FIX YOUR TRAILER LIGHTS (1) - Checking the truck side plug
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- Опубліковано 14 вер 2018
- How to make sure the car/truck plug is working.
TRAILER HARNESS CHECKER - amzn.to/3Pmv90d
TRAILER LIGHTS - amzn.to/43rDWUj
Troubleshooting the truck side plug. How to fix your trailer lights. How to fix trailer lights.
More on trailer lights - • Trailer Lights
E-mail KnettersPracticalOutdoors@gmail.com
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Hats off to Knetters. His videos were by far the most useful and illuminating in the areas I needed enlightenment. So much so I'm bothering to say thanks buddy. You're alright.
Glad it was helpful!
This could have been a 6 min video
U should make a 6 minute video then I enjoy thorough videos. Thanks
@@Lovinflyindrones2022 100%.
Just installed a hitch and the harness and I didn’t want to buy a tester and there isn’t one if just want to check newly installed harness. all about whats coming from your vehicle I said finally. But I didn’t know he already had the tester hooked up.
Thanks Dave! I'm off and running on getting my utility trailer safe and legal for the roads. Great presentation - thorough, but easy to understand and follow.
Awesome, thank you! KPO.
Easy tip to remember turn signal trailer wires: gReen wire = R for right side. yelLow wire = L for left side.
Excellent tip, KPO.
Well done and well explained. Nightseeker/Ronnie Camaro anecdotes are an added bonus. 🤣
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Sometimes the Camaro stories aren't received as well by some. KPO
Super helpful. Thanks for taking the time to do these videos.
You're welcome, KPO.
I found this series very helpful because you are thorough and started with the basics! Very logically explained and full of good practical tips that inevitably pop up when I'm working on a DIY project. Thank you!
You are welcome.
I use either a common test light or a voltmeter and I get by just fine, but Knetters little plug-in led checker seems to work very well. Cheers from Canada.
They all work
Good info, I never thought to first check the truck connections.
Haulin Ash, yes, like I said in the vid, if you can't find anything simple, the next step is to check the plug at the vehicle. Also stay tuned to my channel for many more vids on fixing trailer lights, Thanks for watching, KPO.
Also you have been subbed my friend, KPO.
Starting to have problems and wanted to try and resolve on my own before I spent $ having someone else do it for me. In addition, I wanted to be able to resolve any issues that come up in the future if they occur while traveling. Found UA-cam channel series and will try to fix my trailer light issue while I staying home during the Safer at Home situation.
I really hope this helps you out, KPO.
Thanks for the great series! It helped me trouble shoot my trailer lights. I used a multi-meter and your 2nd video to find my trailer connector was faulty. Good luck everyone else!
Awesome! KPO.
Finally someone who knows wtf there doing
Thanks boys
Welcome!
Great vid! I have the checker and still can’t figure what’s wrong. When the brakes are applied what light should light up on the tester? I also don’t know when the ignition key should be on or truck actually running for each test. Please advise.
Cisco Kid, when you apply the brake you should get 2 lights to light up on your checker. Now some checkers are labeled and some are not. But with the brake it, should be the lights associated with the green and yellow wire, if you can see the wire colors on your truck side plug. If 2 light up you should be good. As far as key position, if the tail lights on the truck come on you should be getting the signal to the plug too. If your still not getting lights on the checker you may have a truck side problem. Try cleaning the plug and look for damaged wires. Make sure the white wire is grounded good to the frame of the truck. I have several other Trailer Light vids that may help also. KPO
I bought the flat 4 tester tonight. My harness is good. I think the auto parts store may have sold me some bad trailer lights. Thanks Dave this vid was helpful! Now I am going to find the video where Ronnie Camaro tells the story about how he was dating that girl from TLC 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 😂
Thanks for sharing. I'm glad you liked the Ronnie story.
Thanks Dave. I didn't know there was such an item. I put a new Harbor Freight harness on my trailer but the old flat did not connect solid with new one. So I was wondering if it's coming from my car. I'll get one of these and start from there. Thanks again fro practical useful info.
You are welcome!
I FIXED IT!!!....my trailer lights are working and blinking now!!...the wire harness that I purchased came with its own fuse,...it was inside the INSTALLATION instructions paper,....that I didn't seen, in the box it came with....lol.
But I guess these wire harness have got to have that fuse. For as little as a fuse is, ...it's hugely important.
So glad to hear that Silvia! I guess it pays to go through the instructions. Happy trailering!
