Trailer light help, suggestions needed

[Turfguy]

Here is the story:

I last used my trailer just after Christmas and everything was working great when I parked it in the garage. Three months later the lights aren't working.

Here is what I have done:

1. Checked for power coming from truck, it is good.
2. Checked ground on trailer, cleaned and put back
3. Changed the trailer 7-way (had a new one, so figured why not). Everything checks out there.

Still nothing. Where should I look next? thanks in advance

[jaybeecon55]

1. Double check to make sure that you have a good ground. Not just grounded to the trailer, but a hard wire ground throughthe connector.
2. Find another trailer to hook your truck up to, or find another tow vehicle that can be hooked up to your trailer. This is the quickest and most foolproof way to figure out if you have a problem with your truck or trailer.
3. If it turns out to be the trailer and your trailer is the type that runs negative through the frame, check for all the mounting bolts through each light. It's very easy after a few months for these contact points to get enough of a coating of rust to make a poor connection.
4. Don't put all your diagnostics into meter readings. A poor electrical connection can read good on a meter yet still not be good enough to power up a light.

[JeffinTD]

What is your tow vehicle?

There was a TSB for some years of Dodge Ram trucks regarding a reflash for the TIPM.

[upnort]

Agree that it sounds ground related since none of them work. Have heard about critters chewing through insulation & wiring before.

[Turfguy]

My tow vehicle is a Nissan Frontier 2007. Will have time to look into it further tomorrow. Will try and hook my truck to a trailer at work to eliminate the truck as the problem. I figured it was a ground problem, but checked both connections to the ground (the one to the trailer and the one in the 7-way). That's why I posted. Was getting really frustrated.

Will also climb underneath and follow the wire connections for damage.

Thanks so far, will get back soon.

[firehog]

I had an 05 Nissan Titan that often blew the fuse when hooking up a trailer. I never knew why, just carried extra fuses! LOL! I hate trailer wiring problems! They frustrate me, too! Whenever I have problems, I use another truck like jaybee said to rule out where my problem is...the truck or the trailer. It's a good place to start.

[Turfguy]

Got it!!!! I think ultimately it was a common problem with the trailer. After I had gone through everything yesterday, and still nothing, I started to question. Once I started today, I quickly realized that as I put the ground back on the trailer the ground wire had slipped out of the wire harness. Once that was redone, lights!!!! Thanks for your help guys.

Any suggestions on how to keep rust from forming on the ground?

[upnort]

Grease, preferably dielectric but regular grease will work and is much more readily available.