Trailer running lights question

[tsubaki]

Thanks MJ, it would have taken me checking it to find out.

[tsubaki]

Yeah Bass, if it ain't a 4 wire flat, don't pay no attention to the color code I gave you.

[Bygracealone]

Bass,

Something similar happened to me on my 06 Dodge Durango. *I had a guy install a new set of trailer lights on my trailer and when he finished, they didn't work. *I seem to remember something happening intermittently, and then nothing at all. *He ran a circuit tester at the hitch and there was no current. *He swore to me that something was wrong with my factory installed hitch and wiring. *I didn't know any better and had never used the hitch till that day. *So, I took him on his word. *Anyway, I took it back to the dealer and they had to run a complete check to finally discover it was a blown fuse *>:( *Cost me $100 for them to figure that out *>:( *The guy blew the fuse installing the lights!

Sooo, check and recheck all them fuses buddy.

[bassarama]

Thanks y’all, I think I just solved the problem, my wife just dropped the owner manual.

Tsubaki give me a excelent lead...

On page 136 of my owner’s manual:

“To handle the additional electric load of the trailer lights and assure their proper functionality, a heavier duty flasher is furnished with vehicle equipped with a trailer tow package. The flasher is in a loose package in the glove box”.

D’OH, no wonder why I could find a blown fuse, it ain't a frigging fuse its a flasher whatever that is a relay? ???… I”ll look in the glove compartment tomorrow night.

[macojoe]

I hate to tell you, but the flasher only deals with the turn signals and 4 ways.

[bassarama]

Raccoon shift is great for this kind of reading:

Page 133 on the owner’s manual

Note: Towing a trailer equipment with more than the standard lighting (turn, stop, and back-up lights) may cause an abnormal high electric current draw though the light switch, causing the switch to fail. To prevent a reoccurring switch failure, trailer running lights should be isolated from the vehicle headlight switch by using a relay. This feature is included in Vehicles ordered from the factory with a trailer towing prep package.

Page 196
Electric power distribution center

Your vehicle is equipped with an electric power distribution center located in the engine compartment near the battery. This power center houses plug-in “Maxi” fuses witch replace most in-line fusible links. The power center also contains “Mini” and “Macro” ISOP relays. A label inside the latching cover of the center identifies each component for ease of replacement, if necessary…

This is it guys, it pays of to read the book FIRST. The fact that I couldn’t find a blown fuse and my 7 to 4 prong connector is partially smashed, it threw me of track until I referred to you guys. Thanks you very much for helping me troubleshooting this problem.

(Another satisfied costumer) ;D

Joe

[tsubaki]

Good, but don't get in the habit of reading the instructions first. All males have a reputation to up-keep (well maybe not stinky).

[macojoe]

Congrats!!

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by bassarama

Thanks

I had a light tester at the end terminal and determined that there is no power at all coming from the wires, the terminal plug is fine, I wonder if there's an additional fuse for the running lights alone, normally one fuse covers the whole circuit right?

I need to spend more time under that truck and follow the logical path and your leads with the color code.


Gotta love all this agravation/chalange.(insert head banger HERE) >:(


Thanks guys

Joe

MY Ford Explorer has a factory installed harness and it has seperate fuses for the left, right, and I think one other but cannot remember. So if you have your manual give it a check. I had problems with my gight side blinker and breaks and after doing allot of tracing of wires I found out that the fuse was blown.