|
|
 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
   
Location: North Dakota | Okay, so then the consensus is that the ground wire in my 7-way plug (on the trailer) must be faulty? It must be something deeper in the wiring, because the plug was just redone a couple months ago.
Because hypothetically, it SHOULD work all the time? (When the trailer is sitting by itself, and I try to plug the 7-way from the trailer, into the power outlet on my pickup.)
I know I'm not a mechanic, but logically, if I have a toaster and I plug it into the wall, it works.
So why can't I "plug in" my trailer to a power source (the pickup) and have my flood lights and interior lights work?
I can try some jumper cables to "ground" the trailer to the pickup and see if that works.
| |
| | |
The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| r_beau - 2015-04-21 10:38 AM
Okay, so then the consensus is that the ground wire in my 7-way plug (on the trailer) must be faulty? It must be something deeper in the wiring, because the plug was just redone a couple months ago.
Because hypothetically, it SHOULD work all the time? (When the trailer is sitting by itself, and I try to plug the 7-way from the trailer, into the power outlet on my pickup.)
I know I'm not a mechanic, but logically, if I have a toaster and I plug it into the wall, it works.
So why can't I "plug in" my trailer to a power source (the pickup) and have my flood lights and interior lights work?
I can try some jumper cables to "ground" the trailer to the pickup and see if that works.
If the ground is not grounding, then the lights won't turn on.
It could be the wire in the plug is loose and when you move it will rattle into "place" where it is grounding.
First thing I would do is plug the trailer into a different truck and see if the lights work, this will tell you if the problem is in the trailer or in the truck.
| |
| | |
 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| r_beau - 2015-04-21 10:38 AM
Okay, so then the consensus is that the ground wire in my 7-way plug (on the trailer) must be faulty? It must be something deeper in the wiring, because the plug was just redone a couple months ago.
Because hypothetically, it SHOULD work all the time? (When the trailer is sitting by itself, and I try to plug the 7-way from the trailer, into the power outlet on my pickup.)
I know I'm not a mechanic, but logically, if I have a toaster and I plug it into the wall, it works.
So why can't I "plug in" my trailer to a power source (the pickup) and have my flood lights and interior lights work?
I can try some jumper cables to "ground" the trailer to the pickup and see if that works.
Silly question, but were the lights working the way that you wanted them to before the plug was redone? Also just because there is a ground wire going into your plug, does not meant that it is hooked up properly.
Little wiring lesson here---
Electricity has to have a path that leaves the source (battery) and goes to each light and returns to the source. Wires carry the electricity to the light and the frame of the vehicle is the return path (your ground). If your actual problem is with your plug your tail lights will flicker as you go down the road. This is kind of hard to tell if you are driving!!! Possibly the ground at each light (where it attaches to the frame) is faulty. One of my interior lights refused to come on and the dealership drilled out the rivet and put a new one in. Viola--lights. I have since learned that pinching the rivet with a big pair of pliers works well too. | |
| | |
Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | cheryl makofka - 2015-04-21 10:42 AM r_beau - 2015-04-21 10:38 AM Okay, so then the consensus is that the ground wire in my 7-way plug (on the trailer) must be faulty? It must be something deeper in the wiring, because the plug was just redone a couple months ago.
Because hypothetically, it SHOULD work all the time? (When the trailer is sitting by itself, and I try to plug the 7-way from the trailer, into the power outlet on my pickup.)
I know I'm not a mechanic, but logically, if I have a toaster and I plug it into the wall, it works.
So why can't I "plug in" my trailer to a power source (the pickup) and have my flood lights and interior lights work?
I can try some jumper cables to "ground" the trailer to the pickup and see if that works.
If the ground is not grounding, then the lights won't turn on. It could be the wire in the plug is loose and when you move it will rattle into "place" where it is grounding. First thing I would do is plug the trailer into a different truck and see if the lights work, this will tell you if the problem is in the trailer or in the truck.
As I have already stated, I have had this problem with TWO different trucks. So I know it's the trailer. | |
| | |
Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | streakysox - 2015-04-21 10:54 AM r_beau - 2015-04-21 10:38 AM Okay, so then the consensus is that the ground wire in my 7-way plug (on the trailer) must be faulty? It must be something deeper in the wiring, because the plug was just redone a couple months ago.
Because hypothetically, it SHOULD work all the time? (When the trailer is sitting by itself, and I try to plug the 7-way from the trailer, into the power outlet on my pickup.)
I know I'm not a mechanic, but logically, if I have a toaster and I plug it into the wall, it works.
So why can't I "plug in" my trailer to a power source (the pickup) and have my flood lights and interior lights work?
I can try some jumper cables to "ground" the trailer to the pickup and see if that works.
Silly question, but were the lights working the way that you wanted them to before the plug was redone? Also just because there is a ground wire going into your plug, does not meant that it is hooked up properly. Little wiring lesson here--- Electricity has to have a path that leaves the source (battery ) and goes to each light and returns to the source. Wires carry the electricity to the light and the frame of the vehicle is the return path (your ground ). If your actual problem is with your plug your tail lights will flicker as you go down the road. This is kind of hard to tell if you are driving!!! Possibly the ground at each light (where it attaches to the frame ) is faulty. One of my interior lights refused to come on and the dealership drilled out the rivet and put a new one in. Viola--lights. I have since learned that pinching the rivet with a big pair of pliers works well too.
