Troubleshooting Trailer Tail Lights that Remain On When the 2006 Ford Escape is Not Running

Question:

I have a trailer hook up with the converter that runs the power directly from the batterie I have new lights and wireing on the trailer. When I connect the trailer wireing from the vehicle to the trailer I have all the correct lights but when you shut the vehicle off vehicle the tail lights are still on in the trailer, I run a direct wirer for the ground from the trailer to the hitch on the vehicle I get a low spark when I connect it. I am concern about the sparking of the ground and why does the tail lights on the trailer stay on.

asked by: Randy R

Expert Reply:

There is no need to run the ground wire from the trailer to the hitch. Since the hitch is painted this may not give you an adequate ground.

Make sure the ground from the black converter box is securely attached to the Escape frame and that it has direct metal contact with the frame. The white ground wire from the trailer side connector should be securely attached to the trailer frame, again with good metal to metal contact. That way, when you plug the two connectors together the ground circuit is completed.

Nothing should be sparking.

With the trailer disconnected, use a circuit tester like part # PTW2993 to test the vehicle connector. The brown wire should be come active when you have the parking or head lights on. Yellow wire is active when you hit the brakes or have the left blinker on. Green should be active with brakes or when the right blinker is on.

If these functions do not act properly, I would begin to think something may be wrong with the harness, especially with the sparking. You may want to double check the install. The yellow and the red bundles should be connected to the back of the driver side tail light and the green should should be connected to the passenger side tail light.

Please let us know what you find and we will be glad to help further.

expert reply by: Patrick B