MacDubhgal
New Member
- Joined
- June 11, 2008
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Phillipsburg, NJ
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1998 Explorer V8 - EB
Tried to be as descriptive in the Thread title as I could be. Basically here's the problem. 1998 Eddie bauer V8 Explorer. I have used the trailer wiring connector that came stock previously with success. 2 years ago, somebody careened into my left taillight, and crunched the fender some. Auto-Body place repaired all, and since i got the truck back from them, the trailer light connector is malfunctioning.
No running Lights.
Occasional Brake lights (mostly not)
Left Turn indicator triggers Right turn indicator light on Trailer (or Both, 1 weak and one strong - Strong one usually on the opposite side from what Should be flashing)
Same for Right Turn Indicator.
I have tested the trailer lights on the trailer owner's vehicle (borrowed trailer) and everything works to spec, so i don;t think the trailer is the problem, and I previously used this particular trailer successfully - no problems).
I replaced the two small relays inside the "tool box" in the left rear fender suspecting that somehow they'd shorted or were causing a problem. After replacement, everything remained unchanged (goodbye $25 and $15 for a 5.5 mm driver bit that I had to buy a metric driver set to get... that'll be useful over time I guess)
What seems to be happening is that when I hook the trailer to the trailer wiring connector (4-pin flat terminal connected to the 7 pin round connector behind the left taillight) it's immediately blowing the 15A Park Lamp/Trailer Tow Relay (location 30) fuse located in the Driver's Side Fuse compartment inside the dashboard. Tried running the truck with a 15A fuse installed and the trailer unhooked and the fuse was fine. Minute I hooked the trailer wiring connector to the trailer and tried the running lights (truck OFF) the fuse blew (it's in the #30 slot if that's of any help in diagnosing the problem).
My down-the-street mechanic buddy has used various ohm meters and such to check the connections ( I am electronically retarded) and says that the wires seem to be switched somehow coming out of the rear relay box and going into the trailer wiring connector. He gets a negative reading when checking the ground to running lights connectors (neg on the ground, pos on the running lights pin).
Is is possible that the Body shop took apart the wiring block coming out of the Relay box and switched something up? Anyone know of an online resource where I can download a diagram of how the wires SHOULD look coming out of that relay box?
I've checked the wires front to back and I see no stripped wires or shorts. Everything seems to be properly coated, and the plastic cable routing sleeves are all taped within an inch of their lives and appear to be original install, and as I said, this all worked before the accident.
Anyone know what I should be looking at that I haven't? Or can anyone think of a way for me to verify that the Relay Box is properly wired going back to the Trailer connector?
All taillights, flashers and back-up lamps appear to be working properly on the Explorer itself. Any help would be appreciated. DIYing because I am broke, unemployed, and as I said, challenged in the electronics department. I DO have confidence in the abilities of my neighbor, who spent much of his life working on/repairing and rewiring American vehicles primarily, both professionally and for friends and neighbors.
No running Lights.
Occasional Brake lights (mostly not)
Left Turn indicator triggers Right turn indicator light on Trailer (or Both, 1 weak and one strong - Strong one usually on the opposite side from what Should be flashing)
Same for Right Turn Indicator.
I have tested the trailer lights on the trailer owner's vehicle (borrowed trailer) and everything works to spec, so i don;t think the trailer is the problem, and I previously used this particular trailer successfully - no problems).
I replaced the two small relays inside the "tool box" in the left rear fender suspecting that somehow they'd shorted or were causing a problem. After replacement, everything remained unchanged (goodbye $25 and $15 for a 5.5 mm driver bit that I had to buy a metric driver set to get... that'll be useful over time I guess)
What seems to be happening is that when I hook the trailer to the trailer wiring connector (4-pin flat terminal connected to the 7 pin round connector behind the left taillight) it's immediately blowing the 15A Park Lamp/Trailer Tow Relay (location 30) fuse located in the Driver's Side Fuse compartment inside the dashboard. Tried running the truck with a 15A fuse installed and the trailer unhooked and the fuse was fine. Minute I hooked the trailer wiring connector to the trailer and tried the running lights (truck OFF) the fuse blew (it's in the #30 slot if that's of any help in diagnosing the problem).
My down-the-street mechanic buddy has used various ohm meters and such to check the connections ( I am electronically retarded) and says that the wires seem to be switched somehow coming out of the rear relay box and going into the trailer wiring connector. He gets a negative reading when checking the ground to running lights connectors (neg on the ground, pos on the running lights pin).
Is is possible that the Body shop took apart the wiring block coming out of the Relay box and switched something up? Anyone know of an online resource where I can download a diagram of how the wires SHOULD look coming out of that relay box?
I've checked the wires front to back and I see no stripped wires or shorts. Everything seems to be properly coated, and the plastic cable routing sleeves are all taped within an inch of their lives and appear to be original install, and as I said, this all worked before the accident.
Anyone know what I should be looking at that I haven't? Or can anyone think of a way for me to verify that the Relay Box is properly wired going back to the Trailer connector?
All taillights, flashers and back-up lamps appear to be working properly on the Explorer itself. Any help would be appreciated. DIYing because I am broke, unemployed, and as I said, challenged in the electronics department. I DO have confidence in the abilities of my neighbor, who spent much of his life working on/repairing and rewiring American vehicles primarily, both professionally and for friends and neighbors.
