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RVing Drives Me Nuts ---- Electrical Issue

Hoppypoppy
Explorer
Explorer
Brought my 2002 Cardinal home from storage last Fri. Checked lights - everything fine. 5er sat in front of my home til this morning. (Tues) Hooked it up, ready to go, no tail, brake or turn signal lights on right side only. Left side fine. First thought was a ground issue. Now the dumb question.....is the only ground on these rigs the ground included in the power plug to tow vehicle? Any other suggestions? Thanks all.
33 REPLIES 33

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad

Bobbo
Explorer II
Explorer II
This 7 pin/4 pin tester does the same thing in reverse. You plug it into the truck's 7 pin connector, or the truck's 4 pin connector, and lights on it tell you that you have power to the pins, or not. If any of the lights light up, the ground is also good. Any of the lights that WON'T light up, that pin has no power.

For less than $10, it ought to be in the tool box of everyone who tows anything.
Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB

Hoppypoppy
Explorer
Explorer
Don't want this thread to run forever, and this will be my last comment unless asked a specific question. Just thought I would pass along a troubleshooting tactic I learned from my RV guy. Most of you may know this, I didn't. Maybe it will help someone else.

When I told him what was happening, he immediately plugged my 7 pin from the 5er, into a 5 pin I use for my boat. All the lights worked immediately. He instantly knew the problem was with my truck. Completely ruled out the trailer. So if you are having trlr light issues, try this. It may cut down on a lot of head-scratching. Good day, all.

cyntdon2010
Explorer
Explorer
WD40 go with the simple idea first. spray it first.
2010 lacrosse T.T 318 bhs 34 ft,blue ox-tow bar,2005 FORD F-150 larait super crew,Firestone ready rite-air bags lift kit

PaulJ2
Explorer
Explorer
dieseltruckdriver wrote:
I had a very similar problem last summer, except on the left side.
I check my lights before every use.

When my lights wouldn't work, I knew it was a wiring problem, so I started looking for the wiring issues. I couldn't find anything, and as a last resort, I found a bad bulb. one filament broke the other one. Learned a lesson there. Start with the simple stuff first.


My bet is a bad bulb only. Had the same thing happen, filament broke, took out the other one also. Probably will find the bulb burned black inside.

Sea_scape
Explorer
Explorer
Bobbi has it correct above.

One additional question: are your clearance lights on the left side working? If yes, I would look for a ground problem at the light (I assume you did check the bulb). If no, look for a ground problem where the wiring splits to right and left sides. If you want to do a fast check, connect a length of wire to the frame where there is no paint, and touch the side of the light socket. If the light comes on it is a ground problem.

Right and left running lights are common, so if both the running and turn signal work, the problem is in the trailer. Both bulb elements on the good side do work? Even if you don't think it is the problem, replace the bulb on the bad side with one you know is good. I have seen where a broken filament wire in the bulb, touching the other filament wire will cause all sorts of strange things.

Hoppypoppy
Explorer
Explorer
jmckelvy wrote:
Did you find your problem?


Never did. Spent a week we were supposed to be at the lake, trying to track down this issue. Totally stumped!! Taking it to my RV guy tomorrow (Mon). Have weird conflicting emotions. One one hand I want a cheap, simple fix. On the other, I don't want to be slapping myself on the forehead because it was so simple, lol. We'll see.....thanks for asking.

jmckelvy
Explorer
Explorer
Did you find your problem?
06 RAM 3500,Dually,CTD,Auto(ATS Stage 1),QC,4X4,PacBrake,Spyntec Freespin Hubs,60 Gal Titan Tank,EFI Live, Line-X,Torklifts and SuperHitch,Fastguns
2013 Arctic Fox 990, 275 Watts Solar, 2 Grp 31 AGMs
US Navy 1964-1968, 2-Tour Vietnam Vet

dieseltruckdriv
Explorer II
Explorer II
I had a very similar problem last summer, except on the left side.
I check my lights before every use.

When my lights wouldn't work, I knew it was a wiring problem, so I started looking for the wiring issues. I couldn't find anything, and as a last resort, I found a bad bulb. one filament broke the other one. Learned a lesson there. Start with the simple stuff first.
2000 F-250 7.3 Powerstroke
2018 Arctic Fox 27-5L

Bobbo
Explorer II
Explorer II
Guys, if the left tail light is working, it ain't in the tow vehicle and it ain't in the 7 pin. Both of the tail lights work off the same wire from the 7 pin. If one is working, the tow vehicle, the connector and the wire from it is working.

