Troubleshooting Tail Lights of Trailer Towed by 2008 Nissan Titan

Updated 02/28/2012 | Published 02/25/2012

Question:

This morning I hitched my trailer to my 2008 Titan LE but when I turned the lights on the tail lights of the truck and the tail and running lights of the trailer didnt work. The indicators and brake lights are working OK.

asked by: Rick

Expert Reply:

It sounds like you most likely have a short in the trailer wiring that has caused a fuse to blow.

Your fuse box will have a sticker on the underside that shows which fuses protect which circuits. You will need to locate and repair the trailer wiring short before using the trailer again.

Start with the trailer connectors on the vehicle and the trailer. Make sure they are undamaged and free of corrosion. Any corrosion found on the sockets or pins of the connectors might have spread to the interior of the connector and cause adjacent terminals to short out. The brown trailer wire typically feeds the tail/running lights. Trace this circuit from the trailer connector back to the lamps, checking for pinched or loose wires. Look for worn or cracked wire insulation that would allow the copper wire conductor to short out on the trailer frame.

Check the bulbs in the trailer lamps and make sure the bulbs are installed correctly. Bulbs that are incorrectly installed can cause a short.

expert reply by: Mike L