Trailer lights not working completely, the truck came with the round light connector

Printable View

10-20-2012, 05:08 PM
maachuu

3 Attachment(s)

Trailer lights not working completely, the truck came with the round light connector

the one that has 6 blades around a center spot, I have tried 2 adapters and no luck yet. I just got one from Autozone that says its a 7 way to 4 or 5 pin adapter. My connector coming off the boat is a 5 pin. I get tail lights, trailer lights on the side of trailer but only the left side brake & turn signal works. The right side tail light works but no brake lights and no turn signal. Anybody got any idea where I need to start checking ? I have LED trailer lights, dont know if that will make a difference or not.

Here is the picture of the connector on the truck
Attachment 104478

here is the adapter that Autozone said I needed, if you notice it only has 4 blades in it

Attachment 104479

Here is the connector coming off of my trailer

Attachment 104480
10-20-2012, 05:13 PM
jigflinger

Larry, check the fuses under the hood. Got seperate fuses for right and left.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2
10-20-2012, 05:17 PM
maachuu

Turn & brake lights work on the truck jig
10-20-2012, 05:26 PM
SeaRay

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/image...BgGAYBgGA//9k= You can also buy one of these testers for about $5. It plugs into your vehicle trailer plug and has leds on it for each light. Tells you right quick if the problem is in the vehicle for the trailer wiring, I'd check your fuse like JF said above, but if the fuse is blown your vehicle lights should not work either unless it has separate fuses for the trailer harness, mine does not.
SeaRay
10-20-2012, 05:26 PM
jigflinger

Check em anyway. If fuses are good then you have broken wires from side not working.
10-20-2012, 05:54 PM
"G"

The fuse box under the hood of your Z 71 has separate fuses for the trailer lights....check them.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2
10-20-2012, 05:57 PM
Jim C.

Check to make sure you have GOOD GROUND from truck to trailer not just contact at ball hitch.
10-20-2012, 06:04 PM
jimp

If you have a 5 pin connector coming off of the trailer (probably due to LED's), you probably gonna need a 5 pin connector on the truck side. I wouldn't think a 4 or 5 pin connector would work, unless it looks like this:

Hopkins Multi-Tow Adapter — 7-Way RV Blade Connector, Model# 37385
at northern tool.com
10-20-2012, 06:07 PM
Rees Guide

Bet it is the fuses, took me an hour to figure it out on Ree's truck.:banghead
10-20-2012, 06:26 PM
maachuu

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimp

If you have a 5 pin connector coming off of the trailer (probably due to LED's), you probably gonna need a 5 pin connector on the truck side. I wouldn't think a 4 or 5 pin connector would work, unless it looks like this:

Hopkins Multi-Tow Adapter — 7-Way RV Blade Connector, Model# 37385
at northern tool.com

Jimp, that is exactly what I have, got it at Autozone
10-20-2012, 06:29 PM
"G"

Don't worry about that fifth wire....its a ground and most people don't even hook them up....it will ground anyway through the frame and the hitch. Check the fuses in the big black box under the hood of your truck....there are separate and individual fuses in there for the trailer lights.
10-20-2012, 06:32 PM
maachuu

Quote:

Originally Posted by "G"

The fuse box under the hood of your Z 71 has separate fuses for the trailer lights....check them.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2

G, I havent connected the trailer back up but there was a fuse shot on the trailer part in the fuse box under the hood, would have never known that the trailer connector had its on fuse :) thanks, maybe it wont continue to shoot fuses once I get a new one put in, will have to wait and see

thanks

Larry
10-20-2012, 06:33 PM
canebreaker

Fuse under the hood was my problem. Took me for ever to figure it out. But I had help here at c.c .
10-20-2012, 06:35 PM
"G"

Always unplug your trailer lights before you back it into the water.....saves a lot of blown bulbs and fuses....just one more step to take when you get to the lake....unplug and launch.....then after you load back up and pull out of the water plug back up.
10-20-2012, 06:36 PM
"G"

You should be good to go now Larry
10-20-2012, 06:46 PM
majflyboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by "G"

Always unplug your trailer lights before you back it into the water.....saves a lot of blown bulbs and fuses....just one more step to take when you get to the lake....unplug and launch.....then after you load back up and pull out of the water plug back up.

Never heard that before. Does make sense tho.
10-20-2012, 06:56 PM
jimp

thought LED's eliminated the need to unplug the trailer lights to prevent blown bulbs, etc. I have always unplugged my trailer lights before launching (no LED's), and don't plug 'em back in until the boat is at the top of the ramp. Just part of my launch/load routine. Still have the original bulbs in there too. LOL.
10-20-2012, 07:07 PM
maachuu

I have LED tail/brake lights on my trailer but the side marker lights are not LED
10-20-2012, 07:16 PM
"G"

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimp

thought LED's eliminated the need to unplug the trailer lights to prevent blown bulbs, etc. I have always unplugged my trailer lights before launching (no LED's), and don't plug 'em back in until the boat is at the top of the ramp. Just part of my launch/load routine. Still have the original bulbs in there too. LOL.

It can still blow a fuse if a wire connection gets wet and shorts out.
10-20-2012, 07:19 PM
broharrell

Make sure trailer is attached to the trailer hitch when checking your system, it has to be grounded to vehicle to work properly. (I found out)
10-20-2012, 10:11 PM
Shine Runner

Strange thing is my Silverado blew a fuse when hooking back up after putting boat back on trailer. I used to unhook lights, back down, unload, reload after fishing, and then replug lights before travel. That's when it blew the one under the hood. I do NOT unhook after ball hitch is locked down. No problems since. No LED lights. I do use the switch on the dash to override the auto on/off lights to kill the lights before hooking up the boat. Sucks being at the ramp ready to head home and have no lights. Spare fuses are a must, just like a jack, lug wrench, and jack.
10-21-2012, 07:42 AM
XPress12

Usually the five wire plug is for a trailer with brakes. Do you have surge brakes on the trailer? On mine the extra wire activates a bypass so you can back the trailer up without the surge brakes locking up.

Sent from my Galaxy Tab 2 using Tapatalk 2
10-21-2012, 08:06 AM
jimfish

Make sure all joints made in wiring are sealed with liquid tape then covered with sealing tape.Or use heat shrink with sealer.
10-21-2012, 09:17 AM
canebreaker

The lights on my trailer were water proof,. But a crack in the red lens let the clear lens (cup) fill with water and short the bulb out. I've replaced them with led's.

When you open the fuse box under the hood, stand by the left front tire. Look at the fuses in the left top corner. They are labeled ( on the box lid ) as towing or trailer (trlr/lgt, tw/lgt).