How To Troubleshoot 4-Way Trailer Wiring

Updated 07/14/2015 | Published 07/11/2015

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Question:

Hello and I am trying to locate a ground to short on my four way trailer wires.

asked by: Rod

Expert Reply:

A bad or loose ground can really wreak havoc on trailer wiring. On a typical installation, you will want to use a circuit tester like part # PTW2993 to check each of the pins on your harness at the back of your vehicle for function.

The ground wire is typically white as shown in the attached photo. You want to make sure the ground wire is attached to a clean, bare metal surface.

On the trailer side you can check the wiring at the back of the trailer harness when it is attached to the vehicle harness. Check each wire for function and then check the wiring on the trailer for any loose connections, signs of corrosion or damage and fix as needed. You want to check the wiring at each of the lights for signs of damage or corrosion.

I have attached a helpful article that explains how to troubleshoot trailer wiring you can check out.

expert reply by: Jeffrey L