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Author Topic:   Trailer Wiring Problem

timsr posted 05-09-2005 08:01 PM ET (US)
I picked up my new Montauk 170 last week that has a Karavan trailer. I decided to install a set of guide posts with an additional set of trailer lights mounted to the guide posts. I ran a new standard trailer wiring harness and an additional plug on my truck.
Here's the problem. When I turn on the left directional everything works fine, both lights work. When I turn on my right directional the right directional works but the left directional light and the truck directional also come on but very dimly.

Any suggestions.
Thanks
Jerry Townsend posted 05-09-2005 09:16 PM ET (US)
timsr - you have a crossed connection somewhere in your electrical system. And there is increased resistance in that connection.
You say a '... standard wiring harness ...' - what do you mean by a 'standard' wiring harness? Did you make this harness up yourself, or did you buy it?
What do you mean by an 'additional' plug? Is there just one plug on the vehicle? - or is there now two plugs?
Do you have access to a multi-meter - one that you can measure electrical resistance? ---- Jerry/Idaho
bsmotril posted 05-10-2005 09:07 AM ET (US)
Two Possibilities:
I have seen this many times, you have a bad ground, and the circuit is feeding back and grounding through the other blinker circuit, versus the ground circuit as it should. If you trailer relies on the hitch ball contact for ground, that is likley the problem, especially if the ball is rusty. Try running a separate ground wire with a quick disconnect plug between the trailer frame and your tow vehicle chassis or bumper.
The other scenario is you have a truck with euro or japanese spec turn signals that requires an adapter box to work with the dual filament turn/stop signals typically found on US spec vehicles. Those are the turn signals with a separate amber bulb from the red stop lamps. The adapter is typically part of the wire harness assembly you install to add the trailer plug to the tow vehicle. If you simply crimped on a tow plug to your vehicle, and it has those types of blinkers, it will do this. If your tow vehicle has LED tail lights, then the adapter also needs load relays and a separate power line for the trailer wiring.
BillS

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Author	Topic: Trailer Wiring Problem
timsr	posted 05-09-2005 08:01 PM ET (US) I picked up my new Montauk 170 last week that has a Karavan trailer. I decided to install a set of guide posts with an additional set of trailer lights mounted to the guide posts. I ran a new standard trailer wiring harness and an additional plug on my truck. Here's the problem. When I turn on the left directional everything works fine, both lights work. When I turn on my right directional the right directional works but the left directional light and the truck directional also come on but very dimly. Any suggestions. Thanks
Jerry Townsend	posted 05-09-2005 09:16 PM ET (US) timsr - you have a crossed connection somewhere in your electrical system. And there is increased resistance in that connection. You say a '... standard wiring harness ...' - what do you mean by a 'standard' wiring harness? Did you make this harness up yourself, or did you buy it? What do you mean by an 'additional' plug? Is there just one plug on the vehicle? - or is there now two plugs? Do you have access to a multi-meter - one that you can measure electrical resistance? ---- Jerry/Idaho
bsmotril	posted 05-10-2005 09:07 AM ET (US) Two Possibilities: I have seen this many times, you have a bad ground, and the circuit is feeding back and grounding through the other blinker circuit, versus the ground circuit as it should. If you trailer relies on the hitch ball contact for ground, that is likley the problem, especially if the ball is rusty. Try running a separate ground wire with a quick disconnect plug between the trailer frame and your tow vehicle chassis or bumper. The other scenario is you have a truck with euro or japanese spec turn signals that requires an adapter box to work with the dual filament turn/stop signals typically found on US spec vehicles. Those are the turn signals with a separate amber bulb from the red stop lamps. The adapter is typically part of the wire harness assembly you install to add the trailer plug to the tow vehicle. If you simply crimped on a tow plug to your vehicle, and it has those types of blinkers, it will do this. If your tow vehicle has LED tail lights, then the adapter also needs load relays and a separate power line for the trailer wiring. BillS