Posted 2008-06-05 5:41 PM (#85273) Subject: I hate electricity...well sometimes......
Location: Kentucky
Today I hook the truck up to the trailer, plug in the electric connector, check the lights and then notice no connection indicator on the brake controller. Hummm.... well at least the lights are working, gotta get the horse to the vet, will deal with the brakes later. Hop in the truck, not going anywhere, the trailer's not rolling. So unplug the electric and roll with no lights or brakes, just a short trip during the day time, not good but do-able.
Does this kind of aggravating electrical shenanigans happen to anyone else? Everything worked perfectly last hook-up!
Any ideas where to start looking, I hate electricity!
Posted 2008-06-05 7:45 PM (#85276 - in reply to #85273) Subject: RE: I hate electricity...well sometimes......
Location: KY
Probably a blown fuse in the truck. In answer to your question, yup happens to me too. One of my darlins bashed in the front fender of my truck.....gotta love 'em.
Posted 2008-06-05 9:50 PM (#85286 - in reply to #85273) Subject: RE: I hate electricity...well sometimes......
Regular
Posts: 97 Location: Newport News, VA
I have lighting gremlins at work, too. When I first got the trailer, my truck had a different plug, so I got an adapter. Both lights would flash when either turn signal was on. No running lights at all. Never even checked for brake lights. Didn't have the brake controller, yet. Got a new plug put on my truck. Everything worked, except one marker light on the left front. Figured possibly both bulbs out or just a bad fixture. Got the brake controller at the same time. All working, except that one marker light. Then, I hitch up one day and notice no tail lights. Turn signals and brake lights work. Then, I notice the truck doesn't have tail lights! Explains that problem. Blown fuse in the truck. Fixed that( had to do it MYSELF, as husband who was asked to do it, never did!) and back to all working except the one marker light. Husband STILL hasn't looked at it for me. I hook it up a couple days later, no tail lights on trailer, turn signals and brake lights work, AND ALL the marker lights (including the one that had NEVER worked before) working, except light over license plate. I give. Just trying not to drive it after dark or in the rain!
Posted 2008-06-06 8:47 AM (#85296 - in reply to #85273) Subject: RE: I hate electricity...well sometimes......
Veteran
Posts: 270 Location: Roanoke IL
Yes, wiring problems happen to everyone. New trailers, old trailers, any trailer. These problems seem to strike when you have someplace important to be, such as a show, trail ride, or vet appointment. The lights may work fine when you parked it two days ago, but I do believe that the wiring gremlins come and sabotage things in the night. I've gotten quite good at doing emergency splicing/repairing/diagnosing. I bought a cheap-o little kit from an auto parts store that has a large assortment of wire connectors, some wire, wire strippers, a tester, etc. all in a convenient carry box. One time, a tire blew out on a friend's trailer and the flapping tread scrapped his tail light wiring. It would have been nice to have that box of equipment then. At least I feel prepared now for when the wiring gremlins visit.
Posted 2008-06-07 6:46 PM (#85361 - in reply to #85273) Subject: RE: I hate electricity...well sometimes......
Location: Kentucky
OK, I checked all the fuses, and they are all good. All wiring that is exposed is in good condition, no wear or cuts to be seen. Can the adapter I am using possibly be the problem? I lost my old one and this is a new one. You would think they would all be alike but maybe not.....
Posted 2008-06-08 3:41 PM (#85395 - in reply to #85273) Subject: RE: I hate electricity...well sometimes......
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
It is also possible that the adapter is wired slightly different than the old one. Ussually the instructions tell you of this possibility. You can take them apart and rewire them in a matter of minutes. Good luck.
Posted 2008-06-08 6:54 PM (#85407 - in reply to #85273) Subject: RE: I hate electricity...well sometimes......
Regular
Posts: 97 Location: Newport News, VA
Lighting gremlins at work, again! I hooked up my trailer tonight to bring it home, so I can take it to get new tires in the morning. Still no tail lights or license plate light. Turn signals and brake lights OK, but all of a sudden the red rear marker light is not working. This one has worked fine all along. I happened to have one of the plastic wheel chocks in my hand, so I figured, "What the heck?" and I reached up and gave the light as smack and it came on! I tried a tail light and the license plate light, but no such luck!
Posted 2008-06-09 1:39 AM (#85418 - in reply to #85273) Subject: RE: I hate electricity...well sometimes......
Veteran
Posts: 177 Location: East London South Africa
Hello
Electrical gremlins live in South Africa as well... it is a common problem which most often do not really have simple answeres.... The wiring on vehicles now days are so complex, that if you get a bad earth for example (which is the most common problem) the lights tend to get a mind of their own... so if you ever have problems with lights or brakes - check the earths first - if that doesnt work get the hammer - that fixes most problems...
On a different note Dave from Tobruk must be a saint of sorts. I have just purchased a new Cherokee trailer from him (and I live in South Africa) and he really had gone way beyond what was expected of him to ensure that my trailer was delivered for shipping on time... would love to meet him in person one day...
Posted 2008-06-09 10:31 AM (#85424 - in reply to #85419) Subject: RE: I hate electricity...well sometimes......
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
My granda calls that hammermodulation. He said if you can't figure it out wack it with a hammer. If that doesn't work wack it a few more times and make sure its good and broke then just replace the whole durn thing.
Posted 2008-06-09 2:38 PM (#85434 - in reply to #85273) Subject: RE: I hate electricity...well sometimes......
Regular
Posts: 97 Location: Newport News, VA
OK, so today's deal is...I take the trailer off to get 4 new tires. In a previous thread, I mentioned that I bought it (off eBay-NOT as describred!) with not only passenger tires, BUT two different sizes of passenger tires on it. One of my many lessons from here was that trailers needed trailer tires, so new tires it is. The larger two of the tires were looking a bit scary, anyway. I will NOT tell you what I found out the manufacture date of those tires to be, once they came off! Yet, another thing I learned on here. ANYWAY, nice new tires, start off to return the trailer to the barn and my first stop light, it feels like the brakes on the trailer are really grabbing. I don't know why new tires would make the brakes grab more, but whatever, I turn the brake controller(Tekonsha Voyager) down. I test it a couple times, until I feel like they are braking just right. By the time I am getting close to the barn (about 20 miles), I feel like maybe the brakes aren't working as well. When I get to where I can test them, they are no longer working at all! What the heck?! I tried starting all over with the brake controller, leveling it and setting the power to the brakes, but I get nothing. The green light is working and it turns to red when the brake pedal is pressed, but that joker doesn't think about stopping unless you use the truck brakes. I give!
Posted 2008-06-10 10:31 AM (#85464 - in reply to #85434) Subject: RE: I hate electricity...well sometimes......
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
Green light is working and turns red....sounds like you brakes themselves are out of adjustment. Sounds like the controller is working correctly. Of course, you could have only one brake trying to work and the controller would still change to red.
I hate electricity...well sometimes......
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