Trailer light issue

cassidyta · 01-23-11, 09:29 PM

I am having an issue with my driver's side tail light and am just about out of ideas.
The issue is that it works fine unless the headlights and blinker are on at the same time. If that happens, then I lose all lights on that side only.
I replaced the entire light today and the problem still exisits.

I am thinking that there is a possible short somewhere inside the trailer and that the only remaining option is to repull the whole thing. I just wanted to see if there might be something I am missing before I go that route.

bamabassman · 01-23-11, 09:55 PM

you have a short cass. go to ol wally world and get another entire set of lights and wire. they have a package with all of it in there. cover all bases at once, know what i mean?

nofearengineer · 01-23-11, 10:53 PM

Cass, do the tow vehicle lights work fine when this happens?

If not, do they work fine without the trailer attached?

cassidyta · 01-23-11, 11:16 PM

The tow vehicles lights are fine with or without the trailer. Additionally, I do not get the fast flashing in the front like I do when a bulb is out when it happens.

nobass · 01-24-11, 07:49 AM

before you do anything eles check your ground wire connection and clean it. not saying thats it but for sure but sound like it.. had same problem with mine drove me crazy till mech told me to clean off ground wire. goodluck

carolina-rig-01 · 01-24-11, 11:06 AM

I can't say whether or not you have a ground problem but I do know that ground problems will do some odd things. Make sure your ground wire is making a good connection and also make sure that your ball is clean and free of rust. It won't take a lot of rust on the ball to give you some grounding issues.

hardhead · 01-24-11, 11:35 AM

What vehicle? many japanese cars/trucks have complicated lighting..Shorts blow circuits...bad grounds = no circuit about 85% of "mysterious" problems are bad ground circuits

nofearengineer · 01-24-11, 11:49 AM

My gut reaction without actually looking at it is that he has the trailer running light conductor and the ground wire hooked up backwards in the trailer harness.

cassidyta · 01-24-11, 12:08 PM

The issue happens on both a 06 Saturn Vue (it is a light boat so I can make it work) and a 96 Sierra Pick up.
I will check the ground tonight. I figure before getting crazy with redoing all of the wires I am going to run the new set of wires on the outside of the trailer and see if I can make the problem stop.

It hasn't always done this. The issue first started out of nowhere one of the concrete posts at the gas station jumped in front of my boat....:-)
That is why I am thinking that I am shorting out inside on the wiring.

carolina-rig-01 · 01-24-11, 03:09 PM

Are you using the same ball on both vehicles?

nofearengineer · 01-24-11, 03:27 PM

Cass,

Just to be certain about what happened....you backed into a concrete bollard and crushed one of your tail lights?

I am fairly positive that what you have done is crushed the hot side of your running light wire to that tail light into the ground wire. Depending on how your tow vehicle is wired, you might be able to verify this for us by turning your headlights on, and pressing your brake. What happens to your trailer and vehicle lights (both sides)? Does your driver's side tail light get slightly dimmer rather than brighter?

Embrey · 01-24-11, 03:29 PM

most likely a ground problem. try running a seperate ground from trailer to truck,even just temporarily to try it. using the ball is not a sure fire ground.

cassidyta · 01-24-11, 03:40 PM

I was pulling into a gas station and clipped the pole with the the light. I cracked it but was able to get it workig with some duct tape. It wasn't until this week that someone told me my blinker was out that I found the issue.

I will try the tests listed.

cassidyta · 01-29-11, 11:19 PM

Not trying to bump this, but just wanted to say thanks for all the help.

As all of you suggested, it turned out to be the trailer ground. I replaced the teminal connection and also cleaned any paint or rust from where it attaches. Lights worked just fine. At least until I backed into the water today and forgot to unplug them first.
It will probably only take me replacing bulbs 4 or 5 more times before i finally remember each trip.

Embrey · 01-30-11, 01:28 AM

so wait...you have to unplug your lights before you back in? if youre blowing bulbs, you might wanna get some new lights that dont leak. ive never unplugged lights ,ever.

bamabassman · 01-30-11, 01:43 AM

i agree with embry on this. cass you need to get some new waterproof light fixtures.

