: Trailer Lights Are Squirrely
underdrive92 12-27-2006, 02:18 PM Okay boys. I have a 2006 F150. I just installed a brand new trailer light kit on my snowmobile trailer.
I have all running lights working left and right. I have right signal. I have Right side only flashing when I hit the hazards. The left side works too but looks more like a power loss from the right side draw. That's it
I have no left signal or brake lights. Infact when I hit the brakes every light on the trailer goes out. Any ideas.
joezr2 12-27-2006, 02:26 PM Almost every weird trailer light condition I've ever troubleshot turned out to be a bad ground. Check all connections and wires for worn insulation. Sled trailers live in a very harsh environment!
I know this sounds dumb but make sure the trailer is actually hooked to the ball of the truck. We found out that the trailer is ground to the truck.
underdrive92 12-27-2006, 02:30 PM What I did was checked the ground on the back of the truck lights and it came out good. The wiring is brand new installed today. It lights up as bright as it should with running lights. and right turn signal. Just the brake thing has me stumped big time.
Downriver Thunder 12-27-2006, 02:38 PM It really does sound like a ground issue. You have a dedicated ground hooked up or are you relying on the hitch to do your grounding?
underdrive92 12-27-2006, 02:42 PM Okay hooked up the trailer lights as diagram showed. I put the trailer on my truck. I hooked in the lights. Seems all power is going to right side. I added an additional ground wire to the back of the lights where they screw on. Now the right side lights are as bright as they can get and the left is not bright at all. It's on but just barely. I disconnect the added ground to the right side doesn't make a diffrence. I disconnect the left and what little light is there goes out. Still no brake lights at all and all lights on trailer go out when I hit the brakes. Maybe my truck is messed up. It is a Ford. *heheh*.
JasonF 12-27-2006, 03:26 PM I know this sounds dumb but did you check to see that you have power at the harness?
underdrive92 12-27-2006, 03:35 PM Everything works but left side signal. Weird I know.
Spaceman 12-27-2006, 04:55 PM It's the ground in the left light for sure. Check it by grounding a wire at a sourse of good ground. next touch that wire to the metal that holds the bulb. It could be a defective light itself.
paul yarek 12-27-2006, 06:39 PM Almost every weird trailer light condition I've ever troubleshot turned out to be a bad ground.[/b]
right on.
first make sure the harness on the truck is fine. then with a wire tester start checking the problem area. i bet it is the ground at the light itself.
snow prowler 12-27-2006, 07:22 PM It defiantly sounds like a bad ground. Is your trailer a tilt? If so check your ground wire from the frame to the main tow bar, where it tilts at. I hope this helps. Snow Prowler.
Downriver Thunder 12-28-2006, 08:55 AM Update?
joezr2 12-28-2006, 09:30 AM It defiantly sounds like a bad ground. Is your trailer a tilt? If so check your ground wire from the frame to the main tow bar, where it tilts at. I hope this helps. Snow Prowler.[/b]
good point. My buddy's tilt trailer had no wire so the ground was dependant on the hinge area. The lights would flicker until you jumped on the trailer. This only pronounced itself after we greased the hinge and front area where it comes down (the only two contact points between the deck and the frame.) We still need to put that extra wire in there to connect the two trailer sections together.
FishHog 12-28-2006, 11:03 AM right on.
first make sure the harness on the truck is fine. then with a wire tester start checking the problem area. i bet it is the ground at the light itself.[/b]
100% AGREE. Its always the damn ground. They will drive you nuts, but 99.9% of the time, it will turn out to be the ground.
underdrive92 12-28-2006, 04:19 PM I will reply when I actually do something with it. I checked the harness at the truck and the left turn doesn't seem to work there either. Nor does the brake light. I have the trailer tow package and the payload package. Ford is taking the truck in on Jan2nd for it's 10000km check up. In the mean time my friends trailer works awsome. I am going there tomorrow to hook my truck up and see if it works on that. As for the tilt yes it is. It is a older trailer too and it makes sense that I may have to ground the toungue to the frame after the tilt. I will try that tomorrow briefly if my truck works on that good trailer. Thanks for all input. I will keep you posted.
underdrive92 12-30-2006, 09:13 AM Okay plugged my truck into a trailer that works. I have everything except left turn and hazard and brake. I am positive my truck is broken. But I dont' have brake lights on my trailer on the right side.. So today i will grind all ground down and re attach. and add one from tounge to trailer bed.
paul yarek 12-30-2006, 11:19 AM Okay plugged my truck into a trailer that works. I have everything except left turn and hazard and brake. I am positive my truck is broken.[/b]
probably right at the connection itself. spray connection/wire cleaner in there first before you do anything else. for sure get out a wire tester.
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