Troubleshooting LED Trailer Lights on Trailer Towed by 2012 Ford Escape Limited

Question

Question:

2012 Ford Escape Limited 4WD - We purchased a 2013 Utility trailer with LED lights and they dont work. The trailer seems to work for everyone elses vehicle, just not ours. We had the dealer install the hitch through a 3rd party when we bought it and they used the 4 - way flat wiring. Will the C35FR also work for the Escape? Also, where can I find instructions on how to install it? I contacted the Ford dealer in my area and they have never heard of this issue, which I am finding VERY hard to believe. Thanks for your help. :

asked by: Denise

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Expert Reply:

The 7-Way to 5-Way and 4-Way Trailer Adapter # C35FR is intended for use with German-made vehicles like VW, Audi and Porsche that have a 7-way RV-style trailer socket but it will not fit your 4-pole wiring. It is not usually required for vehicles like your 2012 Ford Escape.

For reference, we offer several wiring harnesses for your Escape that can be seen on the link provided. If your Escape did not have the factory tow package (which appears to be the case) then you'd use harness # 118551. If it did then the correct part is # 118251.

You can test your 4-pole wiring easily enough. This is best done without a trailer connected. You'll just need a circuit tester like # PTW2993 and a helper to activate the lighting functions on the Escape while you test. Please refer to the linked video for illustration of how the tester works and to the linked photo for the function carried on each pin on the 4-pole. You will ground the tester to the exposed ground pin and then one at a time test the three pins. The brown (running light) wire should carry a steady signal when the Escape's headlights are on; the yellow wire should have an on-and-off signal when the left turn is activated and a steady signal when the brake is pressed. The green wire should do the same for the right turn signal and brake.

If you detect the correct signals on your Escape's 4-pole wiring then you may need load resistors on the trailer to increase the resistance so the harness "sees" it properly. Since LEDs use so little power sometimes they do not "appear" to the harness. Part # DI34ZR from will install on the trailer. If you do NOT detect the correct signals on the vehicle 4-pole you may need to re-install or replace the harness.

You can also test the trailer directly (when disconnected from the car) by applying 12V power to each circuit on the trailer. The trailer lights should work fine when you apply power directly from the car battery (or from a spare 12V).

expert reply by: Adam R

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Answer 1

It's not uncommon for a single trailer wiring circuit not to work but if most of the circuits are active and only one isn't it wouldn't be the issue you described of having to have a dealer turn on the tow package. If this…

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Answer 2

If this is a new Malone Microsport trailer #MPG460G, it would lead me to believe that there's an issue with the wiring that can be simply fixed instead of completely replacing it. I would start by cleaning the vehicle wiring harness of any…

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Answer 3

If both turn signals blinking at the same time is a new problem that has occurred after the harness had worked fine before, there are a couple of possibilities that may be causing the issue. First, the easiest thing to check are the trailer…

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Answer 4

What you are describing is normally the result one 1 of 3 issues: First, there could be some corrosion in or on the connectors on the vehicle or trailer side or both. Second there could be a bad ground. Bad grounds can cause all sorts of bizarre…

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Answer 5

Thank you for reaching out! The top of the lid for the Storage Trunk for Malone MicroSport and XtraLight Trailers #MPG481 is going to sit roughly 10" above the trailer frame according to my contact at Malone. I've attached a review video for…

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Answer 6

That's a 4-way connector in your picture and what comes with the Malone MicroSport LowBed Trailer #MPG464-LB. The fourth pin is the ground circuit and the other three carry the signals for the circuits.

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Answer 7

It sounds like you are experiencing a hyper flashing issue. This usually happens if LED lights were added to a vehicle or if an incandescent bulb has burned out or is about to burn out but this is the first time I have heard of it related to…

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Answer 8

I do have a way for you to test the wiring on your 2013 Ford Escape and it will be the same whether you have the T-Connector #C56335 or T-One #118566. If you've already checked all of your connections and found them to be in proper working order…

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Answer 9

It could be a tow package fuse on the vehicle. Use the owners manual to find the locations of fuses/relays related to the tow package wiring to check them and replace as needed. If the issue is not a fuse or relay then you can test the vehicle side…

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Answer 10

If the factory trailer wiring harness in your 2014 Ford Escape does not function correctly with the LED lights on your trailer you can correct this issue by installing load resistors at each of the trailer lights. You do not need to replace the…

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Answer 11

When someone is experiencing out of control or hyper flashing turn signals, a few things come to mind. First would be, does the trailer have LED lights? If so, installing load resistors, #DI34ZR, on the turn signal circuits should solve the problem.…

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Answer 12

Yes. The tail lights on the Malone Microsport trailers like the #MPG460XT are submersible. You can use the #STL28RB & #STL29RB to replace these lights with another submersible light or go with a completely sealed and waterproof light set with the…

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