01-23-11, 09:29 PM	#1
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	Trailer light issue I am having an issue with my driver's side tail light and am just about out of ideas. The issue is that it works fine unless the headlights and blinker are on at the same time. If that happens, then I lose all lights on that side only. I replaced the entire light today and the problem still exisits. I am thinking that there is a possible short somewhere inside the trailer and that the only remaining option is to repull the whole thing. I just wanted to see if there might be something I am missing before I go that route. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

01-23-11, 09:55 PM	#2
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	you have a short cass. go to ol wally world and get another entire set of lights and wire. they have a package with all of it in there. cover all bases at once, know what i mean? __________________ so many lures, so little time.

01-23-11, 10:53 PM	#3
nofearengineer BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest IN Posts: 5,630	Cass, do the tow vehicle lights work fine when this happens? If not, do they work fine without the trailer attached? __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.

01-23-11, 11:16 PM	#4
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	The tow vehicles lights are fine with or without the trailer. Additionally, I do not get the fast flashing in the front like I do when a bulb is out when it happens. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

01-24-11, 07:49 AM	#5
nobass BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: clarksville, tn, Posts: 1,690	before you do anything eles check your ground wire connection and clean it. not saying thats it but for sure but sound like it.. had same problem with mine drove me crazy till mech told me to clean off ground wire. goodluck __________________ the only easy day was yesterday

01-24-11, 11:06 AM	#6
carolina-rig-01 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Webb City, MO Posts: 6,387	I can't say whether or not you have a ground problem but I do know that ground problems will do some odd things. Make sure your ground wire is making a good connection and also make sure that your ball is clean and free of rust. It won't take a lot of rust on the ball to give you some grounding issues. __________________ You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough.

01-24-11, 11:35 AM	#7
hardhead BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 30	What vehicle? many japanese cars/trucks have complicated lighting..Shorts blow circuits...bad grounds = no circuit about 85% of "mysterious" problems are bad ground circuits

01-24-11, 11:49 AM	#8
nofearengineer BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest IN Posts: 5,630	My gut reaction without actually looking at it is that he has the trailer running light conductor and the ground wire hooked up backwards in the trailer harness. __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.

01-24-11, 12:08 PM	#9
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	The issue happens on both a 06 Saturn Vue (it is a light boat so I can make it work) and a 96 Sierra Pick up. I will check the ground tonight. I figure before getting crazy with redoing all of the wires I am going to run the new set of wires on the outside of the trailer and see if I can make the problem stop. It hasn't always done this. The issue first started out of nowhere one of the concrete posts at the gas station jumped in front of my boat....:-) That is why I am thinking that I am shorting out inside on the wiring. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes. Last edited by cassidyta; 01-24-11 at 02:05 PM.

01-24-11, 03:09 PM	#10
carolina-rig-01 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Webb City, MO Posts: 6,387	Are you using the same ball on both vehicles? __________________ You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough.

01-24-11, 03:27 PM	#11
nofearengineer BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest IN Posts: 5,630	Cass, Just to be certain about what happened....you backed into a concrete bollard and crushed one of your tail lights? I am fairly positive that what you have done is crushed the hot side of your running light wire to that tail light into the ground wire. Depending on how your tow vehicle is wired, you might be able to verify this for us by turning your headlights on, and pressing your brake. What happens to your trailer and vehicle lights (both sides)? Does your driver's side tail light get slightly dimmer rather than brighter? __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.

01-24-11, 03:29 PM	#12
Embrey BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 505	most likely a ground problem. try running a seperate ground from trailer to truck,even just temporarily to try it. using the ball is not a sure fire ground.

01-24-11, 03:40 PM	#13
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	I was pulling into a gas station and clipped the pole with the the light. I cracked it but was able to get it workig with some duct tape. It wasn't until this week that someone told me my blinker was out that I found the issue. I will try the tests listed. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

01-29-11, 11:19 PM	#14
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	Not trying to bump this, but just wanted to say thanks for all the help. As all of you suggested, it turned out to be the trailer ground. I replaced the teminal connection and also cleaned any paint or rust from where it attaches. Lights worked just fine. At least until I backed into the water today and forgot to unplug them first. It will probably only take me replacing bulbs 4 or 5 more times before i finally remember each trip. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

01-30-11, 01:28 AM	#15
Embrey BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 505	so wait...you have to unplug your lights before you back in? if youre blowing bulbs, you might wanna get some new lights that dont leak. ive never unplugged lights ,ever.

01-30-11, 01:43 AM	#16
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	i agree with embry on this. cass you need to get some new waterproof light fixtures. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

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