All right, today we are going to show you part number TC-701 from Bully. This adapter is actually a tester that will actually test between the truck side and also test on the trailer side. This will work on 4-pole and 5-pole trailers. We will go ahead and use it in a typical application here and show you how it works.
To use this adapter, it is really easy. First off, you notice there is a slide switch on the very bottom here. There is a slide switch that goes to the trailer side when you want to test that side. The other slide goes to the truck, if you want to test that side. The little slide switch is right here on the bottom. And if you want to use it as a plain adapter, just leave the switch in the middle, where it says tester off, and you can use it as a 7- , 2- , 4- , or 5-pole adapter.
All right, we will begin by testing the truck itself. We will install it in the truck. And we will not hook up the trailer just yet. We will go ahead and just test the truck. First we will start off with the running lights and then we will do the turn signals and the brakes. Every time the circuit is working, a beep will come on. We will do the running lights and listen for the beep. OK. And then we will switch the key to the on position in the car and try the turn signals. First we will do left turn. OK, that is working. All right, next we will do the right turn. OK, that is working. And now we will test the brakes. OK, you have brake lights.
Now, we will go ahead and switch over to the trailer side and do the same thing again. To test for the trailer, we need to switch our adapter to the trailer side and we will plug in our trailer. Note that we only have a 4-pole here, and it will work on a 5-pole plug. And now we can go ahead and do the same functions as before to test and make sure the circuits are all working on the trailer. Now, one thing to note is that the trailer lights will not light up while this test is working. OK, first the running lights. Now, if you are ready to go down the road and you need to use the adapter, just go ahead and set the switch to tester off. That will be in the center position. All right, first off we will start with the left turn, then we will do our right turn, and then we will do our brake lights. And there you have it for part number TC-701.
This Old Trailer: Repairing a Trailer Light Wiring Problem
Today on This Old Trailer, we are going to fix some lighting problems. Now what is happening on this trailer is that one side of the taillights is not working at all and the passenger side sometimes works and sometimes does not. So the first thing we need to do is go ahead and check to make sure we have power going all of the way back. That means we will start from the front and check our way on to the back. The first thing we need to do is go ahead and apply power. We are going to start checking our power from the plug on back. What we are going to do is actually take out the screw that holds the connector together. We are going to push it inside then we are going to pull it apart. Then we can see the contacts on the inside. We are going to turn on the running lights and we are going to hit the brakes for the taillights themselves. So, we should have three wires hot. We will go ahead and check that. It looks like we have power for a second here and it went away. We will try the other two. It looks like the same thing. So it looks like we are dealing with some multiple shorts. So we know it is something definitely on the trailer at this point. So we will go ahead and go back to the taillight and start doing a visual inspection. 0:57
This Old Trailer : Replacing a 7-Pole Connector
Today on This Old Trailer we are going to diagnose some wiring problems. The problem with this trailer is that when you plug the trailer into the vehicle none of the lights work. It could be a variety of problems but the first thing we are going to do is start from the front and work our way back. Just to make sure there is nothing wrong with the towing vehicle use an independent power source to power up the trailer just to make sure. Then we will turn on the lights and check in the back. We have got our power supply on and it looks like there is nothing working in the back and also it looks like the running lights were not working either. Lets go back up to the front and check the connector. 00:33
This Old Trailer: Replacing a 6-Pole Connector
Today on This Old Gooseneck Trailer we are going to install part number PK11604 from Pollak. This is their 6-pole connector and we are going to replace the one that is originally on this trailer right now. Now, what has happened to this one is it has been basically pulled apart a few times and basically the insides are getting worn out and some of the screws a striped out. So, we are just going to go through it and replace it. The first thing we want to do is go ahead and take out this screw and this screw here. This little screw right here, this is kind of a clamp that holds the cable in place. Then this little set screw holds the inside in place and in alignment. OK, let us push that on out. Now, when you go ahead and take these wires apart, note which wires go to what. On the inside of the connector they are all labeled left turn, right turn, TM for trailer marker lights, S is for stop which will be for brakes typically and you have the A in the middle for auxiliary for whatever you want to use and then you have GD for ground. 0:55
Testing for a Correct Ground Connection Demonstration
Today we are going to show you a little bit on wiring. Basically, a wiring 101 or what to look for when you hardwire into a vehicle. Hardwire means actually getting to the wires and splicing into them and making a connection. The first thing you want to do when you hardwire a vehicle is you want to make sure you are grounded and get a test. Make sure your tester is working fine. On some cars you will see this on one of the wires. Being the same color like these black wires. You will see a lot of them ran to a screw inside the body here. Chances are that is going to be your ground. You can actually use that ground for your light tester. What we mean by a light tester is a device like this right here. Basically, this connects to the ground and what this device does is this hooks around the wire you want to test and you push it together and it precises the wire and touches the copper wire inside, creates a circuit and lights up when you have power in that wire.
Circuit Testing for Vehicle Wiring
Today we are going to show you a little bit of wiring. Basically, like a wiring 101 and what to look for when you are going to hardwire into a vehicle. And what hardwire means is actually getting to the wires and splicing into them making a connection. We will go ahead and do our test and ground it. Instead of piercing the wires, if you have a junction that is easy to get to go ahead and pull it apart. And instead of piercing the wire, go ahead and test on the inside here. Just check each individual contact here until you hit something. Then make sure you actually have your running lights on and then go ahead and turn them back off. It also proves to us that our ground is good and it is working with our electrical system here.
5 Wire vs 4 Wire System Demonstration
To tell if your vehicle has a 4 or 5 wire system what you want to do is have a friend go ahead and step on the brakes. And note which lights come on. Now what you want to do then is go ahead and turn on the turn signal while holding the brake down and turn on the right turn signal. As you an see you have your brake lights on and you see the amber turn signal going on to let you know you have a 5 wire system. Now on this vehicle here we have a 4 wire system. The way to double check that is go ahead and turn on one of the turn signals like the right one here. Note which bulb is burning and which filament on the inside and turn that off. Then go ahead and hit your brakes. And you notice here, it is one in the same. So that means your turn signal and your brake lights are one in the same and you just use a regular 4 wire system you do not need a converter.
