Trailer wiring ????

CCC · 09-05-2010, 03:18 PM

Both my turn signals, and brake lights work on my boat trailer and I have running lights down the side when the headlights on the truck are turned on, but the back lights (blinkers and turn signals) don't light up with headlights. So bottom line is I am fine for getting where I want to go in the daytime, but not at night. Any ideas ?????

lobsterman · 09-05-2010, 03:21 PM

Check the ground wires first and then check the pigtail connection.

CCC · 09-05-2010, 03:33 PM

I think the ground is ok, but will check, I do know that the terminal on the pig tail for the running lights is hot at the truck and also past the boat pig tail so it is on the boat trailer side.

SaltAddict · 09-05-2010, 03:57 PM

I had a similar problem. It ended up being a broken connection inside the pigtail.

CCC · 09-05-2010, 04:37 PM

but I have power at pigtail on the truck side and the boat side of the pigtails, for running, and both turn signals.

mt0264 · 09-05-2010, 06:22 PM

use a test lamp with a sharp end and stick the wires one at a time after the conection. that will make sure you have power through the pig tail if you dont remove the conection and check the truck side by itself. with the lights on the truck at all times.Then keep runing back on the wires till you find the break in the circuit with the test lamp make sure you have good clean grounds at all lights locations

Good luck its not that hard to figure out with a test lamp

CCC · 09-05-2010, 09:01 PM

I gave up, I am legal for day driving, brakes and turn signals work, so I will just concede defeat.

Orion45 · 09-05-2010, 10:06 PM

Reed,

Check this link: problem with my trailer lights - iboats Boating Forums

Rockntroll · 09-05-2010, 10:48 PM

Almost all the problems I have had with trailer lights were ground related. I made the mistake of assuming that because some of the lights were working it could not be a ground. But, after many hours of aggravation troubleshooting my tail light wiring, I learned ground connections or ground terminals were the cause of the majority of problems

KPTN · 09-06-2010, 10:09 AM

i agree with the ground problem especially if you are using the trailer frame and ball hitch to make the ground, run a dedicated ground wire from the truck and you will solve 99% of trailer light issues.

You can also plug your trailer lights into another vehicle and it will tell you for sure if you have a trailer problem or a truck problem.

Kenneth

09-05-2010, 03:18 PM	#1
CCC Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Navarre Posts: 2,300	Trailer wiring ???? Both my turn signals, and brake lights work on my boat trailer and I have running lights down the side when the headlights on the truck are turned on, but the back lights (blinkers and turn signals) don't light up with headlights. So bottom line is I am fine for getting where I want to go in the daytime, but not at night. Any ideas ?????

09-05-2010, 03:57 PM	#4
SaltAddict stonecoldshooter Snapper Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 476	I had a similar problem. It ended up being a broken connection inside the pigtail. __________________ If you've got the feelin', then jump across the ceilin'!

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09-05-2010, 03:21 PM	#2
lobsterman Jiggin Finatic Blue Marlin Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Okaloosa Posts: 5,636	Check the ground wires first and then check the pigtail connection.

09-05-2010, 03:33 PM	#3
CCC Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Navarre Posts: 2,300	I think the ground is ok, but will check, I do know that the terminal on the pig tail for the running lights is hot at the truck and also past the boat pig tail so it is on the boat trailer side.

09-05-2010, 04:37 PM	#5
CCC Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Navarre Posts: 2,300	but I have power at pigtail on the truck side and the boat side of the pigtails, for running, and both turn signals.

09-05-2010, 06:22 PM	#6
mt0264 Senior Member Mingo Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pace Fl. Posts: 182	use a test lamp with a sharp end and stick the wires one at a time after the conection. that will make sure you have power through the pig tail if you dont remove the conection and check the truck side by itself. with the lights on the truck at all times.Then keep runing back on the wires till you find the break in the circuit with the test lamp make sure you have good clean grounds at all lights locations Good luck its not that hard to figure out with a test lamp

09-05-2010, 09:01 PM	#7
CCC Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Navarre Posts: 2,300	I gave up, I am legal for day driving, brakes and turn signals work, so I will just concede defeat.

09-05-2010, 10:06 PM	#8
Orion45 Senior Member Blue Marlin Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Navarre, FL Posts: 4,193	Reed, Check this link: problem with my trailer lights - iboats Boating Forums

09-05-2010, 10:48 PM	#9
Rockntroll Senior Member Mingo Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Navarre Posts: 101	Almost all the problems I have had with trailer lights were ground related. I made the mistake of assuming that because some of the lights were working it could not be a ground. But, after many hours of aggravation troubleshooting my tail light wiring, I learned ground connections or ground terminals were the cause of the majority of problems

09-06-2010, 10:09 AM	#10
KPTN Senior Member Trigger Join Date: May 2009 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 266	i agree with the ground problem especially if you are using the trailer frame and ball hitch to make the ground, run a dedicated ground wire from the truck and you will solve 99% of trailer light issues. You can also plug your trailer lights into another vehicle and it will tell you for sure if you have a trailer problem or a truck problem. Kenneth

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