Notices
95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

LED Trailer lights blowing fuse?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-09-2015, 10:19 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
RyanJ989's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Roanoke, VA - Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LED Trailer lights blowing fuse?

Hey guys, I apologize if this has been covered, but I didn't see anything that was this particular. Ihave a standard 96 4Runner with a Hopkins Trailer wiring kit. This kit has worked fine for years, after I threw out the U-Haul crap. It is tucked in behind my drivers side brake light and works fine, I think. When I hook up my small 4x8 trailer with standard bulbs, and when I hook up my 6 x 16 trailer with standard bulbs, and even my 12' covered trailer, everything works great, all the lights work, they go a little dim when I turn the engine off, but that is probably a grounding/poor conductor issue. But when I hook up my office's 12' trailer with LED lights, the brake lights work fine, but as soon as I turn on my running lights I blow a fuse, EVERYTIME . The trailer seems to be fine as other people in the office use the trailer and have had no issues. Could it be something with the LED trailer lights? Maybe a resistance issue? I have replaced the fuse 3 times in one sitting when I thought it was something on my truck, but I have towed many different trailers and all worked fine except this one, but this is the only one with LED lighting. Any help/experience with this would be helpful. I need to pull this trailer, but can't take the chance of not having running lights! TIA!
Old 09-09-2015, 11:36 AM
  #2  
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
wyoming9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: I live in New Tripoli Pa out in the woods
Posts: 13,381
Received 99 Likes on 86 Posts
Red face

My first thought would be your truck side plug is wired different then the office trailer.

Pretty much right to ground .



No doubt yours is correct and there is is the odd ball

Other Then Hyper flashing most LED lights don`t cause problems unless their wired wrong

Break out the meter

If need be make an adapter plug

I run into this all the time when the clueless change trailer plugs .
Old 09-09-2015, 11:50 AM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
RyanJ989's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Roanoke, VA - Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have thought that, however, two other people here use it often and have newer Explorers and Mercedes SUV and have no issues and the wiring doesn't seem to be any different as they use the other two trailers as well. Its so frustrating!!
Old 09-09-2015, 05:28 PM
  #4  
Fossilized
Staff
iTrader: (6)
 
dropzone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: PNW
Posts: 19,771
Received 448 Likes on 293 Posts

time to bust out your DMM and a test light and check connections.
Old 09-10-2015, 11:01 AM
  #5  
Registered User
 
Turtlehead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sounds like the wiring for the LED is different which is not unheard of. Beware if you fix it so the lights work fine with the LED then you may find that the other trailer lights have issues. Sounds like you need to use a test light and wire the LED trailer to match the setup on the vehicle.
Old 09-10-2015, 11:04 AM
  #6  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
RyanJ989's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Roanoke, VA - Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Which completely blows my mind, how else are things wired? Also, the other two people tow just fine with it. Granted their vehicles are about 18 years newer, but is there a new style converter that allows for less resistance or something? Anyone else ever have this issue. Wiring seems right, and unfortunately taking apart the trailer isn't an option, so I am going to have to try a few things with alligator clips and some bailing wire!!
Old 09-10-2015, 06:35 PM
  #7  
Registered User
 
Nervo19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,438
Received 93 Likes on 65 Posts
I had to ground each of the LED lights to their own little bare steel spot instead of the using trailer loom. I think it's a problem a lot of people have with LED trailer lights.
Old 09-12-2015, 09:02 AM
  #8  
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
wyoming9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: I live in New Tripoli Pa out in the woods
Posts: 13,381
Received 99 Likes on 86 Posts
Red face

I am really curious just how this plays out??

Please let us know.
Old 09-12-2015, 12:55 PM
  #9  
Fossilized
Staff
iTrader: (6)
 
dropzone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: PNW
Posts: 19,771
Received 448 Likes on 293 Posts
So when you used a meter and a test light what did you find?
Old 09-15-2015, 06:10 AM
  #10  
Registered User
 
AZ_98_4Runner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LEDs Lucifers Evil Demons

Originally Posted by dropzone
So when you used a meter and a test light what did you find?


Originally Posted by wyoming9
I am really curious just how this plays out??
Originally Posted by wyoming9

Please let us know.
Did youcheck the trailers wiring harness for damage?

Could you doublecheck the trailers lights with a vehicle that it is known to work with? This isto eliminate damage from who used it last.

Do the wiringharnesses color codes match?

I am thinking itcould be that you need an adapter?

YourRig --- Wiring Harness ------ Connector --- Trailer Harness ----- Trailer


_____(White)=[Ground]___________[-]______( ?)_________====OO==

_____(Brown)=[Tail]______________[-]______(? )_________

_____(Yellow)=[L + Stop]___________[-]______(? )_________

_____(Green)=[R + Stop]___________[-]______( ? )_________====OO==




Those are the colors from my 98 4Runner.


I also have two different pigtail connectors the one shown, and another without the white ground wire.





I found a link that may help.
http://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Quick-connects/1/Toyota

Last edited by AZ_98_4Runner; 09-15-2015 at 06:19 AM. Reason: Change color of font fix formating of text
Old 09-15-2015, 06:21 AM
  #11  
Registered User
 
AZ_98_4Runner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts


I found this hope it can help somebody.
Old 04-07-2021, 09:41 AM
  #12  
Registered User
 
Jeff Duncan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LED flashing blowing fuses

Originally Posted by wyoming9
My first thought would be your truck side plug is wired different then the office trailer.

Pretty much right to ground .



No doubt yours is correct and there is is the odd ball

Other Then Hyper flashing most LED lights don`t cause problems unless their wired wrong

Break out the meter

If need be make an adapter plug

I run into this all the time when the clueless change trailer plugs .
Curious what type of problems you may have with "Hyper Flashing" LEDs. I've been blowing AC and tail light fuses since I put multiple flashing LEDs on a separate circuit?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SourMash
General Vehicle Related Topics (Non Year Related)
3
04-28-2010 07:52 PM
hurricanes99
95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners
4
10-10-2007 06:07 AM
kawicowboy
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
1
12-01-2006 08:14 AM
sworxx
99+ Tundra, 00+ Sequoia, 98+ Land Cruiser/LX470
4
08-05-2004 01:37 PM



Quick Reply: LED Trailer lights blowing fuse?



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:31 PM.