Help. Wiring a 4-Pin Connector

[sledgehammer1990]

I am leaving for a trip on Monday. Instead of spending the extra cash for the ford wiring that plugs into the 8 pin towing package. I thought I would splice it in myself.

After cutting off the 8 pin plug and stripping the wires, I wired everything together. Yellow to yellow, green to green, brown to brown, and white to white. After those 4 were connected, I had 3 other ground wires left. I didn't worry about them at first, so I left them there.

I tested the lights, and nothing. I connected the 3 other ground wires together and everything works. Flashers, tail lights, turn signals. I only have one issue... When I turn my head lights on, hazards work, but turn signals don't. I flip on the right turn signal, and on the trailer. It is off and the left side of solid. I turn on the left turn signal and the right side it solid. I don't know what is up or how to fix it. Please help.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I am leaving for a trip on Monday. Instead of spending the extra cash for the ford wiring that plugs into the 8 pin towing package. I thought I would splice it in myself.

After cutting off the 8 pin plug and stripping the wires, I wired everything together. Yellow to yellow, green to green, brown to brown, and white to white. After those 4 were connected, I had 3 other ground wires left. I didn't worry about them at first, so I left them there.

I tested the lights, and nothing. I connected the 3 other ground wires together and everything works. Flashers, tail lights, turn signals. I only have one issue... When I turn my head lights on, hazards work, but turn signals don't. I flip on the right turn signal, and on the trailer. It is off and the left side of solid. I turn on the left turn signal and the right side it solid. I don't know what is up or how to fix it. Please help.

Well, I can't imagine its a good thing that when you wire three wires together, things sort of work as they should. Those three wires are for something, wiring them together is a bad idea, IMO. My suggestion would be to put the wires back together and buy the relatively inexpensive plug to do it right.

 

[sledgehammer1990]

Well, nothing worked unless those 3 wires are back together. They grounding wires that go back to the relay. I am buying a connector today, but thanks for your help anyway.

 

[OgreOwner]

Those three are the relay returns since the towing package has a separate circuit for the trailer. They are on the same fuse as the radio. Those three join together and become the ground lead on the factory 4 wire flat cable. I verified this by taking a cable apart since I have two of the things - there was one hanging off where somebody before me had hacked a trailer lights setup.

 

[thebrakeman]

Never heard of an 8-pin connector. Standards for RV (and Ford towing package) is the 4-flat (lights only), and the 7-pin round "Bargman".

The 7-pins are:
right turn signal
left turn signal
park lights
ground
12 volt aux (charge line)
electric brakes
reverse lights (not always connected/used).

It sounds to me like you have connected the charge line, electric brake line, and reverse line together. Either you are talking about something completely different, or you really have your system screwed up.

 

[thebrakeman]

PS - They have little adaptors at Walmart or auto supply store for probably $8. Plug into the 7-pin socket, and it provides a 4-flat connector. This way, you retain the 7-pin connector for resale value (or your next larger trailer).