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Trailer wiring mystery

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Rick Prentice
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Re: Trailer wiring mystery

Postby Rick Prentice » Sun Jan 10, 2021 9:13 am

put some thin strips of aluminum foil on the pins to locate the problem pin. Something tells me its a fitment issue and when you plug it in it shifts one pin alittle and breaks contact.

I have faith in you Gary, you'll discover whats wrong.
When I told my dad I've been misplacing things and doing stupid stuff----His reply---"It only gets better"

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Re: Trailer wiring mystery

Postby CharlieK » Sun Jan 10, 2021 10:57 am

can you use a regu;ar test light instead of a led one?
get er done; life is good

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Re: Trailer wiring mystery

Postby Jim Becker » Sun Jan 10, 2021 3:02 pm

I'm thinking down a path similar to what Rick said. There may be some minor production flaws or detail design difference in both the Silverado socket and the LED tester plug that makes them incompatible. For example, it could be something like a slightly short contact combined with a shoulder on one piece that prevents a full depth engagement. Since none of the LEDs lights, it seems likely to be a problem with the ground contact between the two parts.

I suppose you have already tried plugging the tester in, turning on something that should light it, then pushing in hard on the tester while wiggling it in various directions to see if you get a blink.

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Re: Trailer wiring mystery

Postby John *.?-!.* cub owner » Sun Jan 10, 2021 3:38 pm

Gary, The missing ground I am referring to would be the truck connector, not the extension. I ran into that on my Ford Ranger, what should be the ground on the factory plug was blank, the ground had to dome from an external lead in the extension. The reason I came across that was The external lead in my extension was connected to a bolt that had become rusty. I spent about half a day chasing that.
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Re: Trailer wiring mystery

Postby muleboss » Sun Jan 10, 2021 5:34 pm

Gary. Take me back to the brake control. Does it light up with nothing hooked up. I have a2011 Silverado that when the trailer is not hooked up the lite on the control does not lite up. Maybe your connector needs more amp draw restriction to make led tester work.
Just shooting in the dark.

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Re: Trailer wiring mystery

Postby Gary Dotson » Mon Jan 11, 2021 9:03 am

Yes, I have considered the pin issue. The issue is there with both the original and the replacement connector. I've certainly tried as you mention, Jim! Yes Charlie, I can and have used the non led test light, that's how I knew everything was actually working, but that's not the point. I have a bench test, in mind, that I'm going to do this morning. The original connector (that didn't light the tester) connected to my bench battery and see if it lights the tester, then. My next (on vehicle) test is to make up some leads, to connect to the pins inside the connector, the other end inserted into the tester. That will prove if, or not there is a pin issue. John, I already know there is a quality, 0 ohm ground present, and as I've mentioned, the trailer performs as it's supposed to. I'm hoping todays test will reveal that said ground is not reaching the tester. In my mind, nothing else could cause this. Muleboss, my Prodigy controller does light up a small led when no trailer is connected. It works properly and even so would not explain none of the tester functions working. But keep shootin in the dark, still lookin for the silver bullet. I'll let you guys know the result of today's testing.

Gary Dotson
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49 Leader "D" (Princess)
49 Leader "D" very rough
48 Leader "D" unrestored
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Re: Trailer wiring mystery

Postby Gary Dotson » Mon Jan 11, 2021 11:11 am

O K, the bench test revealed the issue. Two minor details tripped me up! the first, is that the orientation of the connector is such that the trailer plug inserts upside down. The second detail, is that the guide on the tester, that should insure that it can only be plugged in correctly is near non-existent. If I plug it in upside down and view it with a mirror, it works fine! Boy, do I feel dumb! But in all fairness, who would have thought "A" that the connector would have been designed that way and "2" that the tester could even be plugged in upside down. Well, there had to be a logical explanation and there it is! Operator Error!!! It's too early to celebrate with a cold one but after a while! The good news is that I won't be waking in the middle of the night stewing over it.

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Re: Trailer wiring mystery

Postby Don McCombs » Mon Jan 11, 2021 1:26 pm

Glad you got it figured out, Gary.
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Re: Trailer wiring mystery

Postby outdoors4evr » Tue Jan 12, 2021 7:01 am

Wish I had read this sooner. Over the Christmas break I struggled with this issue with my trailer lights. I was using an adapter - 7 round to 4-flat (installed upside down). There is a key on the adapter, but the socket allows it to fully install with the key up or down.
Image
https://www.autozone.com/trailer-wiring-and-electrical/vehicle-to-trailer-adapter-and-extension/hopkins-7-blade-to-4-flat-adapter/143545_0_0?cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:GEN:71700000070781299&gclid=Cj0KCQiArvX_BRCyARIsAKsnTxOHeJkWCfD3uIlir0_bIkwyV2mv178zo3YwRa9ZJHN3hBy7I8vTuH0aAt-CEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

The right brake light and turn signal worked fine. The left brake light and turn signal would not work at all. The side marker lights would not work at all. After much connector cleaning, light disassembly, bulb checking, trailer ground cleanup, and frustration, I drove it to my destination. It took hours at my destination and got dark. While loading the trailer, I was wishing I had brought my spare magnetic lights to put on the trailer. On a whim, I pulled out the adapter, and tried to turn it over. Low and behold, it plugged in and my marker lights lit up.

Gotta find a way to label that darn adapter.
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Gary Dotson
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Joined: Thu Aug 03, 2006 6:20 am
Zip Code: 43358
Tractors Owned: 48 Cub Diesel (Cubota)
53 Cockshutt 20 restored (Shooter)
52 Cockshutt 20 unrestored
47 Leader "B" (Herckie)
49 Leader "D" (Princess)
49 Leader "D" very rough
48 Leader "D" unrestored
Kubota B6200E
Kubota B6200HST
Kubota B8200HST-D
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: OH West Mansfield

Re: Trailer wiring mystery

Postby Gary Dotson » Tue Jan 12, 2021 8:13 am

The connector on my truck is the one with the 7 pin and also the 4 pin flat. That same connector fits late model G.M., Ford and Ram pick-ups, it's hard to believe they designed it upside down. No problem with the trailer, the key would not allow it to insert wrong but I had to twist the cord around in an unusual manner. I was just figuring it was because it was cold and stiff. I added material to the key, on that tester, it won't fool me again. It's good to know I'm not the only one, though.

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Don McCombs
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1977 International Cub w/FH
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1948 Farmall Super A
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Location: MD, Deep Creek Lake

Re: Trailer wiring mystery

Postby Don McCombs » Tue Jan 12, 2021 8:14 am

Paint a dot on the up side.
Don McCombs
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The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don't tell you what to see.
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Rick Prentice
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Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2004 7:24 am
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Tractors Owned: 47(circle cub),48(Floyd backhoe),49,,51,54 and another 55
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Location: OH, Holland
Contact:

Re: Trailer wiring mystery

Postby Rick Prentice » Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:14 am

A fitting problem for an "UPSIDE DOWN" year
When I told my dad I've been misplacing things and doing stupid stuff----His reply---"It only gets better"


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