LED Lighted Hitch Covers Do Not Work when Plugged Into a 2006 Ford F-150

Question:

I bought 2 different trailer hitch lights in the last 2 weeks. Neither one of them have worked AT ALL on my 2006 Ford F-150. No brake lighting, no turn signals, no nothing. Yet my trailer lights work fine when hooked up to the same receiver. I also have a direct plug in for the trailer lights on my truck. It didnt work either with the hitch light. So Im hesitate to make this purchase fearing the same issue will occur.

asked by: JH W

Expert Reply:

If the other lighted hitch covers you tried were also LED then that could be the problem. On some vehicles the tow package wiring doesn't sense the draw of LED lights or might tell you that a bulb is out and it is because the LEDs draw such little power.

Since the trailer lights work when you plug it in this must be the issue. The fix for this is to install load resistors, # DI34ZR for a pair, in line with the wiring on the hitch cover light. One resistor would be needed per affected circuit.

expert reply by: Michael H