Cordless Circuit Tester

Ask the Experts about this Performance Tool Wiring

• Troubleshooting Trailer Brake Lights and Turn Signals Not Working After Installing 7 Way on Vehicle
  If you've just installed a 7 way connector like the # ETBC7, you'll want to start by testing the plug on the vehicle using a circuit tester like the # PTW2979 to make sure that each pin is operating properly; you can refer to the photo attached or a helpful article that I've linked for information on testing the circuits. I would also recommend making sure that your ground wire on this harness is firmly grounded to a paint and rust free spot, as ground wires are the most common cause for...
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• How To Determine How to Wire New Lights
  Wire colors are not universal so the only way to determine how to wire up your lights is to use Circuit Tester # PTW2979 to find out the functions of your wires and hook up your lights accordingly. I could not find an order number for you so I can't determine which lights you purchased from us that you are looking for specific help with. For example, the LED RV Tail Light # RVSTLB61 and # RVSTLB60 have a white wire for a ground wire, a green wire for the tail light and black wire for...
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• Troubleshooting No Trailer Turn/Brake Signals with 2007 GMC Acadia
  I do agree that the wiring issue you are experiencing is somewhere on your Acadia. You mentioned that the Acadia didn't come with the tow package but it does have the trailer wiring and hitch. This means you likely have a T-Connector wiring harness installed such as the Tekonsha # 118451 that plugs into factory ports behind the tail lights. What I recommend doing is checking the white ground wire coming from the harness. Make sure this is still securely attached to a clean, bare metal...
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• Finding the Stop Light Switch Wire on a 2014 Volvo S60
  Typically the location of the stop light switch is up and behind the brake pedal but you would need to use a circuit tester like part # PTW2979 to verify which one it is. The wire you are looking for will show power only when the brake pedal is pressed. If you check out the installation video (23:40 mark) that I attached you can see this testing being done on a 2012 Volvo XC90. If you don't already have a brake controller then I recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 # 90195. This is...
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• How to Determine What Wire Functions are on 2007 Ford F-250
  If you take a look at the accompanying diagram, which is from our linked help article on wiring, you can see the common wire colors used by manufacturers. I want to stress that the only way to know for certain the functions of each wire on the 7-way of your 2007 Ford F-250 is to use a circuit tester such as # PTW2979. There are a couple reasons for this, notably because there is not a standard color for 7-ways in regards to function, and also because wiring may have been changed out...
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• Troubleshooting Trailer Back-Up Lights not Working
  It could be a fuse that is causing this issue, and that's actually the first thing I recommend checking; you will need to take a look at your owner's manual to locate any trailer fuses or relays and ensure they are all there and in working order. If they are, in order to determine the specific problem you will need to purchase a circuit tester if you do not have one - the very handy Cordless Circuit Tester # PTW2979 would be my strong recommendation due to how easy it is to use - and test...
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• Troubleshooting Running Light Not Working on Trailer
  I was unable to find the wiring harness you purchased from us to give you any specificity about that, but I can give you some general troubleshooting tips which should remedy the malfunction of your trailer clearance lights not working. My best guess is a bad ground, as this is the issue virtually every time, so you'll also need to make sure your grounds are attached to bare metal surfaces and free of any paint, dirt or corrosion. I'm guessing this will clear up the problem. If it doesn't,...
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• Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes Not Working on Ford Truck
  If your trailer brakes are not working there are a few troubleshooting steps to take. Start by testing the brake controller itself; sever the blue wire a couple inches from the back of your controller. Then use circuit tester # PTW2979 to test the end of the blue wire coming out of the controller. It should only have power when you apply the manual override; if it shows power at idle then there is an issue with the controller and it will need to be replaced. Often, corrosion or dirt...
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• Troubleshooting Brake Controller not Working on 2006 GMC Sierra
  There are a number of troubleshooting steps you can undertake in order to try and determine what the issue is with the brake controller on your 2006 GMC Sierra To test the brake controller itself, sever the blue wire a couple inches from the back of your controller. Then use a circuit tester such as # PTW2979 to test the end of the blue wire coming out of the controller. It should only have power when you apply the manual override; if it shows power at idle then there is an issue with...
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• Running Lights are Not Working
  Without know the year/make/model of your vehicle I won't be able to tell you exactly where the fuse panel is, but generally there is a fuse panel under the hood and then another one on the inside of the vehicle on the driver's side. You should be able to find a list of what fuses are for which functions in your owner's manual (if you don't have a physical copy you should be able to find one online). You will also want to check the grounds and connectors on your vehicle and trailer to...
