Running Lights on Trailer Are Not Functioning But All Other Lights Work
Question:
I have a 2019 1500 Dodge Ram that when I hook a trailer to the running lights for the trailer wont work. all other lighting works as it should, such as the brake lights, turn signals and hazards. I checked the F 12 fuse and it is good. Is there another fuse i should check ? Do you have any insight on this matter ? Thank you
asked by: Lucas P
Expert Reply:
I would actually start by checking the ground on the trailer; a lot of times when all of the other functions are working but there is one that isn't, it's because there isn't a sufficient ground to operate that additional circuit being activated. You'll want to check the ground wire on your trailer to make sure that it is firmly secured to a corrosion and paint free surface; it might even be worth disconnecting it and sanding down the surface a bit before reconnecting it.
If you go through this process and the issue still isn't resolved, I recommend checking the vehicle's 7 way connection just to be sure that the issue isn't on the vehicle. The pin for the running lights/tail lights on your 2019 Ram's 7 way is located at the 11 o'clock position when looking at the front. Check the connection to make sure that there is no dirt/debris on the connector, first, and then you can test to make sure that the circuit is powered by using a circuit tester like the # PTW2993 with the lights turned on. If you're getting power, the issue is isolated to the trailer. If you find that the pin is not supplying power, the issue will be coming from your vehicle.
Once you determine which side of the connection the error is on, you'll want to trace back the wires on that side and check to make sure that none of the wiring on that circuit is damaged. You'll want to check to cuts in the wire that could be contacting metal and causing a short.
If you've gone through these steps and your issue still hasn't been resolved, please let me know and I will continue to help you troubleshoot this. I've also linked some of our help articles on wiring that you can use, as well.
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