Troubleshooting Trailer Running Lights

Updated 07/02/2018 | Published 06/28/2018

Question:

The running lights on my travel trailer have quit working...but not completely. The lights closest to the hitch on both the right and left are about 75 percent lit, the ones in the middle 50 percent and the ones at the end and back of the trailer aren’t lit up at all. The brake and turning signals work fine and I hooked it up to another truck and the issue is the same. Any suggestions?

asked by: Corey R

Expert Reply:

It sounds like you have loose ground wires or your connector has built up corrosion or is dirty. You'll want to make sure your grounds are securely attached to bare metal surfaces free of any paint, dirt or corrosion of any kind. Also check your wiring thoroughly to ensure there are none that are crimped, broken or otherwise damaged. Take a look at your connectors as well and if there is corrosion you can clean them or replace as necessary.

I've added links to a pair of help articles on trailer wiring that you may also find useful.

expert reply by: Kyle S