RE: No brake lights or turn signals working!!!!

[Popupnut]

 HI folks,  I posted on Mr. Fix it as well - only because I am totally desperate - we hooked up the trailer lastnight and realized we have no brake lights or signals - the trucks lights  are working but not getting juice to the trailer - we had a friend come over to see what they could find but to no avail.....
 DH called the dealer today and was told that they pull the entire system out (electrical harness???) to diagnose the problem - and they can t get us in until AUGUST!!!!  We are leaving today for a weekend trip - that s bad enough - but in 2 weeks we go on our 5 hour trip to New Hampshire.
 If anyone has any suggestions on where to look for the possible problem - please let us know!
 Thanks!!!!!
 Does anyone know of trailer lights that can be attached as a temporary fix?

[Ernhrts3n8]

 Popupnut
I am not being sarcastic, but has anyone cleaned the contacts?  Sometimes that can be the problem and sometimes the obvious gets over looked.  Good luck!

[Papaso]

 Popupnut
I don t know how handy you are but basically you need a 12 volt tester, available at any auto parts store. The side with the clip goes to ground and the pointy side is to check the contacts. First I would check the TV side, check each contact and make sure everything is OK there. you ll need someone to turn on signals, step on the brakes etc... if everything is OK there the second thing I would look for is a bad ground on the camper, more than likely this will be your problem unless there is some sort of actual damage to the wiring (maybe caused by rodents or physical damage, rodents love wiring insulation it taste like chicken). You can run a separate ground wire to check for a bad ground. I would pop off the cover to one of the Bargman tail lights and just touch the ground plate (the part made of metal that has the rivets on it) with one end of the wire and the other to the frame of the camper make sure you scrape off any paint where you touch the frame and try your lights and signals again. Wish I was there to help, probably take all of a half hour to repair. Let me know how you make out, any garage can help you out or a u-haul dealer. Hope this helps.
 Good Luck

[campingcop]

 Popupnut
Don t know if this will help but I had a simular problem and took PU to a trailer rental place close to home and they found that I had a bad ground conection. Cost me $10.00 to fix it.

[Popupnut]

 Popupnut
Thanks folks - I will have DH check the ground connection - our friend had one of those testers - he was using it lastnight and the connections were all checked and cleaned.  I called UHAUL and they have a trailer light kit to buy for $29.95 so we are headed in that direction - I am hoepful that the real problem will be soleved by the end of the month - the BIG TRIP!!!
 
 Thanks for your helpful advice!!

[Papaso]

 Popupnut
If you take the trailer with you to u-haul they more than likely will repair it, that pull the whole harness out sounds fishy to me.

[Popupnut]

 Popupnut
We did contact UHAUL and purchased a kit for towing - this attaches itself to the trailer lighting system in the truck and magnetically attaches to the camper - it s made for the big RV s towing their vehicles....I knew I saw it somewhere!  So it cost $29.95 and looks simple enough - this will get us on the road safely and we can then take the time to troubleshoot the real problem with the camper.  THe guys found it is a bad ground but did not know where to look  -- Papaso, thanks for the advice on where to find it and what to do I printed it and the guys will use it when we get there.
 
 I wish you were here too - I d buy you a cold one in gratitude!!!
 
 Thanks everyone for your help!!
 
 We re off!!!
 

[oldmoose]

 Popupnut
I ve periodically had similar problems, and they always relate to a bad connection.

[Campntime]

 Popupnut
If connections are good and no noticeable damage to wires under trailer...do not under estimate the possiblity of a ground problem...especially if trailer has sit awhile.  Ground problem could be at hitch and ball connection (too much grease, rust, etc.) or corrosion or rust at bulbs themselves.

[B-flat]

 Popupnut
We had the same problem several times and we just pulled it forward and backed up a few times to get the grounded connection right.  I know it sounds silly, but this really does work.  Try that before you have the whole thing ripped out.  The same thing works when towing our boat.  It s something called " setting the ground."   Well, it does work, but you might have to try pulling forward and backing up at least 2 or 3 times.

[Popupnut]

 Popupnut
We solved the problem - we did get a tester and checked the whole system and narrowed it down to the plug!!!!  The connection on the plug was bad - so DH bought a new one and we snipped off the bad end and re-wired the new plug - matching all colors ofcourse!  The lights and turn signals work really great now!!  Better than ever I suppose!
 However, we are going to hang onto the magnetic set we got from UHAUL as they really did a rgeat job and are good to have in that situation - like being out on the road when your electric decides to quit!!
 Just thought I d share that info with you all - thanks everyone for your help!!

[Papaso]

 Popupnut
What a relief.[]
 HAPPY CAMPING