Why Would Trailer Wiring Ground Wire have Voltage

Published 05/05/2022

Question:

I bought the trailer wiring kit for my 20 Chevy equinox. It worked fine on the trailer I just sold. Now on the used trailer I just bought Im having a issue. I was replacing the marker and taillights. When I plug the trailer into my car without or with the hitch connected to the car. The white ground wire from the trailer plug I removed it where it was grounded to the frame. Now question is why when I hook my test light up to the white loose wire and touch it to the spot on the trailer where the side marker lights ground to, does my test light light up. Any idea why the white is got power? Please help.

asked by: Dave

Expert Reply:

If there's a short on the trailer wiring to the frame of the trailer it can cause the ground wire to have voltage since it typically attaches to the trailer frame. So what I would recommend you do is go over the trailer wiring looking for any shorts to the frame and clean up as needed.

expert reply by: Jameson C