Trailer Running Lights Keep Blowing Fuses when Turned On

Updated 02/16/2016 | Published 02/15/2016

Question:

Have a homesteader enclosed cargo trailer. All of a sudden when I turn on running lights they dim and immediately blow the fuse.Brake and turn signals and brakes are working fine?What should I do?

asked by: Todd L

Expert Reply:

It sounds like there is a short circuit that is overloading the running light circuit in the tow package wiring on your tow vehicle. The most likely culprit is a dirty or corroded trailer connector on the vehicle or trailer if not both.

The first thing I recommend is to make sure the truck and trailer side connectors are clean and free of corrosion inside, where the wires attach, and outside on the pins. You can also check for any damaged or pinched wires on the truck and on the trailer and repair as needed.

If a wire going to any of the running lights is exposed and touching metal it will cause a short that could blow the fuse.

The other possibility is that if you added any lights to the trailer that use the running light circuit the extra power draw could be too much for the tow package wiring. The fix for this is to switch to LED lights because they draw a fraction of the power of incandescent lights. I have included a link to the LED trailer lights we carry.

expert reply by: Michael H