NO Running Lights

[amirie]

Help!
We are just about to leave for a nice trip and the running lights for the trailer don't work.
Brake lights and turn signals work.
Doug cleaned the contacts with rubbing alcohol and still no go---

Any quick hints so we can leave tonight?

[thoer]

Tow running lights working? If not maybe a blown fuse in the tow?

[amirie]

That was my first thought--they are working

[thoer]

Fuses and circuit breaker all ok on the trailer I assume? I don't really know bulb setup in the rear lights, never taken them apart - is the same bulb used for brake, running and turn?

[dfandrews]

There may be a separate fuse in the tow for the tail light wiring to the 7 pin receptacle. Especially if you have separate brake and turn signals in the tow, then there will be a powered converter module to combine the two functions for the trailer wiring and to provide enough power for brake/turn and for tail lights in the trailer; frequently a fuse is in that circuit.

If you have a factory tow package, look in the owners manual index for location help.
If it's after-market wiring, the fuse may be in a holder near where the wiring connects behind the tail light housing in the back of the car.

[thoer]

Good one Don. Anna, if you have a voltmeter and a diagram of the 7 pin receptacle, you should be able to see if the appropriate pins show a voltage when you have the running light on in the tow. Then you would know if the problem is the in the tow or the trailer.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by thoer

Fuses and circuit breaker all ok on the trailer I assume?

There should be no fuses or circuit breakers in the trailer for any of the "vehicle" lighting (tail/marker, stop, turn).

[amirie]

Car pin has voltage. Would a burned out light be the culprit?
Which fuse would it be in the trailer?

[thoer]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

There should be no fuses or circuit breakers in the trailer for any of the "vehicle" lighting (tail/marker, stop, turn).

Thanks ,that takes away one possiblity. So, connector, wire or bulb must be the problem?

[C&G in FL]

Had the exact same problem in my F150. It's running lights worked, trailer's didn't. All other lights on trailer worked. It was one of the fuses under the hood, had to read the manual's list of fuses 3 times before thinking "that might be the one." On the F150, I think it was fuse #6, and it was a box shaped fuse, not the typical blade fuse (about $3 for replacement). Since the running lights come on when you unlock the door for several seconds, I now do not plug in the trailer if the truck's lights are on, I wait until they go off. Think maybe that might be when the fuse blew originally when trailer was plugged in and that circuit was "hot."

[Brian B-P]

Anna-Marie, are do the tail lamps have bulbs, or are they LEDs?

[tractors1]

Bulbs are in parallel; loss of one bulb would not affect the others. The trailer cord connector may be bent a bit too much to make reliable contact. The two on opposite sides of the 7 pin index bump (the part that sticks out of the round plug) are the running lights and ground, so check the metal contacts and rebend them or clean it a bit. I stick a jumper across them to light up the trailer running lights when not hooked up to the tow as my rear view camera is tied into running lights for power.

[C&G in FL]

Also, if you are absolutely certain that you are getting voltage at the connector on the tug (pin 4 is ground, 6 is running lights), try applying 12 volts to trailer's 7 pin connector. If the problem is really in the trailer, the running lights won't come on. And it shouldn't be a bulb problem if all of the running lights are off.

[amirie]

We have bulbs.. Not LED we checked the two rear bulbs each side and a couple of the small marker lights. Bulbs are fine.

Doug tried playing around with the connector and inner pieces... No go. We looked inside trailer where " junction box"? Is under front drivers side bench. Neighbour who is pretty smart about such things was helping and couldn't figure it out either.
So off to RV dealer near us first thing tomorrow morning or to Hitchline where w had our original hitch and wiring fone when we girst got the Boler.
So we are home to night and will be out of the house early tomorrow morning. Hope we don't have to go as far as Chilliwack (are they even open Saturday mornings??)

[claude]

Yes they are 10.00 AM

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by amirie

We have bulbs.. Not LED we checked the two rear bulbs each side and a couple of the small marker lights. Bulbs are fine.

The handy thing about traditional bulbs is that when you pull them out of the socket, you have access to test for voltage there.

If you do see voltage there, either the bulb is not as good as it seems (but it's unlikely all are bad), or the contact is bad. More likely you don't see voltage, and you're looking at wiring (or the connection to the wiring from the tug) for the fault.

Troubleshooting is often an exercise is narrowing down the location of the problem until the only part left is the one which is faulty.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

Troubleshooting is often an exercise is narrowing down the location of the problem until the only part left is the one which is faulty.

And that is usually the last place you check.

[StarvingHyena]

Originally Posted by amirie

Help!
We are just about to leave for a nice trip and the running lights for the trailer don't work.
Brake lights and turn signals work.
Doug cleaned the contacts with rubbing alcohol and still no go---

Any quick hints so we can leave tonight?

Quick hint #1 - GO ANAWAY!

[StarvingHyena]

Originally Posted by amirie

Help!
We are just about to leave for a nice trip and the running lights for the trailer don't work.
Brake lights and turn signals work.
Doug cleaned the contacts with rubbing alcohol and still no go---

Any quick hints so we can leave tonight?

Quick hint #1 - GO ANYWAY!

[amirie]

We wished we could have, but no runnings lights in the dark ... Nah
Up early RV place near us opens at 0830..

Doug even went out and bought new fuses for the vehicle... Nope