a year and have not had this problem before. The trailer wires have the 4 pin connector this goes into an adapter from 4 to 7or8(I forget) which then connects to the truck harness. Could the adapter have gone bad? Do I need to take it to Ford? I just need some ideas of where to start looking.<br /><br />thanks

 

[Lark40]

Re: Trailer lights keep blowing

What exactly is breaking? Is it the metal strips inside the socket that the bulb contacts, or; is it the lighting element within the bulbs?

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Trailer lights keep blowing

Is the 4 pin connector getting hot at the trailer? If then there is some serious resistance happening, which will increase electical draw and make heat enough to melt things, This happend to a friend, last summer just after he replaced all the lights and wiring on his Trailer, his problem was caused from the metal base on the side marker lights had cut into the wire the lights worked for a few minutes then the pigtail would get real hot and then pop a fuse. You may want to check your voltage at the truck harness also, I just replaced the Alternator on my Explorer it was putting out 19 volts, Had to drive over 100 miles with almost everthing going just to stay down under fifteen volts, The lights got real bright on My truck, thats what tipped me off I had a problem, these Explorers have been known to have Rectifier problems, due to alternator brushes wearing through the wear ring and shorting the regulator, The gage in the dash still showed in the safe zone (no actual #'s) just high low. So it may be possible Truck is suspect, but if so then other trailers would or should be a problem also.. Good luck let us know how you make out.