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Author Topic:   Trailer Lighting Problem

sp_leonard posted 07-11-2008 07:21 PM ET (US)
I have installed a new wire harness on a E-Z-Loader trailer that wqorks fine until I have the running lights on and then hit the brakes; I lose all lights (running, signal, brakes). This problem did not happen with our other trailer.
jimh posted 07-11-2008 08:32 PM ET (US)
The most common cause of problems with trailer lighting is a poor common ground connection. Make sure the vehicle ground wire in the trailer-vehicle connection is securely bonded to the frame of the trailer.
Fishmore posted 07-16-2008 02:45 AM ET (US)
I just ran in to the same problem recently.
Trailer 1 had torsion axles with the lights mounted on the fenders that were attached to the torsion arm. therefore isolated from the trailer's frame. Trailer 2 had leaf springs and the lights were attached to the trailer frame.
The problem did not show up on trailer 2 but did on trailer 1.
I found it to be the ground wire in the cars 4-pin wiring harness. It seems that trailer 2 got it's ground from the hitch ball connection. If you mounted new lights and attached them to plastic fenders you may need to run a ground from the lights to the trailer frame.

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Author	Topic: Trailer Lighting Problem
sp_leonard	posted 07-11-2008 07:21 PM ET (US) I have installed a new wire harness on a E-Z-Loader trailer that wqorks fine until I have the running lights on and then hit the brakes; I lose all lights (running, signal, brakes). This problem did not happen with our other trailer.
jimh	posted 07-11-2008 08:32 PM ET (US) The most common cause of problems with trailer lighting is a poor common ground connection. Make sure the vehicle ground wire in the trailer-vehicle connection is securely bonded to the frame of the trailer.
Fishmore	posted 07-16-2008 02:45 AM ET (US) I just ran in to the same problem recently. Trailer 1 had torsion axles with the lights mounted on the fenders that were attached to the torsion arm. therefore isolated from the trailer's frame. Trailer 2 had leaf springs and the lights were attached to the trailer frame. The problem did not show up on trailer 2 but did on trailer 1. I found it to be the ground wire in the cars 4-pin wiring harness. It seems that trailer 2 got it's ground from the hitch ball connection. If you mounted new lights and attached them to plastic fenders you may need to run a ground from the lights to the trailer frame.