Trailer lights can fail so often that trailer owners who cannot fix them on their own may spend a lot of money on this maintenance item. This article discusses some of the frequent lighting issues that trailers can have. Use this information to try to fix these problems on your own before calling an expert.
Dim Lights
Trailer lights can become dim if something is preventing all the current from reaching those lights. For example, some of the current can be lost when corrosion has affected a connector. Similarly, damaged wiring insulation can let water in. This water can reduce the voltage that reaches the lights on your trailer. You need to check the wiring of your trailer thoroughly so that you isolate what nuisance load, such as corrosion, is preventing electrical power from reaching the useful load (the lights).
Clean out any corrosion that you see at the connection points. You can simply scrape it off with a screwdriver. Apply some grease to prevent further corrosion in future. Solder any wires that were damaged during off-road driving.
Partial Lighting
The lights on one side of your trailer may go out due to several factors. For example, the wire supplying that affected side may be cut. You may need to use a splice at that affected section. Always ensure that the splice is identical in size and load capacity as the wiring at that point. This is because any discrepancy in the wiring can cause other problems, such as blown fuses. Observe the lights regularly after fixing this problem so that you confirm that they are working well.
No Lights
Some inexperienced trailer owners may not know what they should do in case they plug the trailer light connector onto the tow vehicle and discover that the trailer lights aren't working. Usually, the lights may not work if some wires in the connector are missing. You should therefore check that all the wires are in place. For example, there should be seven wires in a 7-wire connector. Tighten those that may not be making full contact in the socket.
Next, check the fuse. Fuses often blow when the load in the wiring exceeds their amperage rating. For example, a fuse may blow when a loose wire causes overheating in the circuit. It is therefore risky to replace a blown fuse without fixing the problem that caused that fuse to blow. Inspect the wiring and look out for damaged insulation, broken wires, fraying and any other visible signs that can help you to pinpoint the source of the problem.
Avoid towing a trailer with defective lights. Call a mechanic or trailer lighting specialist for help in case the suggestions above don't yield positive outcomes in your DIY efforts to repair the lights.
