Troubleshooting 4-Pole Installation in 2007 Acura MDX Towing Pop-Up Camper Trailer

Question:

I installed 2 curt wiring harness on my 2007 Acura MDX to tow a pop up trailer, both failed after 1 used especially the right turn signal , there is a power on the wire between the car and module but not after that, pls advise, thanks

asked by: Jon

Helpful Expert Reply:

If two separate wiring harnesses installed in your 2007 Acura MDX have both failed after being connected to the same trailer, then I suggest you carefully check the trailer for problems like shorts and damaged insulation in its wiring. This type of harness is intended to take the hit from such a trailer fault rather than allow it to damage the car's delicate (and costly-to-replace) internal wiring.
A new trailer harness is a lot cheaper and easier to install than new vehicle wiring, but before you install a new one you'll want to check the trailer for faults and correct them so the new harness does not suffer the same fate.

Inspect the trailer wiring all the way from its 4-pole connector to each of the lights. Look at all wires, checking for cracks in the insulation, spots where the wire may rub/scrape on the trailer frame or any other signs of damage. Also make sure the harness ground is secured to a clean bare metal spot on the trailer frame. You can also test the trailer by disconnecting it from the tow vehicle and directly connecting a 12V battery to each circuit, one at a time, to see if the lights function correctly with a direct power input.

The linked article will provide additional help for troubleshooting.

expert reply by: Adam R