Fessing up-brake light issue-- arrg, didn't work!

[down under tech]

Debbie: Yes, that is it. Red goes to brake lights on the car. Test with a test light to see if power is going into your old converter box. If there is power there when you step on the brakes with the ignition key on the box is bad. White goes to ground, green goes to right turn, yellow goes to left turn and brown goes to tail lights. It should be a cut out the old converter five wire side and splice the new converter up by matching the same color wires to matching existing wires on the Rav4. Simple. I hope this helps. The new converter sholud come with a piece of two sided tape. Just mount it to the rear panel inside the rear of the Rav4 so it stays put. This will keep it from getting banged around going down the road. This will keep it from going out on you.
The new four wire pigtail on the new box goes to the trailer plug on your trailer. Are you done yet Randy???

Make sure you test the wires coming out of the box after you install the new box or you can hook it to you trailer to be sure it is operating correctly. Step on the brake pedal and see if it works. With key on & the brake pedal pushed down, try both right and left turn signals. Any U-Haul dealer will have this new box, so you don't have to come to Reno to get the new converter box.

[nevadatear]

Lucky for randy i have to order the part and am sick on the couch, otherwise we might be driving to reno! lucky for him? he gets to work on business paperwork. Johnny, what you said about the sticky foam tape makes sense. It is there, but the convertor has been non stuck but bouncing around inside the fenderwell for who knows how long. You're the best john. Good to have teardrop friends. Owe you a beer at the Dam.

[down under tech]

No problem Debbie, not secured to anything might just be the reason why yours failed. Who knows when it went out on you.

Hope you feel better soon. I will take you up on that beer at the "Dam Gathering". Thanks...

[desertmoose]

John's advice is spot on, but there might be one thing to check before you get a new converter.

Look for a blown fuse. My Dodge was giving me fits until I found a fuse under the hood that was out.

Sam

[nevadatear]

Thanks sam, will do!

[down under tech]

Debbie: Check and see if the brake lights are working on the Rav4 with the key on. This will tell you very quickly if the brake light fuse is good. If the brake lights come on when you step on the brake pedal, the fuse is intact. If you don't have brake lights on the Rav4 then check the fuse. I said to check if power is present in the red wire coming to the converter box with a test light. If you have brake lights on the Rav4 as I described before the red wire could have come loose and it is not getting power to the control box or there is corrosion at the connection where the red wire is attached to the cars brake light wire. Check it at the converter box. This will tell you if it has a signal (power) coming from the brake light wire.

[Rolly]

When you replace the converter check the ground connection on the 5 wire side if at all possible. Consider buying a four flat trailer wiring tester, should be under $10.


Rolly

[down under tech]

Randy: Are you done yet??? We are waiting to know if you will be done before the first of May.

If not, we are not going to follow you guys to Shasta Dam.

[nevadatear]

Johnny, Funny you should ask! We checked the convertor this afternoon and it is definitely bad. On our way to Reno tomorrow, so gonna try and pick up a new one there. We WILL have it done before the Dam! Off to Mexico for a week for my spring break vaca time, then after that it is time to get Monstro ready for her first trip of the year, Dam here we come!

[nevadatear]

So randy changed out the converter today, and still no brake lights. So the problem is before the converter. Next is changing out the wiring harness. Ran things there is a short.