Question Was Asked By - Mike

My Radio Clock Goes Out when Brakes are Applied

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Question:

I installed a wiring harness on my 2001 Ford Escape but I have noticed a problem. When I apply the brake the radio clock goes out & when I use the left turn signal it flashes. The right turn signal seem ok. Got any advice?

asked by: Mike

Expert Reply:

You may have a ground problem. In your situation, you have a ground that is strong enough to provide some lighting functions but not all. This is called a weak ground. When the taillights and brake lights are used at the same time, it creates the maximum amp load of the lights on the trailer. If a ground problem exists, it will show at this point. The places to check grounds are as follows:
1. The connector on the vehicle should have a ground wire secured tightly to a clean surface on the frame. A wire attached to the body or a surface with undercoating or rust can cause a ground problem
2. The connector on the trailer should have a wire from the connector secured tightly to a clean surface on the trailer.
3. Each tail lamp assembly at the back of the trailer also must be grounded. This is done in one of two ways. The first is by a separate wire coming from the back of each tail lamp assembly being secured to the frame. The second, and most popular, ground is achieved through the bolts of the tail lamp assembly. In this case, the lamp housing must be attached to the frame of the trailer. If the lights are mounted on wood or PVC material, the light will not receive ground.
4. The last possibility to explore is in the trailer design. If the trailer has a tilting bed, it is possible the ground is not passing through the pivot point resulting in a poor ground. The solution to this is to route a ground wire from the connector at the front of the trailer to each lamp assembly at the back of the trailer bypassing this pivot point.

expert reply by: Sarah

Question:

I used a jumper wire last night to a good ground and this did not solve the problem. Im thinking a Modulite power supply might help. Can I wire this directly into a after market trailer wiring harness instead of splicing into my vehicle wiring harness? Or does it make a difference?

asked by: Mike

Expert Reply:

We do offer two plug in applications for the 2001 Ford Escape, parts 118343 and 30445.
You would use harness 118343 if your Escape does not have a tow package.
If your Ford Escape has a tow package, you would use harness 30445.
You would not have to do any splicing for either of these harnesses, because they would simply plug in. Overloading would not be a problem either, because the converter boxes are circuit protected.

expert reply by: Sarah

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