Posted 2008-03-29 8:25 PM (#80627) Subject: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Expert
Posts: 2615
Wehave a Delta '95 model stock trailer.We pulled a horse to the vet last PM,and everything was working fine.We just came back from our farm not far from here,and,now,the running lights aren't working on it.Everything else,brake lights,turn signals,ect are up and running,but not the running lights.We're supposed to haul a horse in it tomorrow up to MO,and plan on being back after dark,but,I sure don't like taking a chance that we might NOT be,and be without running lights.
Anybody got ideas on what could be going on? Thanks!
Posted 2008-03-29 9:26 PM (#80632 - in reply to #80631) Subject: RE: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Expert
Posts: 2615
I almost think it is one of the front running lights that cause it,the bulb is loose,and it seems to take them all off when you wiggle it around.Bulb/plug in is not tight enough.Would that cause all of them to go off?
The truck's running lights are fine.My husband thinks it may be at the connector.Aren't those connectors notorious for causing light problems?
Posted 2008-03-29 10:49 PM (#80636 - in reply to #80627) Subject: RE: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
Are you adapting 6 hole trailer to 7 way on the truck? With all lights turned off, take something like a slim knife blade, and, on your 6 way rounds, on the trailer side on the adapter, these are in prongs that are halved, slip the little blade in the middle of the round prongs and spread them a tad. Often times this is all you need. The running light is the one at the top, just under the little notch protrusion. Giving all of those that kind of a tweak won't hurt a thing, as a matter of fact, if it is kinda tough to plug the trailer into the adapter, that is a more contact prone fit electrically anyway. If your trailer has a fuse block, of course you could check fuses, but only our LQ trailer has that provision.... the stock trailer is just straight wired from the plug to the taillights.
Good luck, there will be some rain on ya most likely.
Posted 2008-03-29 10:57 PM (#80637 - in reply to #80627) Subject: RE: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
I'm not sure of what type of truck you have. On the Ford SDs, there is a fuse that is over the driver's feet, under the hood, in a small plastic auxiliary fusebox, that is solely for the trailer running lights. It is a 20 amp mini fuse. If you have a short in the trailer's running light circuit, it will cause this fuse to blow. The trailer's brake and turn lights will operate normally. The truck's lights will operate normally. A bad bulb socket could be grounding, causing a short. Something in the lighting circuit is shorting out.
I'm not sure of the wiring in GM and Dodge trucks concerning power for this wiring circuit. They may have something similar to the Ford.
Using a battery charger to test your trailer running lights, instead of using a volume of truck fuses, is an easier way to power your circuit while looking for shorts. Most chargers have an auto reset feature.
Posted 2008-03-29 11:49 PM (#80647 - in reply to #80627) Subject: RE: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If the truck's fuse is blown, it will have to be replaced. Otherwise you won't have running lights for any amount of trailers. Good luck on your trip and keep your feet dry.
Posted 2008-03-30 8:55 AM (#80669 - in reply to #80647) Subject: RE: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Expert
Posts: 2615
It's not blowing the truck fuses.Just no running lights on the trailer only,nothing else wrong.
If it were the ground,would you still have lights on the truck,and brake and turn signals work?If none of the other things would work,I would think ground,but-?
Posted 2008-03-30 9:56 AM (#80672 - in reply to #80669) Subject: RE: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Veteran
Posts: 296 Location: Tennessee
If the fuse is good then you have a loose hot wire, probably on one of the connectors or the adaptor(?). Test the running light pin on the truck connector to see if you have juice. If you do then it's the trailer plug. If not then it's the truck wiring.
Posted 2008-03-30 11:24 AM (#80683 - in reply to #80627) Subject: RE: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If the other trailer lights are working, the ground from the trailer to the truck is as well. You have a power source problem on that specific circuit.
If you are running an adapter, replace the trailer plug with a dedicated plug that matches your truck's plug. Many electrical problems, as you know from the significant number of postings in this forum. are caused by adapters. A plug costs little difference than an adapter and takes about five minutes to change over. It is money and time well spent.
Posted 2008-03-30 8:05 PM (#80733 - in reply to #80728) Subject: RE: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Expert
Posts: 2615
Well,Amy,I'm sure you are trying to be factious,but,getting a "newer" truck would be a pretty expensive fix,don't ya think??
I am sure you were just kidding and trying to make light of the situation,so,I'll just say that we have a 2005 Silverado Chevy dually,so,I don't really call that an "old" truck by my standards.
Don't know how old you are,but,when you are 54 if you aren't there already,you won't think that age is all that "old" either.You'll feel as if you still have a few good miles in you,like the truck.That old Delta (95 model) steel stock trailer,3H slant with a steel floor is a dandy.I know lots of folks that would like to have it.
Posted 2008-03-30 8:07 PM (#80734 - in reply to #80733) Subject: RE: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Expert
Posts: 2615
I'll add a PS to the other posters on my thread: after doing some further investigation,we found that it did indeed blow a fuse in the truck,as Gard suggested.Don't know exactly when,maybe after we tried rehooking it after we took it back to the shed.But,it did.Short someplace? Like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Posted 2008-03-30 8:45 PM (#80740 - in reply to #80627) Subject: RE: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Look at the light socket you mentioned, it might be shorting out. Use a battery charger to supply power to the trailer plug when trouble shooting, instead of using your truck; it saves on fuse replacements.
Posted 2008-03-30 9:09 PM (#80745 - in reply to #80627) Subject: RE: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Veteran
Posts: 274 Location: MO in woods
CRG just was easy fix if your already collecting trailers/trucks.Joking with ya,no harm/harst words meant.
Glad to know ya care about having all lights working.It really ticks me off when I see people out on roads with load animals and no lights or plates or half way safe trailer at all.I really hope you had safe dry trip in MO.We had rain rain rain here today.
Posted 2008-03-30 9:36 PM (#80747 - in reply to #80745) Subject: RE: Help needed with lights tonight!!!
Expert
Posts: 2615
Ah,I figured you were just messin with me!
We cancelled our trip,after all that,because of the weather forecast,AND,because we couldn't get our lights working.I and my husband are REAL stickler about our lights on a trailer.I like a lot of lights and reflectors,and,I want them to be up and running,especially on a cloudy or rainy day.And,what about getting caught out on the road after dark,and no running lights? Nope,not for me.