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• Troubleshooting Tips for No Lights on Trailer
  So there's a number of potential reasons why your trailer lights may not be working, and I'll go over the troubleshooting steps you'll need to take in order to try and find the problem. The first thing to do is take a look at your owner's manual to locate any trailer fuses or relays and ensure they are all there and in working order. If they are, in order to determine the specific problem you will need to purchase a circuit tester if you do not have one - the very handy Cordless Circuit...
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• Only Running Lights Are Working on Trailer
  Since only the running lights are working on your trailer, the first thing to do is take a look at your owner's manual to locate any trailer fuses or relays and ensure they are all there and in working order. If they are, in order to determine the specific problem you will need to purchase a circuit tester if you do not have one - the very handy Cordless Circuit Tester # PTW2979 would be my strong recommendation due to how easy it is to use - and test the connector on your vehicle after...
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• Can Performance Tool Wiring # PTW2979 be Used on More than Trailer Applications
  The Cordless Circuit Tester # PTW2979 is not limited to only trailer circuit testing. You can use it in basically any application that has voltage between 3 volt to 28 volt. I attached a review video for this for you to check out as well.
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• Troubleshooting No Trailer Turn or Brake Lights with 2015 Ford F-250
  There are a number of possible reasons as to why the trailer turn and brake signals aren't working with your 2015 Ford F-250, and depending on how you're currently testing the lights the issue could either be on the truck or trailer side. To start I recommend using a circuit tester like # PTW2979 to test the 7-Way on your F-250. Test the brake/turn signal pins on the connector while you have a buddy flip on those functions in the cab. If you get power on the tester you know the problem...
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• Trailer Lights Work But Brakes are Not Working
  If you have a 7-Way on both your trailer and tow vehicle you will first want to make sure that you have a brake controller, like the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 # 90195. A brake controller is what is used to send power from the tow vehicle and tells the trailer how much braking power is needed. If you do not have one, just let me know what the year/make/model is of your tow vehicle and I will be happy to help you make sure you have the correct equipment. If you do already have a brake controller...
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• Troubleshooting Electric Brakes Not Working
  Although I'm not quite sure what you are referencing when you say your ground is not working there is a way you can find out if the issue is on the brake controller, truck, or trailer. To test the brake controller, sever the blue wire a couple inches from the back of your controller. Then use a circuit tester such as # PTW2979 to test the end of the blue wire coming out of the controller. It should only have power when you apply the manual override; if it shows power at idle then there...
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• Troubleshooting Trailer Lights not Working Properly
  The first thing to do is take a look at your owner's manual to locate any trailer fuses or relays and ensure they are all there and in working order. If they are, in order to determine the specific problem you will need to purchase a circuit tester if you do not have one - the very handy Cordless Circuit Tester # PTW2979 would be my strong recommendation due to how easy it is to use - and test the connector on your vehicle after disconnecting it from your trailer. Check the wiring going...
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• Third Brake Light Wire Location for a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  Sometimes there is a blue wire in the loom of the 7-Way but if you are not seeing one that likely means that there is an orange wire under the dash on the driver's side of your 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 that you need to use. This should be the CHMSL wire and carries the stop light signal that you would need for a 3rd brake light. I would try locating this wire and testing it with a circuit tester like part # PTW2979 before routing wire for your application.
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• Trailer Blinker and Turn Signals Only Work on One Side
  Since it sounds like you were trying to match up colors during your install I believe you are correct that you wired it incorrectly. Although there are common wiring colors, there are no rules saying that everything has to be wired using any specific colors. This goes for both vehicle and trailer side. If you connect wire colors instead of checking their functions you could end up with an incorrect wiring system. What I recommend doing is using a Circuit Tester # PTW2979 to test the...
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• Troubleshooting Trailer Lights That Won't Come On
  There are a plethora of potential issues so there are a number of troubleshooting steps I can offer. The first thing to do is take a look at your owner's manual to locate any trailer fuses or relays and ensure they are all there and in working order. If they are, in order to determine the specific problem you will need to purchase a circuit tester if you do not have one - the very handy Cordless Circuit Tester # PTW2979 would be my strong recommendation due to how easy it is to use - and...
