Can Factory Trailer Connector on 2002 Chevy Silverado be Opened Up to Check for Shorts

Question:

I have a 2002 Silverado with factory towing package .when I hooked up the boat trailer the left turn blinker wont work . when I unhooked the trailer the left blinker on the trucks wireharness wont work....the blinker itself works on the truck but no juice to the prong on the harness....how do you open the factory harness to check for shorts

asked by: Rich

Expert Reply:

If the connector on your 2002 Chevy Silverado is all one molded piece then you won't be able to open it up and it would just have to be replaced it if was the problem. The first thing I would check is the truck owners manual for the fuse locations related to the tow package wiring to see if any are blown.

If your connector is not one piece then there are likely at least 2 screws holding it together and there is likely a harness that plugs into the back. On the harness there should be a locking tab you will need to depress or pry up on to pull off the harness from the back of the connector.

Check for dirt and corrosion inside and outside of the truck and trailer side connectors. Make sure all grounds are attached to clean and corrosion free bare metal surfaces especially on the trailer.

And you can check for exposed copper wiring touching metal that may be causing a short.

expert reply by: Michael H