Problem with outside lights

Hey, OP it's always a good feeling when you get that electrical stuff sorted out hey.

Colliehauler:
OP found the problem! Blown fuse!

handye9 wrote:
Most likely a blown fuse / relay in the truck. Check your owners manual for location of trailering fuses / relays. Probably in a fuse box in engine compartment.

There are seperate fuses / relays for running lights, turn signals, charging circuit, etc.

I've had same problem with 06 Nissan Titan and 08 Ford F250. The Nissan was a 10 amp fuse, and, the Ford was a 20 amp relay. Both were located in a box under the hood.

This is what I think as well

This meter is better then the free one at Harbor Freight.
Meter

Good deal, a little electrical education and how to use a meter into the process. Now, look for those sales at Harbor Freight where they give away the cheap meters or buy a better one that will last and be accurate. A meter is something that should be in every RV'ers toolbox.

Thanks for the update!
Easy fix!

All fixed! It was a fuse on the truck! I hooked up a meter I borrowed from a friend that hooked onto the battery on the trailer. I then used the rod on the end of it to check each part of the trailers 7 blade connector. All good! I could power up each section on the trailer and everything was working. Then I did the same to the truck and yup, no power to the aux lights! Checked all the fuses and finally found the one that was bad! Bought a new fuse from napa, replaced the bad one and we're good to go!

Thanks again everyone for your help! Learned a lot!!

I have a standard philosophy, when strange things are happening to a 12v system. Check for a bad ground first.

Wow. Great info! I very much appreciate your help! 12 hour work day today so hopefully tomorrow I will get home with some daylight left. Thank you!!!!

kaulana wrote:
What's a 10 amp blade fuse? Can I just tell the guy at radio shack and he'll hand it to me?

They look like this. You should carry some spares in your car, truck, or trailer. You might already have some. They come in different amperages and they are color coded by amperage.

You probably won't find them at Radio Shack, but, you'd be in good shape at any place that sells auto supplies, or, RV supplies. They even sell them in assortment packages. (Auto parts store, Walmart, Kmart, etc)

This test will only confirm the running light wiring is good, in the trailer. I really think, your problem is in the truck. Most likely, a blade fuse, or a cartridge fuse. Your owners manual will tell you the amps. You've already identified their location. Pull out the fuse for trailer running lights and check it. If you're not sure, take it to an auto parts store, they will tell you if it is bad. They will also, sell you an assortment of fuses that you are going to need.

Blown fuses in truck and / or trailer is a common occurance.

There are no fuses, in the trailer, for brake, tail, and running lights. The reason is, they get their power from the truck.

Fuses in the trailer fuse panel are for interior systems.

Do forum search for "Running lights don't work" or "No Running lights". You'll see this comes up quite often. Read through those threads. Some have posts descibing the fix. Many, are fuses blown in the truck.