Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

  • 0

trailer lights plug in


bucketmouth64

Question

All my trailer lights work except for my left blinker. New LED lights put in last year. I have one of those round plug ins. I think that is the problem. I have to jiggle it around to get the lights to work. I think the contacts may not be connecting good. Wondering if I should just cut it off and switch to regular flat plug in or if I should buy a new round plug in set. Any opinions? What plug in do you use?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0

I had some trouble with my round plug in this spring. Just the running lights on the trailer wouldn't light. The right and left turn signals did. I checked out the round to flat adaptor for any breaks in the connection through it and it was OK. Then I looked at the round plug in on the truck. No corrosion on the trailer side. I unhooked the harness from the back side and noticed corrosion on the ground. I cleaned it off but it hadn't interfered with the trailer turn signals. So I went to the fuse box under the hood and the fuse that controls just the trailer running lights had blown. I don't know why. I replace it and it has worked fine since. My truck is a 2004 Silverado. It has fuses that control just the right trailer turn signal, just the left trailer turn signal and just the trailer running lights. It has more fuses than any vehicle I've had in three different fuse panels/boxes. I would check your manual and see if you have individual fuses for the trailer turn signals.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I have the same problem with my rig. I know the lights on the trailer work, and my truck is only 2 years old so I am pretty sure they work. My round adapter is about 5 years old so I guess it's due to be replaced. How many years do you guys usually get out of those adapters?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

bucketmouth, it sounds like your plug is dirty or the contacts just wore. I'd clean the contacts and give it a try.

If that doesn't work you can can tweak/bend the male ends a hair. In the end you might end up having to replace the plug.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

What make and model is your truck or car? If it is a late model, fuse panel under hood would have fuses for trailer lighting. The easiest way to check the whole fuse panel in seconds is with a test lamp. Hook test lamp to ground (clip end) and turn ign. on and turn signal on. Use probe and check each back side of blade (minny or reg.) fuse. The back side of a blade fuse (the side with rating number on it) has two little opening's to probe check to see if good. One side will allways light up. If one side does not light up, this means fuse is blown. If you prefect this (it is easy).

0900823d8015ebd4.jpg

See on top of blade fuse. There are two little slits. If power is going to fuse and fuse is good, when you stab test probe on each side, test light will light up. If fuse is bad, only one side will light up. You can test a hundred fuses in seconds with this method. Keep going untill you find a blown fuse, if not the connector or wiring concern would be my next place to check. Possibley a ground issue with that light. I never open a owners manual for fuse any more. this method is cool and quick! Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

How do you clean the male ends? I tried to get in there with sandpaper and not having much luck because the space is small. What about the female end cleaning the inside? Is that worth looking into? Any kind of chemical work?

Shack, I have a '98 Explorer. I don't believe a fuse is the problem, but I will take a peek at it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

It wouldn't be the fuse if you can wiggle the plug and it works but the info is still good.

CRC Electrical Cleaner.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

The round plugs, male, on my plug have a slit in the very end of them, stick a small knife blade in the end and open them up a little, plug and unplug a few times to make better contact.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Very good suggestion efgh.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Sorry, my bad! I did not read close enough. I must of been putting first two posts together.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Quote:

How do you clean the male ends? I tried to get in there with sandpaper and not having much luck because the space is small. What about the female end cleaning the inside? Is that worth looking into? Any kind of chemical work?

Shack, I have a '98 Explorer. I don't believe a fuse is the problem, but I will take a peek at it.


I couldn't find a chemical, but I used a Dremel tool on my plugs. A little wire brush for the male, and another small tool to get inside the female parts. Worked great!

Quote:

CRC Electrical Cleaner


ST, where can I find this stuff?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I use any battery post cleaner. You can also use Coke cola or I have heard baking soda.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Diet coke works just as good as regular coke, just not as sticky.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Just think people drink this stuff ooo.gif. Kinda makes you think how our body can take it. Anyway, good ideas from you all. I will have to try these out this weekend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

You can find the CRC brand at most high end auto parts stores, but any electrical cleaner should work.

The coke works because of its acid. Next time your at the dentist look for the chart that shows which soft drinks are the worse for your teeth and pick that one. grin.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Ok, this is really getting frustrating. I cleaned what I could and I bought a circuit tester. I found two wires that have no power going thru for the left side...blinker/brake lights. There is no power where they are connected to the vehicle wires. Is it possible that I have these two wires crossed? Would that cause no power in the wires? confused.gif I tried to probe the wires by the trailer box, but I can't get a ground to work so I can use the probe. Any ideas how to get the probe to function? Left blinker and left brake light is all that doesn't work. Right side works and both lights.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Put the round plug in into the round socket on the vehicle. Put your lights on. Take the negative of the circuit tester and put on the exposed connection on the four pin side. Test each hole until the tester lights. Remember which hole it is. Now turn on the right signal light and try the other two holes. One should light intermittently. The other hole that hasn't lit up is the left signal light. Now turn the left signal light and try the remaining hole. If it doesn't light it might be the round to four pin connector, the wiring to the round connector or a fuse. In my case it was a fuse. I could check the round to four pin connector with a volt meter so I knew it was good. I had power to the round connector since I unhooked the wire harness that went into it. The last thing I checked was the fuse. Do you know anyone who has a round connector to try?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

If you guys are talking the four plug connectors that have the removable inside plastic plug (small screw to remove from aluminum housing)there are four small set screws that come loose from vibration,ect.When installing these make sure you soldier the ends of the wire before you clamp them with the set screws.Also one more note,make SURE all your ground connections(trailer and tow vehicle)are clean and rust/dirt free as ground problems,(current bleeds/drops non continuity )are often the result of "bad" grounds.This can lead to popped fuses or inoperative circuits all together.Hope this helps some.c63

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.