trailer lights

[Guest]

I just bought a boat last week, and on my way home from the lake the other night I noticed my running lights do not work, however, both my break lights and blinkers do work. It's a Karavan trailer. any advice as to where to start looking for the problem would be appreciated.

[LOWinEYEin]

I personally, would just buy a new set for 20-30$. Easy to replace. Save lots of time and headaches.

[IFallsRon]

If the running lights are not working, it's a pretty good sign that you're going to have trouble with the rest of the lights, too. I'd replace the entire system.

[Chris Haley]

Not necessarily, if both running lights are out I would start with new bulbs. If they are still out, look for a break near the plug. Inspect the plug itself as the wire may be broken in the plug. Look for cracking at the plug. If both are out, it probably is before the split.

[Twitter]

If it's not a bad bulb and just your running lights with the short, there's a good chance it took out the fuse.
It sounds strange, but on Ford and Dodge trucks, the fuse it takes out is in the fuse panel under the hood NOT the one under the dash.
I wouldn't want you to waste a lot of time troubleshooting a short thinking all the fuses are good. Check your owners manual to verify where the fuse for the running lights is.
Good luck !
Twitter

[This message has been edited by Twitter (edited 04-16-2004).]

[EBass]

Yup check the plug connection and look for corrosion and clean it out. Next check the bulbs to see if they need to be replaced. If that still doesn't help check the ground and see that needs to be cleaned up.

If all that fails go get a new set.

I hate it when I have trailer light issues. I don't want anyone hitting me because of it. That and da police don't take to kind to non working trailer lights.

Good luck sir

[Trailblazin]

I have a Karavan trailer as well. I had the same exact thing go out on me last year.
I bought one of those $3-4 testers and it indictaed all lights should be working, which meant it was the fuse.

Do you have the 4 pin adapter that plugs into the truck? I bet you do and in that case, you blew a fuse in the truck.

I just took my Truck to Chevy and they did it for free, of course, all done in 5 minutes!

[Chris Haley]

If it is a blown fuse and it happens again check your wires for the short.

[ChuckN]

Twitter is right. I had the same problem after I bought my '97 Ford...didn't know about that small fuse box under the hood.

I had a Karavan trailer. Check and see if the white wire (ground) behind the plug is grounded to the trailer frame. I've had wierd things happen like that and it made them work.

[Havin' Fun]

Chuck, my F150 had the exact same problem. Stupid fuse box under the hood........Easy fix.

[Guest]

thanks for all the help guys.....yes I do have the four prong plug, and I just checked my fuse box under the hood, fuses all look good?????

[King Canada]

Drive real fast down a bumpy road

[The Grebe]

If the running lights worked before you put the boat in the water and you did'nt unplug the connection, maybe it shorted out the filiment in the bulbs? Clean off the contacts at the plug...pour some Coke Cola on the female connection, let it fizz for a bit and clean out the holes with a Q-tip, check for busted wire, check the fuse, check the ground and lastly, change the bulks...you will familiarize yourself with the wiring system and maybe correct your problem. If none of that works, do like the one fella said...drive it really fast down a bumpy road!

[L.M. Ray]

If you just bought the boat, and the running lights don't work, you probably have a wireing problem. Check to make sure you have power to the proper contact in the plug on the tow vehicle when the lights are on.

------------------
Be fishers of people.
You catch, He cleans

[mnrstrider]

Sigh, same problem, exactly, brake lights and blinkers work, no running lights, I've heard I need to check the grounds, I'll have to look into it sometime soon, I'll post up it if I figure it out, the trailer isn't even 3 years old, I'd hate to replace the lights and wiring already...

[Trailblazin]

You said "the Fuses all look good with a question mark????"

I will bet that it is the fuse in the truck and not the wiring.....

[elkhunter]

If you do have to rewire your whole trailer my boat mechanic gave me a good idea when I did mine. Instead of using regular trailer wire he suggested cutting the ends off of an extension cord, I used on of the cold weather blue ones myself, and run it through the trailer frame, you won't have the problems with wires cracking after one,two or three years. He stated that he has never had to redo a trailer that he has done in this manner. I just did mine last spring and I guess only time will tell. Chevy pickups also have that fuse box under the hood. Mine has fuses in the pickup and under the hood for the blinkers. Imagine my frustration when I had no trailer lights,checked the fuse in the pickup, then rewired the trailer, and then still didn't have lights!!!! Maybe next time I will look at the instructions first!!
Dale

[Sandbar]

Pepe,
Same thing happened to me last year on my Karavan. The problem was the ground connection on the back tail lights. Add a little electrical grease to the ground connection and make sure the ground nut is tight. It solved my problem.

Sandbar

[Guest]

well here is the deal, I added an extention to my truck wiring for my last boat because my trailer wires were not long enough, so i undid the extention pluged into the originial plug and bingo all lights work. Thanks for all the suggestions, (i didn't know i had a fuse box under the hood).