I recently replaced both rear tail lights on my trailer because the lenses were cracked/broken. Seemed like a simple enough job, pull the old lights off, strip some of the insulation off the wire and stick it in the hole on the back of the new light housing.....
Now none of the trailer lighting works...
I got under the trailer and found that some of the wires were broke from rubbing on the frame so i started from the front and worked my way back replacing all the broken connections (3 total). Still no lights. Hooked it up to another vehicle and still no lights.
Is there something that i'm missing? Both sides are wired individually from the back and come together in the front to a 4 pin connector.

seems simple enough, but i'm stumped... any suggestions..??

 

ground maybe

 

Agree, check for voltage at the "end" of the run at each tail-light, if its there, then the problem is the ground. If not, you have a continuity issue.

 

Ground. Are you running a dedicated ground wire to each light or grounding thru the frame?

Sounds like the old lights grounded thru the frame and maybe the new ones aren't.

 

I replaced the lights with the same ones that were on there. Wiring is basic. Two wires each side running to the back for lights, with a splice on each side for marker lights. Wiring like in picture below.


I found a wiring kit at AutoZone for 12 bucks. I'm just going to get some gromets, wire looms and rewire the trailer.

Thanks guys.

 

if the have a metal frame then they should ground thru that if not then they need a ground

 

Unless i missed it, there's isnt a ground to the frame. The wire harness on there now is exactly like the one in the picture above, with splices along the way for the side markers, and rear running lights.

Where would the ground be, spliced in to one of 4 wires that run to the tail lights or should there be a seperate wire all together?

 

In the picture above the white wire must be grounded to the frame of the trailer. If it's not, nothing will work.

 

yea but the lights them selves must be grounded. if they are not in metal housings then their is ground wire coming out of them and it needs to be attached to the white wire and frame

 

Check the bolts where the lights are mounted to the frame. That is where most lights are grounded to the frame. Take the ground wire from the lights, white, and connect to the bolt. Make sure to clean a good spot for contact, like wire brush to clean away paint and rust.
Also if you are trying the lights on the trailer without having it hitched up, you may need to run a jumper from vehical to trailer for a ground. The ball and hitch are the connection for ground for most trailers without breaks. If vehical and trailer not grounded together, the light probably will not work no matter how good the ground is on the trailer at the lights.
Just a tip. If light start working, but dooing crazy things, check the grounding, then check wiring to verify if correct. I have had the running lights blink with the trun signal all because of the ground.

 

White's hot..... Nice light show though...


Good call! I did not know that about the ball and hitch being the ground, Thanks Spitse !! Hooked the trailer up and wala..
I feel like Clark Grizwald when he finally got his Christmas lights working..haha

 

the ball and hitch are not good grounds..... a more positive ground is needed, on my trailers i always run a ground from the connector to the trailer ( that's the short white wire in the picture)

 

[QUOTE=Clane;2632466]White's hot..... Nice light show though...


if your white wire is hot , it's wired wrong

 

Ditto

 

Meaning the truck wiring is wrong??