Great video! I have an issue with my trailer tho!. The tail lights don't work!. I knew the problem was from the truck side because I didn't have that problem using the trailer with another truck. That said, I bought the checker and its kind of weird! The led on the checker for the tail lights works but is not as bright as the other ones (for the right and left turn signals). Not sure what that means. I thought the light on the tester would light up or not. But it's kind in between :) Any idea what the problem could be with those tail lights? Thanks,
Use the checker on a vehicle that is known to have a good working trailer light system. This will tell you if the LEDS are actually dim or not. If you still believe them to be dim on your vehicle you are experiencing a voltage drop in your trailer lights. Meaning you probably don't have the full voltage coming out of the plug for the tail/running lights. See - ua-cam.com/video/5Hfk5QKC7Ok/v-deo.html Your ground should be good because you said the turn signals are bright. Try cleaning the plug. A small wire brush on the end of a drill works great. A .17 cal brush for cleaning a gun is the perfect size. If this doesn't help the next likely place for the voltage drop is were your plug is attached into your vehicle wiring. These connection points corrode whether they are a plug or a splice. I hope this helps, KPO.
Great video thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Had to look up Nightseeker cause of you :P
Ronnie has patterned his life after the front man for Nightseeker. Thanks for that comment, KPO.
Definitely need to get this tester. My trailer side light intermittently go on and off. I have a 2005 Toyota Tacoma, and a Tracker trailer. Is there a separate ground wire, that grounds out to the truck frame? If so, I'm guessing thats what the problem is. I still have to open up the cannon plug, and look at the wire terminals, but waiting for it to warm up some, outside. Ive also seen videos where there is a ground wire on the trailer frame, and some say there is no ground wire, the hitch is the ground?? Just some history on this, if I am exiting the interstate on the exit ramp, thats when the lights tend to come on, but just intermittently going down the road. Thanks for any infor!
This might help - ua-cam.com/video/LaUj7ZIrwAk/v-deo.html
Hi, thanks for all the videos! I was able to get my trailer lights working perfectly!
I love it, thanks for letting me know that, KPO.
When I first started to watch this I thought it would be more interesting but I was a lot younger then.
Bill, that made me smile!
Thanks buddy for your video. I bought one of those. Without going into all the details and bore you to death. I soaked the harnass with vinegar for several hours because it had allot of corrosion. After that appeared to be fine. I used one of those testers, and the left turn signal appears to be kind of dim. I tried the right turn signal, and it appears bright.
Could it be corrosion damage or what do you recommend. I appreciate your help.
Thank you.
Liked and subbed.
Thanks for the sub. I have seen corrosion problems where the wire harness breaks into the vehicle wiring. May have to roll a little sand paper into a tube and put it in the female holes and clean them up even a little better. Let me know how it goes.
I had a new one! Everything was dead on the trailer side, the bulbs were good, and it was wired with a new light kit? Turned out it was inside the light, the manufacturer had pinned a wire under the ground bar. took me a while to find that one.
That can be frustrating!
@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors Indeed, it was frustrating, took me about 2 hrs. but it was an easy fix, and all is good. ;)
Good stuff… First, I have to find my LED checker. Next,if all goes well. The trailers white ground wire. Etc,etc…Thanks
Glad to help
I use the tester like you have and all lights on my suv work. I also use a simple test light and it shows all lights work. I use a multimeter and it shows everything works proper. When I plug into my trailer all lights work except when I turn the left signal on it gives one flash and dies. The test light won't work on that signal after that on the suv end until I wait a couple minutes. Then it shows it is working again unless I click the turn signal on again and then the same thing again. I then found an old trailer light and plugged it into the socket on the SUV and the same problem occurs. Any ideas on the possible problem. All lights on the SUV work fine.
I've never experienced a problem like that (it dies with one action and then minutes later everything works and it's consistent). Is it possible your SUV has a thermal overload that resets itself after cooling down? I mean it sounds like a problem with the left turn signal light on the trailer, but normally short circuits blow fuses and open circuits just won't work. Both of those problems need intervention to fix. I know some vehicles have separate fuses for their trailer lights but again, fuses blow. I keep coming back to some sort of thermal overload that automatically resets???????? Let me know what you find please, KPO.
@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors The vehicle is a 2019 Chev Equinox. I will have to find a wiring diagram and maybe a short/open finder to help solve this. I don't want to start ripping the wiring loom apart to find it just yet.
