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6-pin trailer connection problems

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Old Apr 14, 2010 | 06:50 PM
  #1  
B4Runner's Avatar
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From: Ahwahnee, CA
6-pin trailer connection problems

I just installed a round 6 prong connector on my runner. It had a flat 4, but I never used it and didn't have a trailer with a flat 4 to test it on. So when I went to test the 6-prong on one of our trailers, fail. I know this trailer is wired perfectly because it operates at 110% when connected to the Chevy.

When connected to trailer:
-Left, right, and hazzard blinkers dimly flash (w/ no running lights)
-Running lights dont work
-Blinkers don't work when running lights are switched on (and still no running lights)

When testing the connector with a test light:
-Everything works properly.

Since I didn't have a helper near-by today, I couldn't test the brake lights under all switched conditions. What could be my problem?
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Old Apr 14, 2010 | 07:30 PM
  #2  
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From: GrangeVille, Idaho
Your going to need a converter box to make the lights work properly. Toyotas are wired a little bit different than a chevy truck, so the converter will make the lights operate as they should.
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Old Apr 14, 2010 | 07:47 PM
  #3  
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From: Ahwahnee, CA
I know they are. They have a sperate blinker rather than sharking a stop and blinker like the Chevy. I have a converter box.

What confuses me is why everything works when I use the test light on the connection yet not all works when I connect the trailer.

I did realize when using the test light that light was brither when testing the running lights than when testng the blinkers.

Maybe my converter box is bad? Just off the top of your head, do you know if you can take those apart to clean the connections? I could check, just don't feel like going out to wrench int he freezing darness.
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Old Apr 14, 2010 | 08:18 PM
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From: GrangeVille, Idaho
I don`t think you can take the converter box a part, i think its a sealed unit. It is possible that its bad.
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Old Apr 14, 2010 | 09:14 PM
  #5  
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From: Ahwahnee, CA
Well it's just so confusing that it would be bad since it works perfectly with the test light. I've been out working on it for the last hour. I went outside anyways.

As I gave up for the night to come in, I thought I'd test the Chevy really quick. I turned on the running lights and blinkers. And sure enough, what happens when I test the connector? 2 pins are hot (for the running lights) and 3 are flashing. So the truck obviously has wacky wiring and I'm hoping our trailers were simply improperly wired for the truck.

So, I'm going to open up all the trailer and Chevy connections, wire them properly, and hope that solves my problem.
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Old Apr 14, 2010 | 09:16 PM
  #6  
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From: PNW
sounds to me like a classic bad ground on the trailer to tow vehicle (white wire i think)
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Old Apr 14, 2010 | 09:51 PM
  #7  
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From: Ahwahnee, CA
Well the ground ont he trailer must be good since it works fine with the Chevy. Whoever installed the converter box on my truck tapped the ground into the tiny little ground for the sidemarker. I moved it back to the main harness. I couldn't even take my whole light out because of their wiring job. But anyways, I know my connector is good. I think the trailer is wired impropperly to match the Chevy, so when I turn on my running lights, it shorts the trailer out.
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