Troubleshooting Hopkins # 31235 Trailer Wiring Harness Installed on 2005 Chevy Equinox

Updated 12/14/2015 | Published 12/12/2015

Question:

I have a 2005 chevy equinox factory wire trailer wiring using Hopkins 31235 kit. Up till this October trailer lights worked. Now I do not have power at the 4 way plug come from car. In the spear tire well where the black junction box there is power in the brown ,green and yellow wires. but on the out side the same wires do not have power. on in side the red and the red white wire do not have power Nothing has been done to create this problem.

asked by: Ronnie P

Expert Reply:

From what you describe, it sounds like there's two possible causes to what you've got going on. Either the fuse that protects the inline fuse on the circuit that provides power to the taillight converter box has blown and needs to be replaced, or the converter box itself has shorted out and needs to be replaced.

Check the inline fuse on the wiring harness, and replace it if it's blown. If the fuse isn't blown, then the converter is bad and needs to be replaced.

Once the fuse or the converter has been replaced, you'll want to find out what caused the fuse to blow or the converter to short out before plugging in the trailer, otherwise you'll continue to blow fuses or short converters. Beginning at the trailer connector, examine it for damage or corrosion. Follow each circuit back to its lamp, looking for pinched wires or wires with cracked or worn insulation that would allow the copper wire to short out on the trailer frame. Once you locate and repair the short, you should be good to go.

expert reply by: Mike L