My running lights work just neither of the blinkers do. Tested the connector on the truck and both left and right blinker lights don't light up on the connector the fuses are good checked for a short but didn't see anything. I also bought a new connector for the truck but it's still the same problem.
Some vehicles have separately fused trailer lights. Check manual for that. Or bad connection at the spot the plug attaches to the vehicle wiring. Let me know what you find, KPO.
Thanks big time
No problem
I have an old tent trailer that has black, green, yellow. It also has a blue/red wire alongside. There is also a black/red wire coming out that was screwed into the trailer (potential ground). I cannot get the 4 way connector to work. I've tried almost every color combination. Any ideas? Best I've got was the opposite signal was working and the other both flashed dimly.
Sounds like you really can't trust the colors (what the color means or if it's still a good attached wire). I think at this point I would start from scratch, new fixtures and wire. It seems like the best option. $40 will get you everything you need. I'm currently working on a "Rewire Your Trailer" video. But it won't be out for a few weeks. KPO
@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors Rewird the trailer. Left turn is working fine but with the right they both are barely on. Grounded to the frame. Any idea?
I'm trying to find out a short in my car hitch wiring causing taillight to stay on all the time. I'm using powered 3 to 2 converter. I checked ground, all good. If I unplug all the wires from car light, the taillight stays on. I'm so puzzled now lol. Is my converter busted? It was working fine for a few weeks. I tried hooking up the trailer to my other car and taillight only comes on when the car light is turned on.
It's hard to comment on this problem. So the trailer works with the other car? If so, the problem is with the first vehicle. Did you try a plug in checker like in this video? Does the other car have a converter? Hard to troubleshoot this one over the internet. Sorry I don't have a good answer for you, KPO.
@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors found the issue. It was a faulty powered converter. All good now. Thanks!
Hello again,.so I started working on my trailer LED light from harbor Freight,....and so they light up, but "they stay on"....the side and turn LEDs in the back of the trailer they don't blink to signal. The lights in the car are all doing just fine but the trailer still not functioning well so i was watching this video for that reason.....any sugestions???...I don't know where i am going wrongest. I am about to go get me one of those little meters you mention on this video....🤗🙏👍
Yes pick up one of these devices and make sure everything is correct coming out of the car. That's the first step. Keep me informed.
@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors yes thank you. So this morning after some leg work out in the sun to get the Uhaul to help test everything, my logic on the problem of the NONE blinking lights, i told the guy that i think the problem is in the new clip on harness, cause the blinkers and tail light, front and back on my car they all work,....when i connect the harness from the car to the trailer, all the lights work but don't blink nor do the brake light function on the trailet tail lights,...i feel everything is wired right on the trailer, from the car end is right also,...but the problems in the middle "the new harnesd"...the guy at the Uhaul said I could be right, but that the expert on the lightning system was off today to confirm that for us. So, went to get to a stereo instaler and got his opinion he said i am on point on my logic, but if i wanted them to check it for me, it was going to cost me $32 per hour....since i think i allmost get and finish this project i told him he will be my last resort. So then, I went to Auto Zone, they said that it also could be on a "relay"....but that they didn't have a "relay tester nor a fusse tester"....he also said that when we switch from regulat to LED lights the fuses and relays special for LED light must also be switched. I think that's NOT nesesary but i could be wrong on that.
...and last, It....i went to another place NAPA, they also think my logic is right, the the problem is not how the trailer is wired cause all the lights lighr up on it, and all the lights and function on the car end are working, it's got to be on the "new clip on harness." I did bught the tester,...all the lights on the tester light up and the "tail" indicator is on but the other two the "LT, and RT and BRAKE indicators, those are not lighting up when testing the "blinkers and brake".
I feel i am 90% done with the project, my gut tells me it could be either on the new clip on harness or a fuse or a relay.
What do you think??...thank you for your time.🙏🤗👍🤔
@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors o also i got me one of the Automotive Circuit tester,...and i tried testing the car end harness receiver but the tester is too long and that receiver is installed in a "tight" spaice.
@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors i used the tester, only oneclight lit up the "tail"...the other's didn't.
OK, I need HELP!
I installed a new light kit, light fixtures, wiring everything. The only way I can get them to work is to use the right turn signal first, then they will work except for emergency flashers. The lights will work until I turn the truck off then I must go thru the sequence.
Any suggestions?
