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My trailer lighting is not working properly. Recently rewired trailer and problem persists.
The only light that works on the trailer is the right turn signal/brake. I replaced the fuse for the left turn signal/brake, but that did not fix the problem.
I'm scratching my head (and I can't afford to lose any more hair) over this.
My trailer lighting is not working properly. Recently rewired trailer and problem persists.
The only light that works on the trailer is the right turn signal/brake. I replaced the fuse for the left turn signal/brake, but that did not fix the problem.
I'm scratching my head (and I can't afford to lose any more hair) over this.
Do you have LED lights? Those are really good but they MUST have a good ground. I converted a trailer to LED lights and had to run a specific ground for each one. The old incandescent bulbs would workk, even is a bit dim. LED is either on or off.
None of the lights have ground wires. How do you ground them?
The right turn signal/brake works perfectly without a ground, so how can the others not work?
Last edited by Gary Christopher; May 10, 2021 at 08:58 AM.
Reason: additional comments
They have a ground, it just may be through the bracket that the light assembly is mounted to. Without a ground they will not be able to complete the circuit. If they truly have no ground, that would be a problem, but then your right turn signal/brake like also would not work.
Does your truck have a factory installed trailer wiring harness or is it something installed aftermarket? I've sadly seen a lot of aftermarket installs performed with Scotch-Loc wire taps (which should NEVER be used in an exterior application) that caused significant trailer and vehicle light issues.
Where in Iowa are you located? You wouldn't happen to be in the Cedar Rapids area, would you?
None of the lights have ground wires. How do you ground them?
The right turn signal/brake works perfectly without a ground, so how can the others not work?
They ground through the frame. What you'll need to do with LED trailer lights is run a ground wire from the mounting bolt where it attaches to the trailer. Run a wire from each assembly up to the front of the trailer. What I generally do is one ground per side to a common ground at a bolt on the tongue. Then a wire from that to the ground wire on the connector, Use lots of dielectric grease on the connections after you solder them. I still have to clean mine every few years. I'll take a photo of my trailer when I get a chance.
When I got home, I took a little time to take a couple of photos. One is of where I join the wires. The other shows an old and new wire hook up on an LED light. The trailer has started to have issues with its lights again so the ground connection will be cleaned and regreased in the near future.
Trailer lighting
It works!