Troubleshooting Running Light Circuit that is Hot all the Time on Flat Towed Vehicle

Updated 07/21/2022 | Published 07/16/2022

Question:

Hello, I just received my etrailer Blue Ox 7 to 6 coiled cable...hoping it was going to solve my problem but it did not. I have a 2018 Winnebago View and flat tow a 2018 Honda HRV. All Blue Ox components. The Car was set up to flat tow and already wired when I bought it from a dealership a few months ago and the 7 pin connector on the RV is factory installed. The HRV has the blue ox base plate and the Duo stay -in-play system which works wonderfully. The symptoms are: When I plug the 7-to 6 cable into both the RV and the HRV the HRV Brake lights come on immediately. The RV key is not even in the ignition. Doesnt matter if the HRV key is in the ignition or not. They just come on as soon as the cable is connected. So, I need to disconnect the cable to get the lights to turn off or risk draining the battery when stopping for dinner or shopping etc. I thought perhaps the universal non-Blue Ox cable that came with it was the issue....but just tried my brand new Blue Ox cable and issue persists. My guess is the wiring is screwed up at the back of the 6 pin connector for the car? The rest of the lights seem to work fairly normally. The turn signals work correctly, and when I turn the RV headlamps on the running lamps in the HRV come on along with the Brake lights which never turn off When I step on the brakes in the RV, the Brake lights illuminate brighterinch Any help on further trouble shooting and determining what wires are crossed would be greatly appreciated.

asked by: Gary L

Expert Reply:

It sounds like there is either a short between the 12 volt accessory circuit of your tow bar wiring and the running light circuit or the two circuits are wired backwards. I would use a circuit tester to test the pins of the 7-way on your tow vehicle to make sure only the 1:00 pin has voltage at all times as that should be the 12 volt accessory circuit and if that checks out test the pins of the 6-way on the opposite end of the adapter when it is plugged in. See which pin is hot all the time and then check to see what circuit that corresponds to on the 6-way that is mounted on the front of your vehicle.

expert reply by: Jameson C