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• Troubleshooting Trailer Lights Not Working With 2019 Chevy Express Van
  I can give you a number of troubleshooting steps as it seems like there are lights everywhere not working, though it was difficult to differentiate exactly which ones so here the steps you'll need to take. The first thing to do is take a look at your owner's manual to your 2019 Chevrolet Express Van's owner's manual to locate any trailer fuses or relays and ensure they are all there and in working order. If they are, in order to determine the specific problem you will need to purchase...
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• Why Are Trailer Running Lights Coming on When Brakes are Applied
  You are correct that the issue is on your trailer and based on what you are describing the circuits are somehow swapped when you installed your connector; unfortunately, I was unable to find your order number to see what you purchased from us for the install that may have caused this to happen. It is also possible that the brake and running light circuits shorted out and surged together. Either way, you will need to trace your wiring back, particularly at the running lights to see where...
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• How to Determine Wire Functions on Trucks
  What happens on some later model year Ford trucks is that the 12 volt output to the 7-way is turned off when in park or even during gear shifting. The easiest way to test this is the Pollak 7-Way to RV Socket LED Circuit Tester # PK12741 which you just plug in and which lights up in regards to each function on your F-250's 7-way, including the 12 volt. Otherwise you would simply use Cordless Circuit Tester # PTW2979 to determine which of the pins is the auxiliary 12 volt. Additionally,...
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• Troubleshooting No Running Lights on Trailer
  There are a few common causes to just one function on the trailer not working such as the running lights in your case. A good place to start any troubleshooting process like this one is to test the connector on your tow vehicle with a circuit tester like # PTW2979. Test the running lights pin on the connector with this function activated on the vehicle. If you get power at the pin then you know the issue is on the trailer. If you don't get any power there then the issue is actually...
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• Side Marker Lights not Working on One Side of Trailer
  I do have ideas, which is that you have a ground problem or a short in your wiring. If the marker lights are okay on one side but not the other, your signals are getting to the trailer from the tow vehicle, so we can rule the tow vehicle's wiring out. A short or damaged jumper wire would be the most likely problem. I have added links to help articles on both trailer wiring and troubleshooting trailer wiring I recommend checking out.
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• Troubleshooting Intermittent LED Tail Lights
  The problem you are experiencing with intermittent LED tail light functionality is very likely because you have a poor ground, which can cause all sorts of funky problems. What you should do is make absolutely sure your grounds are attached to bare metal surfaces and free of any paint, dirt or corrosion. If you have a good ground you will want to move on to your connectors and check them for corrosion, which can be green or white in color. A build-up of corrosion can interfere with...
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• Troubleshooting No 12V Power at 7-Way on 2014 Ram Truck
  If you aren't getting any power at the 12V pin on the 7-Way connector (which should be at the 1 o'clock position) for your 2014 Ram then a missing or blown fuse is the most likely cause. I took a look at the online owner's manual for your truck and it looks like there should be a 30 amp fuse located in the F30 position inside the power distribution box (under the hood near the battery). Check to make sure this fuse is present and in good condition. If this doesn't resolve your issue...
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• Troubleshooting Trailer Wiring With 2008 Ford F-450
  For the issue with your running lights test the connector on your vehicle with Circuit Tester # PTW2979 or a similar one after disconnecting it from your trailer. If the signals going to your harness are okay, you'll need to test the signals coming out of the harness, and if they are correct then your issue is likely going to be with the trailer side wiring. You will also want to check both your vehicle and trailer connectors for corrosion, which can be green or white in color. A build-up...
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• Can Brakes be Added to a Trailer That Doesnt Have Any
  It is possible to add brakes to a trailer that currently doesn't have any. The place where you need to start is with the brake mounting flange. If your trailer axle(s) currently has brake mounting flanges then just let me know what the weight capacity is for your axle and I can let you know what parts you need. Otherwise you will need to have some welded to your axle. We do have options for new axles that have electric brakes already installed if you'd rather swap out your entire axle (see...
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• Troubleshooting No Right Stop/Turn Lights on P.J. Trailer
  Trailer wiring can be a little frustrating to work with at times because there isn't a specific color wire that is "standard" for different circuits. Typically the right (passenger) side stop/turn will be on a green wire but that isn't always the case. To determine if the problem is on your tow vehicle or your trailer I recommend using a circuit tester # PTW2979 or a multimeter # PTW1714 to ensure that the connector on your tow vehicle is sending power to the right stop/turn circuit. If...
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