Trailer lights

[Flash]

Retrieved my boat from storage and zero trailer lights work. I had the license plate (left) rear go out last year. I drive a 2006 H3. Pulled the fuses (on the H3) and they appeared OK. CRC'd the plug and connector. Planning to replace the rears with submersible LEDs and re-wire. Just thought is was odd for no lights to work at all. At least the side markers should have been lit.

Any thoughts???

[jpollman]

I'll give you the same advice I give almost every other question regarding a trailer light problem.

Check the ground!

Most of the time trailer lighting problems are caused by a bad ground. Many strange things can happen when the trailer lighting system isn't grounded sufficiently.

I agree completely with replacing them with LED lights. They are awesome! When you connect them, I'd solder all joints. Don't rely on those cheap crimp on connectors. Then seal up the connection as best you can. I use liquid electrical tape and then heat shrink tubing over each joint. I also run a separate ground wire to each light and run it right up to the plug. I don't ever rely on the trailer frame for ground!

Good luck!

John

[Flash]

Thanks.

[FERG 06]

I had a '97 Dodge that had a seperate fuse for the trailer lights located under the hood, not in the regular fuse box.

Just throwing that out there.

[Denko]

Check the ground!
:yeahthat: ;)

[UNCLE AL]

My half ton chevy has fuses for every light in the trailer plug. Check your owners manual.

[jogodlew]

This happened to me a few years back and I took my trailer hitch insert out and cleaned all the rust from the winter, hit the hitch ball with some WD40 and a scrub pad and also cleaned the inside of the boat trailer hitch and latch. When I put it all back together , it worked. I don't know if this is a ground issue or I just got lucky, but it's worth a try.

[Flash]

Appears the ground to the trailer was not complete. Loosened and reconnected the ground wire and I got lights.

Replaced the 2 rears with LEDs. All lights work fine.