Rondy, that is very strange. I have never seen anything quite like that, but in the past when weird things were happening with trailer lights it is usually a poorly grounded fixture (or two). Check all fixtures to ground and make sure the trailer has continuity throughout. I have another vid that may help LINK - ua-cam.com/video/GolYLizOcow/v-deo.html Let me know how it turn out, KPO.
@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors I’ve been working on it most of the afternoon and have made some progress. It’s still not at 100%. I ran a ground to both fixtures and that helped. Tomorrow I’m going to try and clean the ball and joint and run a ground from the bed to the frame since it is a tilt bed. I’ll let you know.
@@rondylee680 I think your on the right track, KPO.
I have a 7-to-4-pin adapter with LED checkers and a 4-pin connector with LED checkers. When powered, the LEDs turn on and flash in sync. However, the driver turn signal won’t blink. I suspect a bad yellow wire. Any advice?
Clean all the connection points on plugs and adapters and where it brakes into the vehicle wiring. That can be a problem area.
@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors Found it. It was a bad trailer plug. This plug has LED indicators. The LT LED blinks but the yellow wire connected to the pin was loose. Can’t trust the LED indicators. Have to check all connections. Thanks
Need a video on running lights not working but all other functions are fine. Thanks
Check the brown wire
@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors Thank you for the response! Recently I found, It actually blew a fuse. My car has an undisclosed fuse box under a front fairing where the fuse was located🥴 Two days gone thanks to ignorant fuse diagrams!…
Nice
Thanks
Did Ronnie used to play bass for that band, Creeper?
No, but he is a big fan.
LOL, on that story! If ya don't have juice to the trailer the lights will never work. Going to the parts store to buy one of those testers and a new converter plug.
Hey glad you like the story, KPO.
Strange problem I have on my truck 7 way. Trailer running lights are dim. Turn signal works with no running lights. But running lights + turn signal all of them flash but alternating. I'm sure it's truck side, another vehicle works fine. Any ideas? I have .9 ohm to ground. 12v at the hitch for running lights.
And a tester like yours shows everything works properly.
It seems like you have a fixture or two that aren't grounded properly. Whenever a light works but then doesn't work with another function added that tells me that the working light was back feeding through another lights ground. The part that doesn't make sense is you said the trailer works with another vehicle? I would still check and make sure all the fixtures are grounded properly. Let me know what you find out, KPO.
New day, new discoveries! I found a short to ground within the connector of the vehicle. When I would pull the slack out of the oem connector it would short 10v to ground through the running lights. When I would push it would release the short to ground and I would get 0v to ground. New connector fixed my issue.
@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors I genuinely appreciate your reply and you were pretty much spot on with over the internet comment section diag. Thanks for your time
@@anthonyinderhees1868 You are welcome. I'm glad you got it working, KPO.
Have trailer lights in old camper and they are not mounted to steel only wood or aluminum. How do i ground these lights ?
Harness is working to pull boat but I had to gut all inside of camper due to water damage. The old style to install was VERY rudimentary. Please help?
They will need to add a white ground wire running from the fixture to the trailer frame. If the fixture has a short white wire, attach it to that. If the fixture doesn't have a white wire attach your add on to the studs of the fixture, KPO.
Sounds like you need to run all new wiring? This can actually be a good thing. Running all new is often easier than trying to fix old rotten out stuff, KPO.
I haven't got any turn signal for the right side in my trailer hookup I can't find the problem the harness is good for as I can find and I still haven't got any right side signal power no current in my right side on the trailer hookup can you give me any suggestions, or can anyone give me an answer to this problem
If you tried the checker in this video and all the lights worked coming out of the vehicle, then the problem is with the trailer. Poorly grounded fixtures are often the issue, also try cleaning both plugs up good.
What’s the exact name for led checker because that don’t work when I look it up at autozone
Trailer light tester is one name, but I've seen many different used, KPO.
or if you have a multi meter just check the the harness for for 12 volts
Wes is right, KPO.
My trailer light plug from the truck side melted. I'm having trouble locating the short. 2004 dodge ram 1500. 4-pin connector the black plastic part melted
Just replace it. By chance did it melt because an ex-girlfriend tried to light your Ram on fire?
@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors lmfao no hahaha
Omg get to the point no need stories
I'm with you never heard of knightseeker and who pulls a camper with a camaro lol
@@johncarriere1893 Ronnie only drives Camaros so if he wants to pull a camper that's what he has to use. Knightseeker might be more of a Canadian thing. Thanks for watching, KPO.