OP, most of those fixtures have only 1 bulb. It has 2 filaments. It has a dim filament that works with the tail lights. It has a bright filament that works with the brake lights, and also with the turn signals. That is what they are calling a single bulb fixture. It usually takes an 1157 bulb.

Note the 2 filaments in this 1157 bulb's photo.



This is another angle of the same bulb. Note that there are 2 contacts on the base of the bulb. Each filament is connected to 1 of those contacts. Both of the filaments get their ground connection through the brass case forming the base.



Since we know the left tail light is working, you are getting current from the 7 pin. Now the question is why is the right side not working? If that was the only problem, there would be several possible causes, but there is another problem. The right brake light/turn signal is also not working. Since the odds are that you don't have 2 separate problems, we need to find a single problem that will cause both of those filaments to not come on. The only common point those 2 filaments have is the ground.

The choices are:
1. both filaments burned out. unlikely-but possible, need new bulb
2. bad connection between bulb and fixture-more likely, but still not my first suspicion, remove bulb and lightly sand contacts of fixture and bulb then re-insert
3. bad ground connection between the fixture and the frame-most likely scenario, by far. Attach new ground wire from fixture to frame.
Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB

jmckelvy
Explorer
Explorer
Hoppypoppy wrote:
...Again pardon my dumbness....when you say a "single bulb system" are you saying one of the three bulbs could be out, and that is taking down the whole trio of lights?


Are you saying you actually know there are three bulbs in the suspect light? I looked at a trailer similar to yours online and it looked like a single bulb design. I could be mistaken.

In either case the problem is still similar to my earlier statement. If there are indeed three separate bulbs that sorta rules out the sockets and bulbs themselves and would indicate a problem with the ground wire for those bulbs as it is unlikely all bulbs and/or all sockets are bad.

Actually I would be surprised if you do have three separate bulbs but confirm and let us know.
06 RAM 3500,Dually,CTD,Auto(ATS Stage 1),QC,4X4,PacBrake,Spyntec Freespin Hubs,60 Gal Titan Tank,EFI Live, Line-X,Torklifts and SuperHitch,Fastguns
2013 Arctic Fox 990, 275 Watts Solar, 2 Grp 31 AGMs
US Navy 1964-1968, 2-Tour Vietnam Vet

handye9
Explorer II
Explorer II
Hoppypoppy wrote:
handye9 wrote:
What is your tow vehicle?

Some trucks have seperate fuses/relays for left and right stop/turn signal lights. Certain years of F250's are wired like that.

Check your owners manual. Maybe your problem is in the truck.


It's a 2003 GMC 2500HD. All the truck lights are good.


The fuses I'm talking about, have nothing to do with truck lights. They only control trailering lights.

Mine are in a fuse/relay box under the hood.

Look at this . It's a GM truck type forum. A fellow is describing a problem just like yours. The recommended fix was a fuse/relay in a box under the hood.

Look here, 03 GMC Sierra, on page 5-111. It shows seperate fuses for left and right stop/turn trailer lights. The fuse box is on the end of the instrument panel (driver side).
18 Nissan Titan XD
12 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Wife and I
Retired Navy Master Chief (retired since 1995)

Hoppypoppy
Explorer
Explorer
handye9 wrote:
What is your tow vehicle?

Some trucks have seperate fuses/relays for left and right stop/turn signal lights. Certain years of F250's are wired like that.

Check your owners manual. Maybe your problem is in the truck.


It's a 2003 GMC 2500HD. All the truck lights are good.

handye9
Explorer II
Explorer II
What is your tow vehicle?

Some trucks have seperate fuses/relays for left and right stop/turn signal lights. They also have a seperate fuse/relay for trailer running lights. It's possible to have tail/running light and no turn/brake light, on one side or the other. It's possible to have turn/brake lights and no tail/running light. Certain years of F250's are wired like that.

Check your owners manual. Maybe your problem is in the fuse box of the truck.
18 Nissan Titan XD
12 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Wife and I
Retired Navy Master Chief (retired since 1995)