Is the Center Pin on a 7-Way Trailer Connector for Reverse Lights

Updated 04/05/2017 | Published 04/04/2017

Question:

Is the middle prong on the factory wiring, for the back up lights?

asked by: Bob

Expert Reply:

On most vehicles the center pin on a 7-Way trailer connector is indeed for reverse lights. Sometimes it can be an auxiliary 12-volt source (in addition to the 12 volt that is already there) but this is not all that common.

You can test it by using a circuit tester such as # PTW2993. Chock the wheels, have someone sit in the vehicle with the emergency brake on, their foot on the brake, and then put the vehicle in reverse while you test the center pin. If it lights up the tester when the vehicle is in reverse and goes off when the vehicle is not in reverse, then it is a reverse light circuit.

expert reply by: Michael H