Yeah WTF waste of time.
When I push the brake pedal on my 2006 F150, all my trailer lights go off. I know the trailer lights are good cause all three trailers work fine when my son and neighbor’s trucks are hooked up to them. How to trouble shoot. When I use the LED checker everything seems fine??????? “HELP”
That's a good one. When you hook up the checker, wiggle as many wires as you can on the truck while trying the lights. See if you can get it to fail. Also it's possible to light the LEDs on the checker but not have enough power to light actual tail lights. This is usually due to corroded wires or damaged wires on the truck. The wire can carry enough amps to light the checker but not the tail lights. I had this happen to me and the problem was in the "T" where the truck harness breaks into the original truck wiring. It was corroded at the "T". Also something isn't grounded right on the truck. Your other lights might be back feeding through the brake wire, when you use the brake, no path back and the lights go out. The corrosion I mentioned earlier could cause this. Let me know how it turns out.
My trailer lights aren’t working. I plugged a tester into my car’s connector and two of the lights are illuminated even when the corresponding lights/brakes/blinker aren’t activated. Any idea what would cause this? Thanks for these vids!
You may have some wires shorted together in the harness on the vehicle side. Follow the plug back and look for damage or corrosion, KPO.
What if your trader light do turn on but dosent signal but truck dose signal but trailer dosent n Brake light doesn't turn on when you press the brake but light is on
Sounds like the problem may be with the trailer. Check this out ua-cam.com/video/kqVykWhwHaY/v-deo.html
Why didn't u just use your multimeter
It's easier with the plug, KPO.
I have a trailer 7 point plug plus a 4 point plug no power on either where could my problem lie
check the connection point on the vehicle where the harness connects to the vehicles original wiring
@4:02 wiring/testing details
True but you miss the best part.
It must take you days to do anything lol
Yes, sometimes it does take me days to do things, KPO.
Ronnie's girlfriend tried to set his Camaro on fire ? ! ? ! I wonder why they broke up ? ? ? Cheers from Canada.
And Ronnie really thought she was the one!
Wow! Ronnie's ex committed a felony, good one to RUN AWAY from
true
Good video. Could have been shorter by avoiding to repeat what was said.
Thanks for the feedback, KPO.
Information begins at 3:00
But you'll miss the best part.
I just want to test the truck plug with a multimeter
I got a video for you ua-cam.com/video/5Hfk5QKC7Ok/v-deo.html
Ofcourse the underlying problem was a crazy exgirlfreind
G, it goes that way sometimes, KPO.
Thank you for the info about the LED checker. That could have been covered in :45 seconds. I'm sorry but I could really give a shit less about "camero Ronnies" thriving worm business, his music preferences or his poor taste in women. Thanks all the same though.
You're welcome! I understand that Ronnie's cautionary tales aren't for everyone, KPO.
$5 at Menards.
$23 at O'reilly's auto parts :-(
M
VERY DISAPPOINTED! Your bait stated Checking the truck side plug but all you showed was the plug light.
Using this LED plug in checker is one of the best ways to "Check the truck side plug" to see if it is working. I don't see how this is misleading at all. But I am sorry if you thought it was.
Would be great if you could cut to the chase and skip all the story details
Noted
Why do I need a degree in electrical engineering to have fun??? 🙁 I just want to get my toys where I need them. Once again, government is inherently evil.
Thanks for the comment, KPO.
Inhumane traps on the wall gets you thumbs down!!!!!!!!
If my LED checker shows everything is good on my power harness, that means the ground from the car plug is good too, right?
Thank you
Yes
Few bucks my ass... Try $25
Try this www.harborfreight.com/four-way-trailer-light-tester-66526.html?campaignid=12144811130&adsetid=117789299438&product=66526&store=&gclid=Cj0KCQjw54iXBhCXARIsADWpsG9OR7BTQIta6Hs7aejXbcfRn-sEPQ472Qggr6W_mi_bXBu0AWIK9EMaAn8cEALw_wcB
Boring !😣
Well David, the subject matter is "trailer lights", LOL, thanks for watching, KPO.
Too much BS talking.. don't care about friend or band just get to the point of fuses, wiring check etc.
Noted
You talk too much
That's what she said!
To much BS get to the point on fixing it.
You're right!
What a waste of time!! Stupid stories!!! Could have been done in 2 minutes max!!
Thanks for adding in!