Running/trailer lights not working

[azpopup17]

Hi,

I have a 99 Coleman Mesa.  I tested the running lights while connected to my truck two weeks ago as part of my "pre flight" check and everything worked.  Now they are not working.  I have brake/signal lights and the electric brakes are working but not the lights.  All interior lighting is working fine (I believe they are mutually exclusive from the running/trailer lights).  Could one bad bulb take out the whole circuit, i.e. wired in series?  Or is there a fuse for this somewhere.  I do not have access to my manual right now since we are on vacation with the camper now.  Just wanted to see if this was an easy fix.

Thanks for any information.

[coach]

It could be a fuse in your TV - 2003 Chevy Silverado Z71!
Some vehicles have seperate trailer fuses.
Got a volt meter?

[flyfisherman]

A good annual maintenance excercise is to pull each blade fuse out of it's slot and then re-insert it. Sometimes there will be some corrosion that will build up and just pulling the fuse out and replacing it will take care of it. Then I apply a little electrical anti-corropsive gel on the trailer/TV connectors.



Fly

[jwhite]

the fuses for my Z71 are under the hood, it could siply be a loose ground to one of your lights, it will cause a blown fuse and knock out all the lights

[Recumbentman]

Did you turn-on your TV light ? your running lights will only work if your TV lights are on

[azpopup17]

Thanks, I did not think about fuses in the TV.  I will check that out.  

Yes the TV lights were turned on.

[paul_b30]

I've had similar problems. If it is not a loose ground wire I would try bending the pins in the female trailer connector slightly and retry. Sometimes one pin just isn't making a good connection. Every year I clean and reapply di-electric grease to all connectors to prevent corrosion. This also allows to connectors to go on and come off easily.
Paul.

Hi,

I have a 99 Coleman Mesa.  I tested the running lights while connected to my truck two weeks ago as part of my "pre flight" check and everything worked.  Now they are not working.  I have brake/signal lights and the electric brakes are working but not the lights.  All interior lighting is working fine (I believe they are mutually exclusive from the running/trailer lights).  Could one bad bulb take out the whole circuit, i.e. wired in series?  Or is there a fuse for this somewhere.  I do not have access to my manual right now since we are on vacation with the camper now.  Just wanted to see if this was an easy fix.

Thanks for any information.

[austinado16]

Take a look up on the trailer's "A" frame, just rearward of where the wire harness comes in from your truck.  You should see a white wire ending by being bolted or screwed to the trailer frame.  If it's not connected, or the connection is all rusty, you'll have no ground connection.  As others have mentioned, that will keep the camper's exterior "running" lights, turn signals and brake lights (and reverse lights) from working.  Your camper's electric brakes will still work because they are grounded seperately.

So check that ground.  A bad ground won't blow any fuses, it just keeps current from flowing "through" the light bulbs......basically, the current is always looking for a path to ground, and if there's no path, the current won't flow.  Think of it as water flowing through tiny pipes (your wiring)......if the pipe to ground is not working, you won't have a flow of water.  It's that "flow" that produces "work", which in your case is to illuminate the bulbs.

Of course look for fuses too, but trailer wiring is piggy-backed on to the vehicle's existing wiring.  So if the trucks blinkers, running lights and brake lights work, you know those fuses are fine.

[azpopup17]

Thanks for all the information.

I reseated the fuse on my TV.  The 15A fuse looked fine, but the legs were a little scuffed I guess. I wiped them off.   Now all the lights are working.

[wavery]

Thanks for all the information.

I reseated the fuse on my TV.  The 15A fuse looked fine, but the legs were a little scuffed I guess. I wiped them off.   Now all the lights are working.

Thanks for reporting back and letting us know......everybody loves a happy ending......:sombraro: