Troubleshooting Smoke and Melting Trailer Wiring on a 2002 Jeep Liberty After 4-Way Install

Updated 09/29/2014 | Published 09/28/2014

Products Featured in This Question

T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector

(79)

$73.52

Question:

Looking to Purchase Trailer Wiring Harness for my Jeep Liberty- Question is-When I purchased my Jeep Used, There was one already on there But Not Plugged into Lights in Rear- When I plugged it In It started Smoking on my drivers side Taillight, And Then It started blowing fuses-Question is The one that was on there Didnt have the Wire going too the Battery-nothing at all -is that the reason why It did what it did-Is it necessary to Have the ONE with the extra wire coming out of Converter-to go to The battery for Power?? Please Let me know Thanks

asked by: Alan

Expert Reply:

Most likely the problem you described is from a short on the trailer wiring. Running a powered converter is a great idea as it protects the taillight circuits of the vehicle it is installed on. But if you are seeing smoke, melted wire, and fuses blowing immediately the problem is a short somewhere on the wiring that is WAY overdrawing the circuits.

If the smoke started after plugging the harness into your trailer then the problem is the trailer wiring, if the smoke started after plugging the harness into your vehicle then the problem is the harness itself. Either way you will need to inspect the wiring looking for any cut or exposed wire touching bare metal and fix as necessary.

I attached an FAQ on 4-way installs for you to check out as well.

For a replacement harness I would go with the # 118524 that you referenced since it is circuit protected.

expert reply by: Jameson C