No exterior lights - Help!

[boblally]

Hi:

Found a bad light socket and moved it around while camper was connected to car - with lights on. Lights went off! So, the bad light socket must have shorted out. I replaced 2 fuses on car and everything works on car again. No exterior lights on camper. The U-Haul connector has 4 LED's. 2 show green light 2 show nothing. Any idea if the other 2 LED's are supposed to be on? Any idea what I should do? Thanks.

Bob

[Arne]

my experience was when I did that was I burned out something in the 6 to 4 converter for the trailer... All lights worked except the brake/signal lights on one circuit.... 30 bucks at pep boys.

[boblally]

Thank you. Arne, how big are these converters?

[wlooper89]

This is an interesting question. I believe that U-Haul uses a standard flat four wire plug. So the problem is why it is not working with the camper. It would seem to be a short or open connection in the trailer or tow vehicle. It could be difficult to sort out unless it is possible to connect another trailer to the tow vehicle temporarily. If the lights work on that trailer then the problem is likely to be in the camper trailer.

Bill

[madjack]

...the first thing you should do is get a tester of some sort...a regular volt meter can be had for less than 10 bucks...a cheapy "lightup" tester will be under 5...HarborFreight, autoparts house, Radio Shack and just about any box store will have them...................
madjack

[bobhenry]

The 4 leds are right tail , left tail , right turn , left turn. If they all light up when your turns are flashing the converter survived the short. However , they are rather sensitive and fry easily. You post doesn't mention replacing the socket did you replace it or did you wire around it. What is your tow vehicle ( some do not require a converter ) ?. It's time to drag out the jumper cables. 1st simply clamp on side of the cables from tow ground to trailer ground. If things light up you simply have a poor ground and a small 12 - 14 gage wire and a couple aligator clips will fix your problem. If that doesn't work unhook and turn the tow around and use the cables again this time hook up the ground from battery to trailer ground. clamp a small screwdriver or allen wrench or even a big nail and touch each of the brown yellow and green wires thru the 4 way flat trailer plug and see if the lites light up. DO NOT connect the hot side of the battery to the white wire that will cause a direct short.

Electrical gremlins are so much fun

[boblally]

Hi:

Thank you for all the help. I had a third fuse in the car that I had fried. Found that this morning. Now, all lights work on camper. Also, I extended the camper cable connector by 2 feet and used butt connectors. The lights would not stay on. So, I cut out the butt connectors and twisted the wires together and sure enough I now have a great connection and all lights shining brighter. Amazing. Thanks again.

Bob