The plug was redone because I took it to the shop and told them about this problem. And that was their "answer" to it, as they really couldn't find anything wrong. Of course, it didn't fix it.
I kinda am now wondering if they had it hooked up to a pickup the whole time they were checking it, which of course, would ground it and make it work just fine.
Are you saying that one single light could be faulty, which "ruins" the whole system? I guess its not impossible, but I would have a hard time believing ALL my individual lights have a faulty ground connection. I feel like I'd be having more problems if that were the case???
To me, it makes sense that there may be a problem with a ground wire in the plug or in the box where the plug connects. When that "goes out" it would then make sense that it affects ALL the lights on the trailer at once.
| |
| | |
Regular
Posts: 71
Location: Some where | Check your wirers for any pinched areas or evidence where they were smashed between the bumper and trailer hitch., one could be pinched ( hot or ground) and it would cause them to flicker off and on or not work at all. | |
| | |
Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| r_beau - 2015-04-22 9:37 AM
streakysox - 2015-04-21 10:54 AM r_beau - 2015-04-21 10:38 AM Okay, so then the consensus is that the ground wire in my 7-way plug (on the trailer) must be faulty? It must be something deeper in the wiring, because the plug was just redone a couple months ago.
Because hypothetically, it SHOULD work all the time? (When the trailer is sitting by itself, and I try to plug the 7-way from the trailer, into the power outlet on my pickup.)
I know I'm not a mechanic, but logically, if I have a toaster and I plug it into the wall, it works.
So why can't I "plug in" my trailer to a power source (the pickup) and have my flood lights and interior lights work?
I can try some jumper cables to "ground" the trailer to the pickup and see if that works.
Silly question, but were the lights working the way that you wanted them to before the plug was redone? Also just because there is a ground wire going into your plug, does not meant that it is hooked up properly. Little wiring lesson here--- Electricity has to have a path that leaves the source (battery ) and goes to each light and returns to the source. Wires carry the electricity to the light and the frame of the vehicle is the return path (your ground ). If your actual problem is with your plug your tail lights will flicker as you go down the road. This is kind of hard to tell if you are driving!!! Possibly the ground at each light (where it attaches to the frame ) is faulty. One of my interior lights refused to come on and the dealership drilled out the rivet and put a new one in. Viola--lights. I have since learned that pinching the rivet with a big pair of pliers works well too.
I kinda am now wondering if they had it hooked up to a pickup the whole time they were checking it, which of course, would ground it and make it work just fine.
Are you saying that one single light could be faulty, which "ruins" the whole system? I guess its not impossible, but I would have a hard time believing ALL my individual lights have a faulty ground connection. I feel like I'd be having more problems if that were the case???
To me, it makes sense that there may be a problem with a ground wire in the plug or in the box where the plug connects. When that "goes out" it would then make sense that it affects ALL the lights on the trailer at once.
If ALL the lights flicker or do not come on then it is probably the plug. If a spotlight or one light inside the trailer does not come on or flickers it is the ground on THAT light. I keep grease on the ball on my hitch so my trailer does not ground on the hitch. There is a schematic somewhere on the internet which shows which wire goes where in the plug. I will try to find a link for you and you can check it yourself. | |
| | |
 Expert
Posts: 4625
Location: Desert Land | Why don't you get a battery installed in the trailer so you can ALWAYS have power on you trailer even when unattached to the truck? That was one of the best things I have ever done. I love being able to use all the lights even when my truck isn't around. | |
| | |
Expert
Posts: 4625
Location: Desert Land | Also, the trailer I had that was having problems with wiring was also an Exiss - I have heard lots of people complain about the quality of the Exiss trailers expeciall the elctrical & wiring. I did a google search and found tons of threads on different forums with people complaining about it. I unfortunately didn't know Exiss had such a stigma attached to it when I bought the trailer (lots of consumer complaints). | |
| | |
Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| You need to check the plug in your truck because most often the RV plugs are molded to the cord. Here is a schmatic.
http://www.listatrailer.com/help/7wire.html
Did not think about this but if you took your trailer and dropped it off and they found nothing it probably is your truck plug if ALL lights flicker.
Edited by streakysox 2015-04-22 10:53 AM
| |
| | |
Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Streakysox - I've never noticed the lights flickering. They just either work or they don't. And its ALL of them at once; it's never a single light.
I just have a hard time believing its the truck, because it's happened with 2 different trucks.
I printed out the schematic. Thanks!
TheOldGrayMare - I may have to look into that. That would be nice to have access to my lights, because I board my horses and keep everything in my horse trailer. Most nights, I have my SUV that doesn't have an outlet on it, and so I just make do with headlamps and flashlights if I happen to ride when it's dark.
| |
| |
| |
Folks on-line