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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Usually they DON'tT work..........

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Indydirtfarmer

06-14-2004 09:56:57




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But I have one that works when it isn't supposed to.
A trailer light that is. The right brake light on my gooseneck trailer will stay on sometimes, even with the truck shut off, no brakes applied, and no other lights on. Unplug the trailer from the truck, and re-plug, and it stays off. It's done this 3 times now. Can't for the life of me figure out what's going on. All the lights work fine, brakes work fine also. Most likely some kind of short, but where do I start looking. Intermittant problems are a bear to find, but if I had an idea where to start, it might show up quicker. Any idea's? John

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Tommy D6-8U

06-15-2004 03:00:04




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 Re: Usually they DON'tT work.......... in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 06-14-2004 09:56:57  
Indy,

Just adding to what the other folks here have posted. I have found that grounds are the most common problem on trailers; don't assume they're good. Run another one for troubleshooting, even a temporary one. Also, I have also experienced problems switching back and forth using adapters for 6-way and RV type plugs. Good luck and hope this helps.

Tommy



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John S-B

06-14-2004 21:35:35




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 Re: Usually they DON'tT work.......... in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 06-14-2004 09:56:57  
Hey Indy, is the trailer hooked up to a ford? My wife's Windstar van has that problem, the right taillight comes on whenever it wants to but usually goes off in an hour. Nobody's been able to diagnose it for 3 yrs.



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john *.?-!.* cub owner

06-14-2004 20:02:05




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 Re: Usually they DON'tT work.......... in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 06-14-2004 09:56:57  
You didn't say what type connector you have, but if it's a 7 pole connector, the right stop/turn is next to the auxiliary power connector that provides power to charge the break-a-way battery , or work lights on the trailer. The aux power lead is hot all the time. A good chance would be that a wire on the plug or receptacle has a strand sticking out and is touching so lightly that when you move it around unplugging it the connection clears for a while.

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Shane

06-15-2004 20:45:18




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 Re: Re: Usually they DON'tT work.......... in reply to john *.?-!.* cub owner, 06-14-2004 20:02:05  
I second this theory, had it happen to me. The middle pin is the hot (I think!) on a 6 pin harness.



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MarkB

06-14-2004 19:55:38




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 Re: Usually they DON'tT work.......... in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 06-14-2004 09:56:57  
Think this through methodically:

1. Something is providing 12 volts to the trailer. Unless there's a battery on the trailer itself, that power must be coming from your tow vehicle. (You don't say if it's some sort of travel trailer than has an onboard battery.)

2. Somehow that 12 volts is finding its way to the right brake light, which is presumably the right turn signal as well. But it is NOT turning on the tow vehicle's right turn signal.

3. Interrupting the connection between the truck and trailer stops the current through the right turn signal.

It sounds like you have multiple problems that are combining to cause your problem.

If the ground for the right turn signal on the trailer is bad, any voltage on that bad ground will feed back through the turn signal and find a ground via the vehicle's turn signals. Actually, multiple turn signal lightss are energized, but only the trailer light has enough current going through it to light up,

It could be that there is a relay that is being energized by itself, because of a short circuit. Disconnecting the trailer deprives the relay of voltage so it de-energizes until the right combinations of events happens to re-energize it.

First thing to do is to find where the voltage is coming from. Use a test light, or better yet a voltmeter to determine if any of the trailer plug connections are hot. That will give you the source of the voltage. Then you need to determine if the vehicle or trailer is at fault.

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Chuck (VA)

06-14-2004 18:05:37




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 Re: Usually they DON'tT work.......... in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 06-14-2004 09:56:57  
Check the connector especially the female one. I have seen them crack between the pins and moisture causes a slow voltage drain and have also seen when the connector was assembled one or two copper strands short out against the case, not enough current to blow the fuse or circuit breaker but will cause the bulb to glow dimly.



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Hermit

06-14-2004 18:02:33




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 Re: Usually they DON'tT work.......... in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 06-14-2004 09:56:57  
A couple of thoughts. Do you have a 7 pin connector on your truck and a 6 pin connector on your trailer? If you do, maybe the adapter between the two is not set up for the proper trailer. Wiring in the adapter can be changed for an RV trailer or horse trailer. If that's OK then it could be the trailer sensing circuit in your electric brake controller. Some controllers send out a small voltage to detect when a trailer is connected to the truck. This voltage could somehow be making it's way to the light and resetting itself when you disconnect and reconnect the trailer.

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Allan in NE

06-14-2004 10:17:17




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 Re: Usually they DON'tT work.......... in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 06-14-2004 09:56:57  
John,

Do you have an independent ground circuit going to the trailer?

Allan



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Indydirtfarmer

06-14-2004 10:24:01




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 Re: Re: Usually they DON'tT work.......... in reply to Allan in NE, 06-14-2004 10:17:17  
YES! In fact, I have 2. One for the brakes, and another for lighting. I wanted the brakes to work, no matter what. John



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VADAVE

06-14-2004 11:18:31




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 Re: Re: Re: Usually they DON'tT work.......... in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 06-14-2004 10:24:01  
With a good ground circuit, not counting the trailer frame, and if unplugging the trailer corrects the problem I would look at the truck. Something is being latched on by the trailer.
Here's a thought--insulate the light from the trailer and see if it still occurs. I suspect it is intermittent so when it occurs unmount the light but keep the electric circuit connected. If it is a ground issue the light will go out.

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