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Posting a reply to: Wiring Troubles

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[QUOTE] - 8/21/2001  3:50 PM

1st - 
If you aren't blowing fuses on the truck when you are trailerless, then chances are the truck wiring is fine.

2nd - 
When trying to find the short start at the front and work back.  Make sure you start at the plug connections and go from there.  You already said that you checked all visible wires.  I would then check anywhere where the wires come into or go out of the trailer.  Make sure that there is no metal on wire contact.  If there aren't any rubber grommets there that's a good place to reinspect for worn wires.  Then continue back all the way to the conections where the wires are connected to the bulb sockets.  If you still can't find the short I would determined which wires were for the running lights and trace them back again.

2 things to note.  If the fuses blow immediately then it's a dead short.  The wires are worn enough that they are in contact with a ground somewhere.  If the fuses don't blow immediately then the short is probably a small worn spot that when bounced contacts the ground and blows.

A circuit tester will help if the short is a dead short.  It won't do a whole lot of good if it's an intermittent short unless the short happens to be active at the time you test it.

Just by the way you are asking my guess is a worn wire in the trailer somewhere that when bounced blows the fuse.

Also, check any side marker lamps, the yellow ones on the side, and ID lamps, the three on the back of the trailer, to make sure there isn't a worn wire leading to them.  They should both be on the running lamp circuit.

If all else fails, it doesn't cost a whole lot to run new wires.  Just some time.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck and Be Safe,
Scott[/QUOTE]

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You are replying to:

Posted 8/21/2001 3:50 PM (#10836)
Subject: Wiring Troubles

1st -
If you aren't blowing fuses on the truck when you are trailerless, then chances are the truck wiring is fine.

2nd -
When trying to find the short start at the front and work back. Make sure you start at the plug connections and go from there. You already said that you checked all visible wires. I would then check anywhere where the wires come into or go out of the trailer. Make sure that there is no metal on wire contact. If there aren't any rubber grommets there that's a good place to reinspect for worn wires. Then continue back all the way to the conections where the wires are connected to the bulb sockets. If you still can't find the short I would determined which wires were for the running lights and trace them back again.

2 things to note. If the fuses blow immediately then it's a dead short. The wires are worn enough that they are in contact with a ground somewhere. If the fuses don't blow immediately then the short is probably a small worn spot that when bounced contacts the ground and blows.

A circuit tester will help if the short is a dead short. It won't do a whole lot of good if it's an intermittent short unless the short happens to be active at the time you test it.

Just by the way you are asking my guess is a worn wire in the trailer somewhere that when bounced blows the fuse.

Also, check any side marker lamps, the yellow ones on the side, and ID lamps, the three on the back of the trailer, to make sure there isn't a worn wire leading to them. They should both be on the running lamp circuit.

If all else fails, it doesn't cost a whole lot to run new wires. Just some time.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck and Be Safe,
Scott