Reverse lights come on

[Elkhunter]

This is a new boat setup for us ('02 EZ loader trailer, '05 Ford F250). Anyways, when my left blinker is on the reverse lights blink with it. Right blinker no reverse lights. Brake lights, I get reverse lights. I cleaned the ground wire on the trailer and the ground wire for the left back trailer lights. When the the reverse lights are blinking with the left blinker, I can hear the trailer brake cylinder clicking (I am guessing that it is locking out). This was using the 5 flat to 7 round adapter to the truck. So I tried one more thing, took my 4 way flat adapter and turned the trailer connector over and of course the blinkers were opposite the truck but no reverse lights blinking?? Any thoughts anyone......thanks in advance
Allen


Modified by Elkhunter at 8:38 PM 3/22/2009

[skinny]

wires crossed some were on trailer:
tailights-brown
left turn-yellow
right turn-green
backup-blue
ground-white

[skinny]

you said 4-way. 5th wire for back-up?? trying to help..do fords have a round plug like chevys?

[Elkhunter]

The trailer is 5 flat and I have an adapter to go to the 7 round on the truck and that is what I am using. I tried the 4 flat just to help in the problem solving.


Modified by Elkhunter at 12:46 PM 3/24/2009

[Fish TR19]

I'm guessing you have a short between the blue and yellow wires. Plug in your 7 to 5 adapter without hooking up the trailer. use a tester or volt meter to check the plug. If that checks out OK then it's gotta be in the trailer wires.
I would start at the plug and work my way back checking for a bare spot on the blue and yellow wires. Good luck.

[Elkhunter]

Ready for this......just to make it more confusing. Hooked up the trailer lights to my wife's Expedition......worked perfectly. So that means it has to be my tow vehicle?? but why only when I am connected to the trailer?

[Fish TR19]

IM sent

[CatFan]

Are you talking about the reverse lights on the trailer or on the truck?

A potential area of confusion on the 7-pin connector. The color code on these is Red for LT, blue for electric brakes and yellow for backup lights. On conventional 4 and 5-pin plugs, Blue is backup lights and yellow is LT. If someone worked on the truck or trailer and didn't know this, they could have confused something which might have shown as problems with LT and the backup solenoid.

I'd be looking at the fuses under the hood for the trailer lights. Some heavier Fords have relays for the trailer turn signals. Not sure of the 250. If you can find those, swap the left and right to see if the problem goes to the other side.

[Elkhunter]

Reverse lights on the truck. I have had the truck since new so I know all wiring is stock. I have had it wired for a connector in the bed for a pickup camper, but have had no problems with the lights on the camper (it has reverse lights also). The trailer sure looks stock also. IM sent TR19


Modified by Elkhunter at 1:27 PM 3/24/2009

[Elkhunter]

Update......after doing a little bit more testing and few beers, my next step is taking Skinny and TR16's advice that two wires are touching somewhere on the trailer so I will work my way back from the plug.

[CatFan]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Elkhunter &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Update......after doing a little bit more testing and few beers, my next step is taking Skinny and TR16's advice that two wires are touching somewhere on the trailer so I will work my way back from the plug. </TD></TR></TABLE>

The backup solenoid wire probably isn't 2 foot long.

Have you looked at it at night to see if the LT light is as bright as the other? That might point to a ground issue.

Another question: Does the backup lockout solenoid work properly when the truck is put in reverse?

[Elkhunter]

Spent some time this afternoon with a test light. The best I can tell at some point the reverse lights wire (on the trailer) was used as a ground and was "backfeeding". A couple of snips, cleaned up some ground points and reconnecting to the surge actuator and I am good to go. Thanks everyone for your help.

[Fish TR19]

Glad you got it working
But I wonder why it worked OK on your wife's Expedition ?
Did you have it on the ball when you tried it on the Expedition ? If not may that is why.