Converting 6-Way Square to 4-Way Flat on a Honda Odyssey

Question:

I tried to convert my trailer side 6 way square to my vehicle 4 way flat. I had running lights, directionals, hazards all working, But now my battery in my honda odyssey is dead. Do you think my popup might have a wire that charges the battery? I didnt have my car running when I was testing wires. Do people usually hook up wiring so popup battery will charge? Thank you and God Bless.

asked by: tim b

Expert Reply:

There are a number of wiring situations for the 6-Way square connector. Your trailer may have a battery, trailer brakes and/or backup lights, along with the taillights, left stop and turn light, right stop and turn light and ground wire.

You said your trailer has a battery. If the battery circuit was somehow connected to the vehicle lighting circuits, you may have damaged the converter attached to the trailer wiring harness that switches the Odyssey 3 wire system down to the trailers two wire system. This could then allow the vehicle battery to be drained. You could have caused a short that damaged the battery or some other component on the vehicle.

At this point I would use a circuit tester, item # , to test the wiring at the rear of the vehicle. If you have power on the vehicle side 4-Way wire harness, with none of the lighting functions activated, and the trailer plugged in, there is definitely something wrong with your conversion.

Use the circuit tester and make sure you attach the correct wires from the vehicle 4-Way connector to the correct wires that the trailer 6-Way uses for the taillight, Right turn/stop, left turn/stop and ground.

If I were doing this conversion, I would use an Adapter 4 Pole to 6 Pole and 4 Pole, item # 37175, and trailer end item # PK11604, to convert the vehicle and trailer over to the 6-Way round. If you do not need the extra two functions on the vehicle side adapter you can just tie them up out of the way with a wire tie for possible future use.

I have posted a link to wiring diagrams for you to review.