Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness on 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette Shorting Out

Updated 09/14/2009 | Published 09/12/2009

Products Featured in This Question

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

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$39.75

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

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$14.36

Question:

i am having a problem with the wire harness to the left side brake light there is a wire shorting out can u help me to understand what i am looking for and how to fix it

asked by: arnice

Expert Reply:

To run down a short in a wire you will need to use a circuit tester, item # PTW2993 if you need one, to test the wiring and find the short. The place I would start is on the vehicle side of the converter. Check each wire there, with a helper to turn on turn signals and step on the brakes and be sure that each circuit is functioning properly. While you are behind the taillights make sure the ground wire is attached to a good grounding point.

Next I would test the wiring coming out of the converter to the trailer connector on the vehicle. If all the wiring is functioning properly on the vehicle and the ground is good you will need to proceed to the trailer. Check each circuit on the trailer and make sure that each wire is ran to the correct circuit on each taillight. Be sure the ground wire is attached to a solid area of the trailer frame. You may need to trace each wire all the way back to the trailer lights to find a pinched worn or broken wire.

expert reply by: Robert G