Trailer wiring

[slmdrngr]

I have a 1996 explorer, 4.0 OHV, auto trans, no receiver hitch or factory trailer plug harness, i bought a trailer T connector that goes in with the tail lights, but it does not work, i was wondering if maybe i needed one the setups that has the converter in it or what? I don't like pulling anything without the lights for obvious reasons, but i was wondering if anybody had any similar problems and how they fixed it or if anybody had any suggestions. Thanks in advance for any help, this has really been bugging me.

[MountaineerGreen]

Are you certain you plugged the T harness in the right spot? Have you used a test light or volt meter at the 4 flat connector? Are your tail lights working? What years of vehicle did the T harness say it would work on?

[slmdrngr]

I cant remember the exact years it said it would fit, i'm pretty sure my year model was in there tho, i haven't checked it with a meter yet, but i plugged it in and it fit perfect, i'm not sure where else it could plug in? Maybe im missing something, i had another connector that fit where the T connector fit, but the other side of my vehicles harness couldn't hook up, but it did not work either, I've gotta be doing something wrong. My taillights all work and reverse lights and such also work.

[MountaineerGreen]

The T harness should have plugged in on the drivers side if I remember correctly. Take a test light, clip the ground to the frame somewhere, probe the 3 shielded places on the 4 flat with your flashers on and parking lights on.

[slmdrngr]

I had it on the drivers side, which color is the ground? i haven't had a chance today, been chasing other engine issues today, thanks for the advice, when i do it, i just stick the prongs in each pin to test it right?

[MountaineerGreen]

I think it does connect on the drivers side, right under the tail light.

White is ground on those, yellow is drivers side, green is passenger side, brown is tail. If your taillights have separate stop/turn indicators, you may need a t harness with the converter built in.....

[slmdrngr]

you mean something such as the wiring with this setup?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRAILER-HITC...ht_3762wt_1037

I've been wondering if that's what i need or not

[slmdrngr]

I got no readings from any of the wires except when i had the parking lights on, the meter said overload lol, im not sure if i had it set right

[MountaineerGreen]

Sounds like you need to find the book on your multimeter and read up.

[slmdrngr]

well, its not mine lol, and there isn't a book to it currently, i'm not sure what setting it needs to be on when i'm testing

[buckwill]

DC voltage the one that looks like a solid line and a dotted line, and the range that is the next step that includes or is higher than 12 volts,, must be higher, 9 volts will give u over range also the plug on upur vehicle that has an ex[posed pin is always the ground. your vehicle plug will have one exposed pin and 3 or 4 covered pins, in trailor side will be one covered pin(thats ground) and 4 or five open pins

[slmdrngr]

Thanks, i ill try this tomorrow, i figured the exposed as a ground, was guessing, i guess if i get any reading from the others at all ill know they work right?

[buckwill]

just imagine, if exposed pin from vehicle chassis was hot if it bumped something,, it would blow,, so exposed from car side is always ground,, doesnt hurt anything see,, turn signal to left side; vontage flash on and off thats turn,,, right side flash off and on thats rt, turn,, they also brake,, tail is constant voltage if u turn your head light on so basically u have left turn and brake one wire,,, then rt turn and brake other wire,, then solid voltage is tail,, but on newer all electronic needs converter,, buck