electrical sleuths

[ken richardson]

guys,

I have a problem with my m416 lights that seems to be associated with the vehicle. My left turn and break lights do not work on the triler but work on the vehicle. The vehicle is an 05 Dodge Durango.

The vehicle has a tow package and is wired for the round 6 contact ? plug as well as the 4 pin flat. I am hooked into 4 pin flat. There are fuses and relays etc that are specifically labled for the two package. In running a continuity test I do not have juice on the yellow wire. Not to the round plug or the flat. There are 2 independant yellow cables one for the round and one for the flat but I dont know if they are independant all the way back to the fuse block. I have a felling its a branch.

I have swaped left and rich relays and they are good. The problem remains on the left side.

My thinking is that the problem is either at the fuse-relay box which is under the hood and looks like a nightmare to dig into or somehow I have a cut yellow wire after the fuse block. The harness is wrapped in a plastic sleeve throught the underside.

FWIW the vehicle lights work as they should.

Any sugestions on how to find the problem. ??

Thanks in advance.

 

[oldcj5guy]

Might look in the fuse block under the hood, or in the owners manual at the fuse blocks and see if it has fuses for that control the wiring for the tow package. I know some Fords are set up that way to protect computer components against having the charge line on the trailer wired wrong and sending voltage back along the wrong line.

 

[Robert Bills]

In running a continuity test I do not have juice on the yellow wire. Not to the round plug or the flat. <snip> My thinking is that the problem is either at the fuse-relay box <snip> or somehow I have a cut yellow wire after the fuse block.

Do you have juice at the relay? If so, then perhaps you do have a cut or grounded wire.

Try bypassing the yellow wire by disconnecting at the relay and trailer connector and running another wire from the relay directly to the trailer connector. If the left side trailer light works, you have isolated the problem to somewhere between the relay and connector. If that doesn't help, then move "upstream" from there.

Your post doesn't mention replacing your left-side bulb on your trailer. Did you? Be sure the socket is clean, with no corrosion, and check your ground (both on the trailer and tow rig).

Your 6-pin connectors should be wired this way:

Your 4-pin connectors and your trailer should be wired this way:

 

[ken richardson]

thanks guys. yes the bulbs are brand new and good. I do get running lights on left off of brown wire.

At the fuse block where the relays are and Im calling them relays cause they are bigger than fuses, they plug in with several prongs. Is it safe to monkey with the contacts with a volt meter or light bulb tester to find out what is hot. I dont wnat to blow something up. And trust me ....if it can be done....Im the unlucky bastard that can do it. :gunt:

 

[Robert Bills]

Is it safe to monkey with the contacts with a volt meter or light bulb tester to find out what is hot?

Sure. Worst thing you will do is blow a fuse.

 

[ken richardson]

Thanks

Thanks guys,

Would ya believe it was a fuse.........Not labled on the box cover so I didnt know it had anything to do with the trailer lights. ...........

Axiom of life # 972.......When all else fails......read the damn directions!!

Of course that leaves 971 possibilities before you endeaver on the obvious.

:gunt: