Van wiring

KyleC

Well-known member

• Feb 27, 2019

• #1

Hey guys. My running lights are intermittent at best(they come on every 6th time crank)lol. I hooked up with my truck and no problems. So I know it's the van. It is an 08 Ford E-150. The electric
brakes work. Brake lights and blinkers all work. Just spotty running lights.

Last trip they came on as I pulled back in my neighborhood......

How do I begin to troubleshoot?





Kyle

 

Last edited by a moderator: Feb 27, 2019

danemayer

Well-known member

• Feb 27, 2019

• #2

Hi Kyle,

If you have a 7-pin connector, you might need to check pin 3 at upper left looking at the truck connector. If it's corroded or has a loose contact, the running lights would be intermittent.

 

KyleC

Well-known member

• Feb 27, 2019

• #3

So I need to untape the back of the van side?





Kyle

 

danemayer

Well-known member

• Feb 27, 2019

• #4

You should be able to unplug the trailer from the truck's connector, and inspect the connector pins without taking anything apart.

 

N

NP_Chief

Well-known member

• Feb 27, 2019

• #5

KyleC said:

So I need to untape the back of the van side? Kyle

Click to expand...

I would start at the plug and work my way back with a 12 volt test light (less than $5 from Harbor Freight). The plug itself may just need cleaning.

 

KyleC

Well-known member

• Mar 3, 2019

• #6

Okay thanks for all the info. I hope to get under there this week. Hope to get it fixed before the Louisiana rally in natchitoches!





Kyle

 

mlpeloquin

Well-known member

• Mar 3, 2019

• #7

To clean the connector use DeOxit.

https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-D5S-6-D...ocphy=9032175&hvtargid=pla-382003658380&psc=1

 

KyleC

Well-known member

• Mar 9, 2019

• #8

Okay, update...
After using contact cleaner and buying a test light. I've determined that the van is sending the signal for running lights at the 7way. So I plug in the camper and nothing. The blinkers work and brake lights, but still no running lights.

The seven way on the trailer side goes into a junction box under the dual propane tanks. (Is this stock?) Looks like a residential metal box with a metal cover.
This is the style box.
https://www.amazon.com/BUD-Industri...box+and+cover&qid=1552188848&s=gateway&sr=8-1

What color is the running light wire?

I will send better pictures in the A.M.





Kyle

 

cookie

Administrator

Staff member

• Mar 10, 2019

• #9

Remove the cover from that electrical box and inspect the wire splices. The wires are wire nutted and should be wrapped with some tape.
Running light wire is green.

Peace
Dave

 

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KyleC

Well-known member

• Mar 14, 2019

• #10

Okay traced it all the way back through the pigtail on the camper into the junction box. The green light is hot coming from the harness. But when I connected to the green and white to send a signal to the camper the test light doesn't pick anything up.. when I untwist the wire nut and separate the two the green still has power...
Any thoughts?





Kyle

 

RDsStudio59

Well-known member

• Mar 14, 2019

• #11

Are you connecting the green to the white?Shouldn't be. Verify the ground circuit is good at the trailer from the vehicle battery.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

KyleC

Well-known member

• Mar 14, 2019

• #12

Thanks. The green was connected to a green with a white stripe on the camper end. I would assume the grounds are all correct because the blinkers and brakes signals work just not running lights





Kyle

 

RDsStudio59

Well-known member

• Mar 14, 2019

• #13

KyleC said:

Thanks. The green was connected to a green with a white stripe on the camper end. I would assume the grounds are all correct because the blinkers and brakes signals work just not running lights





Kyle

Click to expand...

Not necessarily. If the ground is open or has high resistance the brake and turn lights can back feed through the tail (running) lamp circuit to ground.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

KyleC

Well-known member

• Mar 14, 2019

• #14

Layman's terms?!? You lost me at not necessarily....





Kyle

 

N

NP_Chief

Well-known member

• Mar 15, 2019

• #15

RDsStudio59 said:

Not necessarily. If the ground is open or has high resistance the brake and turn lights can back feed through the tail (running) lamp circuit to ground.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

To test the ground, you're gonna need a volt meter instead of a test light. When you say running lights, are you talking about the amber ones on the front and side of the trailer? If so, you might check the bulbs and connections at the lights in front. I have seen these run in series... Like Christmas lights where the power is run through the lights so, if on goes out, the ones behind it loose power.

 

KyleC

Well-known member

• Mar 15, 2019

• #16

All the bulbs were working fine when they come on. Problem is, it's also the tail lights that don't come on, not just the roof Amber.

I Can get a voltmeter today from my neighbor. Could you tell me what I'm checking for and how to check it?

Again,. I love this app. Thank you all for your knowledge! I'm a builder by trade I can do anything on a house, but this is proving to be a whole different animal!





Kyle

 

RDsStudio59

Well-known member

• Mar 15, 2019

• #17

I'm on the road right now but I can try to help you out a little later.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

KyleC

Well-known member

• Mar 15, 2019

• #18

Perfect thanks!





Kyle

 

KyleC

Well-known member

• Mar 15, 2019

• #19

Okay adding the wrinkle back in there... When I hooked my work truck to the camper, I plugged the 7-way plug in. after remembering to twist the wire nut back together everything works fine... So it's got to be the van but I don't know what else to check?





Kyle

 

N

NP_Chief

Well-known member

• Mar 15, 2019

• #20

Crazy question... Did you try the van after twisting them back together? You may have fixed your issue by redoing the connection.