Troubleshooting Trailer Wiring on 2014 Jeep Cherokee Unlimited

Updated 03/24/2020 | Published 03/23/2020

Products Featured in This Question

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

(134)

$63.81

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(60)

$12.41

Question:

I have 2014 jeep Cherokee limited but my towing lights dont work theres any switch the I need to turn on? I know the lights on my trailer are good

asked by: Hilfa

Expert Reply:

If none of the lights are working when plugged into your vehicle, I recommend you start by inspecting and testing the vehicle's wiring harness; if you have a 4 way connector it will look like the plug found on the Tekonsha # 118605, which is a confirmed fit on the 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited without the factory towing package. You'll want to start by making sure that the 4 way plug is free of debris, dirt and corrosion (white or green spots on the metal are signs of this)- clean it off as necessary. This would also be a good time to check the ground wire on the wiring harness to make sure that it is securely connected to a paint and rust free surface on the vehicle.

If your 4 way plug is clean and corrosion free and the ground is good, to test the connector you'll need a circuit tester like the # PTW2993. You will need a friend to turn on the lights to test each function for power using the circuit tester. If the circuits on the plug are not being supplied power, you'll also want to test on the wires directly behind the plug to see if there is an issue with the plug itself, or whether it starts farther back on the wiring or vehicle. Trace the wiring from your plug back to where it is connected to the vehicle to make sure that there is no damage on these wires; you'll want to trace all the way back to where it connects to the plugin on the vehicle. You'll want to replace any damaged wires as needed.

If your plug does not have any power on the pins but the wiring is carrying power, the plug itself is damaged and you will need to replace it using a harness like the # 118605.

I've linked a helpful article on troubleshooting a 4 way connector that shows what each pin on the harness powers as well as how to properly test one. If these steps do not address the issue you're experiencing, please let me know so I can give you a few more steps to go through to get your trailer wiring back up and running.

expert reply by: Erik B