OT(somewhat)--trailer wiring ?

I have been having on again off again lighting problems with my
trailer. I bought a brand new wiring kit with the grounding for the
rear lights supposedly being handled by the metal screws and the metal
to the frame.

We get brake and turn signal on the right side, but nothing on the
left. Interestingly enough, it is the same problem which led us to buy

the new equipment.


I have a ford expedition with the basic green/yellow/brown/ground
coming from the truck, and the wiring harness has the brown/yellow,
brown/green pairs and also a ground.


The ground is attached to a bolt on the trailer. The wiring otherwise
is clean and in perfect shape.


Any ideas on what i can check, etc?


Chuck

You can start by hooking it to someone elses vehicle that you know
works to be sure it isn't the trailer.

wrote:
You can start by hooking it to someone elses vehicle that you know
works to be sure it isn't the trailer.


I'm curious what could be worng with a trailer. I work on computers
and have been accused of not having the most common sense, so I just
see a metal thing with wheels. I have done some wiring in the past and
it went off without a hitch.

While looking into my problem, I have seen a tip about hooking jumper
cables from the trailer to the truck to provide a solid ground, going
to try that first thing in the AM.


Chuck

wrote:
wrote:

You can start by hooking it to someone elses vehicle that you know
works to be sure it isn't the trailer.



I'm curious what could be worng with a trailer. I work on computers
and have been accused of not having the most common sense, so I just
see a metal thing with wheels. I have done some wiring in the past and
it went off without a hitch.

While looking into my problem, I have seen a tip about hooking jumper
cables from the trailer to the truck to provide a solid ground, going
to try that first thing in the AM.


Chuck


I think he meant to ascertain whether the problem lies on the trailer
side of the plug or the vehicle side of the plug.

Either plug a different trailer into your vehicle's trailer plug, or
plug a different vehicle to your trailer, to find out where you should
be looking for the problem.

"RichZ" wrote in message
...
wrote:
wrote:

You can start by hooking it to someone elses vehicle that you know
works to be sure it isn't the trailer.



I'm curious what could be worng with a trailer. I work on computers
and have been accused of not having the most common sense, so I just
see a metal thing with wheels. I have done some wiring in the past and
it went off without a hitch.

While looking into my problem, I have seen a tip about hooking jumper
cables from the trailer to the truck to provide a solid ground, going
to try that first thing in the AM.


Chuck


I think he meant to ascertain whether the problem lies on the trailer side
of the plug or the vehicle side of the plug.

Either plug a different trailer into your vehicle's trailer plug, or plug
a different vehicle to your trailer, to find out where you should be
looking for the problem.

Do you have seperate left and right trailer light fuses on your truck?


--
Bob La Londe
Fishing Arizona & The Colorado River
Fishing Forums & Contests
http://www.YumaBassMan.com



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

I'm curious what could be worng with a trailer. I work on computers
and have been accused of not having the most common sense, so I just
see a metal thing with wheels. I have done some wiring in the past and
it went off without a hitch.


Trailers usually have exposed wires and connections and can get cut or
corroded. I suspect it is in your wiring job, but you can eliminate
50% of your search by testing it with another vehicle, preferably one
with a factory connection.

If I were adding a trailer connection, I would go to a dealership and
order a factory 'plug and play' harness and be through with it. I did
that with my Explorer for around $25 I believe.

Or take it to any U-haul center and let them do it.

As simple as adding a trailer connector should be, I have never had
much luck with doing it myself splicing wires.

wrote:
I have been having on again off again lighting problems with my
trailer. I bought a brand new wiring kit with the grounding for the
rear lights supposedly being handled by the metal screws and the metal
to the frame.

We get brake and turn signal on the right side, but nothing on the
left. Interestingly enough, it is the same problem which led us to buy

the new equipment.


I just read this again and you say it is the same problem you had
before you put in the new wiring harness? So what is the common
denominator in the problem? The trailer?

On 12 Oct 2006 19:28:38 -0700, wrote:

I have been having on again off again lighting problems with my
trailer. I bought a brand new wiring kit with the grounding for the
rear lights supposedly being handled by the metal screws and the metal
to the frame.

We get brake and turn signal on the right side, but nothing on the
left. Interestingly enough, it is the same problem which led us to buy

the new equipment.


I have a ford expedition with the basic green/yellow/brown/ground
coming from the truck, and the wiring harness has the brown/yellow,
brown/green pairs and also a ground.


The ground is attached to a bolt on the trailer. The wiring otherwise
is clean and in perfect shape.


Any ideas on what i can check, etc?


Chuck


First test the connector on the truck. Use a vom or a 12V light bulb
to see if there is power coming from each section of the plug.

That will tell you where to test next.

"Dan, danl, Redbeard uh Greybeard now" wrote in message
...
On 12 Oct 2006 19:28:38 -0700, wrote:

I have been having on again off again lighting problems with my
trailer. I bought a brand new wiring kit with the grounding for the
rear lights supposedly being handled by the metal screws and the metal
to the frame.

After you do all the checks that have been recommended, I would solder all
wire connections. Then coat them with a substance called, I believe,
"Gorilla Snot". Do a good friction taping job and most future problems will
be eliminated. The biggest problem I have had with over 50 years of boat
trailers has been the ground between the truck and the trailer and using
these pinch-on wire connectors.

The gorilla snot, I found at a local electronic supply house.

wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a ford expedition

Lol I think I found the problem ^^^^

WW