Lighted Hitch Cover Remains On with Vehicle Lights Off

Updated 05/02/2018 | Published 04/30/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector

(35)

$96.60

Pollak Medium-Duty Toggle Switch - SPST- On-Off - 12 Volt - 20 Amp - 11/16" Handle

(23)

$7.04

Question:

I recently added a hitch to my 2016 Kia Sportage. I bought a hitch light cover that is now plugged into the hitch. The light stays on all the time very bright too. I have to disconnect the 4 part plug for the light to come off. Although I did that, there are three green lights that are still glowing from the 4 part plug. I have the lights inside the truck set at auto. Is that wrong? What can I do to have the hitch light cover working correctly? Thanks for all the help you can give. I really do not want to go back to the installer too much time.

asked by: Bernadine D

Expert Reply:

A lighted hitch cover such as # CR-007 uses the same type of 4-pole wiring as a trailer that has basic lighting functions. This type of wiring set-up provides brake, turn and tail light functions.

This 4-pole wiring harness, such as # 118526 and # C56251, will pass a very small amount of power even without any vehicle lighting functions activated. If you have a hitch cover that uses highly efficient LEDs instead of bulbs, like # CR-017, it may illuminate just from the small amount of residual power that gets through the harness. This would be why the small green LEDs on the plug are lit too.

You can try switching the vehicle lights to manual operation to see if this corrects the issue. If not you could use a small switch like # PK34571 on the white ground wire for the harness to disconnect the ground when you want the light to be off.

expert reply by: Adam R