Need trailer wiring help.
08-02-2004, 11:47 PM
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Need trailer wiring help.
Need some expert help with a bizarre trailer wiring problem.
Have one boat trailer and one Jet Ski trailer, both are wired with “four flat” plugs.
Have one 2001 Ford Escape (yellow rear turn signals)
Have one 1999 Chev Silverado (yellow rear turn signals)
Have one 2003 Dodge Ram (red rear combination turn signal/brake lamps)
When you plug either trailer into the factory installed connector on the Dodge Ram, everything works fine on both trailers.
When you plug either trailer into the factory installed connector on EITHER the Ford Escape OR the Chev Silverado the following things happen:
Running lights only – no problem
Left turn signal only – no problem
Right turn signal only – no problem
Brake lights only – no problem
Right turn signal WITH brakes applied OR running lights on OR both – Right turn signal operates normally, but all running lights AND left turn signal filament flash alternately with the right turn signal filament.
Left turn signal WITH brakes applied OR running lights on OR both – Same as above, but it is the left turn signal that is operating normally, everything else flashes alternately.
I suspect that both the Chev and the Ford have some sort of converter because of the yellow separate turn signals. I hope that this is not the problem because I have no idea where to find it.
Have one boat trailer and one Jet Ski trailer, both are wired with “four flat” plugs.
Have one 2001 Ford Escape (yellow rear turn signals)
Have one 1999 Chev Silverado (yellow rear turn signals)
Have one 2003 Dodge Ram (red rear combination turn signal/brake lamps)
When you plug either trailer into the factory installed connector on the Dodge Ram, everything works fine on both trailers.
When you plug either trailer into the factory installed connector on EITHER the Ford Escape OR the Chev Silverado the following things happen:
Running lights only – no problem
Left turn signal only – no problem
Right turn signal only – no problem
Brake lights only – no problem
Right turn signal WITH brakes applied OR running lights on OR both – Right turn signal operates normally, but all running lights AND left turn signal filament flash alternately with the right turn signal filament.
Left turn signal WITH brakes applied OR running lights on OR both – Same as above, but it is the left turn signal that is operating normally, everything else flashes alternately.
I suspect that both the Chev and the Ford have some sort of converter because of the yellow separate turn signals. I hope that this is not the problem because I have no idea where to find it.
08-03-2004, 03:39 AM
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Sounds lilke you have a bad ground. Yes the 4-flat plug does have a ground but it is not always connected properly. Most of them depend on the hitch to ball for the ground.
Take a wire and ground it on the trailer and then hook it up directly to your Ferd or Chevy and see it the problem goes away.
And yes there should be some sort of converter on bot the of those vehicles to mix in the turn(amber) and stop lights.
Take a wire and ground it on the trailer and then hook it up directly to your Ferd or Chevy and see it the problem goes away.
And yes there should be some sort of converter on bot the of those vehicles to mix in the turn(amber) and stop lights.
08-03-2004, 05:48 AM
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As SuperGewl said it sounds like a grounding problem....and can be trouble-sum to find.....on truck trailer lighting problems I connect a ground to the truck battery with a long wire then try to find where the grounding problem is....any ground should be to bare metal not a painted surface....most flat plug connectors have poor grounding and relay on the ball hitch for a ground
Grounds are sadly over looked in a vehicles wiring by the owners...but are an important part of the wirings health
Grounds are sadly over looked in a vehicles wiring by the owners...but are an important part of the wirings health
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