Trailer Lighting Issue After Installing LED-Type License Plate Light on Toy Hauler

Question

Question:

I bought a LED license plate light for my toy hauler that does not have LED lights. once mounted and turned on, all my trailer lights went off. I know have my engine light in my truck that stays on with a message that my slip traction option is off. The LED light had a Brown and White wire. Trailer only had Black wire. I attached the Black and brown together and White to frame of the trailer. Did I do something wrong? how can I fix this issue? please advise

asked by: David

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Expert Reply:

Generally a trailer light's ground wire will be white in color, so it sounds like you installed the LED light correctly. LED lights use only a small fraction of the power required by standard incandescent lights, so it is not likely to be an overloading issue; also, there is not usually any issue mixing LED and standard bulbs. I do not see any way that the trailer would be able to affect the Tundra's instrument cluster (let alone its traction control); I do not think these issues are related.

First you can try checking all of the fuses in the truck's power distribution box in the engine compartment. Make sure any fuse labeled trailer or tow is good.

Next, I suggest you disconnect the trailer from the truck and test the connector on the truck for proper operation using a circuit tester like # PTW2993. I have linked a video to illustrate how to test for proper signals on the truck connector.

If the truck tests out okay, then you can test the disconnected trailer using a spare battery. Apply power to each circuit on the trailer connector one at a time to see if the lighting functions operate properly. If not, you will want to inspect all trailer wiring, especially the connector itself, looking for signs of damaged insulation or cracks that could lead to a short.

The linked article on troubleshooting will give you additional guidance.

expert reply by: Adam R

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Answer 1

The brakes should still work fairly well. The magnets, when energized, cling to the armature surface of the drum and the rotations of the drum pull the magnet which then pushes out the shoes to make contact with the drum. If the brakes seem weak then…

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Answer 2

A ground wire getting hot and discolored is typically a sign of too much amperage being pulled through the wire. An easy fix for that is to reduce the amperage draw of your trailer's wiring by switching to LED lights or by going with a heavier…

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Answer 3

Thank you for the photo and what is causing the ground wire is the aluminum trailer; it's called galvanic corrosion and is an unfortunate side effect of having an aluminum trailer. This happening once every 18 months or so sounds about right and…

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Answer 4

I can help you with greasing up your EZ Lube Axle. First thing I would check would be that the grease is not coming out of the back of the axle through the seal. If this is the case you will need to replace the seal. Our tubes like #L11390 have 14…

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Answer 5

You just need to pack the bearings on hub and drum assembly #8-276-5. There's no such thing as too much grease for bearings! If it is an EZ lube hub with a grease zerk fitting at the end of the spindle you will know there is enough grease once it…

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Answer 6

After you've packed the bearings and assembled everything, carefully slide the hub assembly onto the spindle and install the outer bearing. Install the spindle and tang washer and run the spindle nut down finger tight, then rotate the hub back…

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Answer 7

It is still a good idea to periodically change out the bearings and seals in a hub even if you have an EZ Lube axle. Races can be tricky to remove as well but if other parts are worn it would be a good idea to replace them if you are replacing…

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Answer 8

The difference between the single lip and double lip seals is that the double lip grease seal will have two rubber lips that are in contact with the spindle. The double lip grease seals are usually used in marine applications to give a better seal…

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Answer 9

It sounds like the seals have failed and the grease from the bearings has come out during travel. Also it is possible that if you have an EZ lube axle with a grease zerk at the end to add grease but use a single lip seal, the pressure can blow out…

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Answer 10

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 11

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 12

The difference between an load range C and load range D tire in the same size is the capacity and psi rating. The two tires will still have the same dimensions and fit on the same wheel. The D rated tire has a higher capacity. For a ST175/80D13 like…

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Trailer Lighting Issue After Installing LED-Type License Plate Light on Toy Hauler

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