Shed A Little Light On Your Towing: Trailer Light Troubleshooting
Buying a new trailer for your truck can be an exciting investment, but if you don't know how to troubleshoot some of the most common issues, you may find yourself stuck in a situation where you can't find the source of the problem and you can't use the trailer. One of the most common trouble sources is the trailer's lights. Here are a few things you should know about the lights and how to deal with them.
What To Do When Your Lights Don't Work
Every time you hook the trailer up to your tow vehicle, you need to test the lights on the trailer to be sure that they are properly operational. If any of the lights aren't working, you need to identify the source of the problem.
When none of the lights are working, this is often caused by either a problem with the main wiring, a fuse, or potentially a bad ground in the vehicle's hitch wiring. The first thing to check is the connection between your truck and the trailer. Make sure that the electrical plug is properly connected. You can unplug it, make sure it's clean, and then plug it back in.
If that doesn't fix it, check the ground wires. These are usually white, and they should have a direct connection to something metal. If they aren't properly grounded, you won't get any response from the trailer's lights.
When you eliminate both the plug and the ground wires as the problem, it could be a break in another part of the wiring harness. Check the wires in the main harness to make sure that they aren't damaged in any way. If all else fails, you may need to replace the harness completely.
If the problem is with only one light, check the wiring to that light. Make sure the wires are intact and connected. If they are, try replacing the bulb to see if that corrects it. If not, check the connection to the light itself with a multimeter to make sure it's getting power. If it isn't, you'll need to take it to a service center to have it repaired.
What You Can Do To Improve Your Trailer Lights
When you know that your wiring is in good condition and you just want to reduce the risk of light failure, one of the things you can consider is having your local trailer repair and service center install LED lights instead. These lights not only burn cooler, but they also last longer than traditional lights.
The more proactive you are about your trailer lights, the safer you will be when towing on the road.
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