Troubleshooting Failed Hopkins Powered Taillight Converter 46255 in 2013 Toyota RAV4
Question:
2013 Toyota Rav 4. Purchased new in March 2013, the dealer installed an aftermarket hitch U-Haul and a Hopkins 46255 Power Taillight Converter. In March 2016 the taillights failed so I took it back to the dealer. Vehicle factory installed 10AMP taillight fuse was blown - they said the converter was faulty and installed another Hopkins 46255. In March 2016 the taillights failed again and there was an electrical burning smell in the car so I took took a look at the converter. Again the vehicle factory installed 10AMP taillight fuse was blown and this time the ground wire to the converter was melted see picture. I remover the converter and taped off the wire ends. Note - The converter was never used, since the vehicle was purchased I have never plugged the harness into a trailer. Before I contact the dealer - was the wrong converter used? Is this the root cause for the failure?
asked by: Don
Expert Reply:
The Hopkins 4-pole harness we offer for your RAV4 is part # HM11141820 and this installs by plugging in at your taillight wiring connectors and via a single 12V power wire connection at your vehicle battery. If your vehicle taillights failed after these harness installations this suggests a problem in the converter module itself or a short in the connectors/wiring between the vehicle and the module. The good new is that the unit did what it was intended to - fail before it allowed any damage to the vehicle's own internal wiring. A harness is much less costly than vehicle repairs.
Hopkins part # 46255 is a universal-fit powered harness that has to be hard-wired for installation; it does not have the same custom-fit plugs as the kit noted above. Since this part requires hard wiring there is a chance for incorrect installation.
We have found that Tekonsha brand wiring products have very good reliability so I suggest you replace the Hopkins with part # 118578. It will install via the custom-fit taillight connectors and the one single power wire to the battery.
For your harness white ground wire to fry that way the unit had to have seen a very high current draw, again most likely from internal damage or a short circuit. Since you state you have NEVER connected a trailer, the cause for the failure would then have to be in the vehicle. Check your vehicle taillight connectors for signs of corrosion, bent or damaged contacts or for worn or damaged insulation - anything that could explain the short - and repair or replace as needed. Since the vehicle taillights failed I would pay particular attention to those connectors.
If you had connected a trailer with a wiring issue then that too could cause the harness to fail in the same way. In this case you want to find and fix the wiring issue on the trailer before installing a new wiring harness or the new one may suffer the same fate.
Products Referenced in This Question
T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring
- Trailer Hitch Wiring
- Powered Converter
- Custom Fit
- 4 Flat
- Tekonsha
more information >
Hopkins Active Tail Light Converter with Install Kit
- Trailer Wiring
- Trailer Connectors
- Vehicle End Connector
- Plug and Lead
- 4 Flat
- Hopkins
more information >
Hopkins Plug-In Simple Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring
- Trailer Hitch Wiring
- Powered Converter
- Custom Fit
- 4 Flat
- Hopkins
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring
- Trailer Hitch Wiring
- Powered Converter
- Custom Fit
- 4 Flat
- CURT
more information >
Featured Help Information
Instructions
Miscellaneous Media
Continue Researching
- Search Results: trailer light tester
- Shop: Trailer Wiring
- Video: Powerbuilt Trim Pad Remover Demonstration
- Shop: Hopkins Plug-In Simple Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Shop: Powerbuilt Trim Pad Remover
- Shop: Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Video: Best 2017 Toyota RAV4 Trailer Wiring Options
- Video: Powerbuilt Wiring - Tools for Wiring - ALL648544 Review
- Shop: T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Q&A: Troubleshooting Trailer Lights Not Working on 2007 Toyota RAV4
- Video: Trailer Wiring Harness Installation - 2007 Toyota RAV4 118412
- Video: Trailer Wiring Harness Installation - 2007 Toyota RAV4
- Shop: Trailer Hitch
- Shop: Curt LED 4-Way Flat Connector (Vehicle End) Tester
- Shop: Brake Controller
- Shop: Roof Rack
- Shop: Vehicle Lights
- Search Results: taillight converter 311 0041 130
- Shop: 9005 LED Headlight Bulbs with Anti-Flicker Harness - Single Beam - 4,565 Lumens - Cool White - Qty 2
- Shop: etrailer Rubber Hitch Cover for 2" Trailer Hitches - Qty 1
- Search Results: i26
- Video: Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness Installation - 2018 Toyota RAV4
- Video: Choosing the Right Trailer Wiring
- Search Results: trailer hitch
- Q&A: What is the Difference Between a Class II and a Class III Hitch?
- Article: Brake Controller 7- and 4-Way Installation Kit (ETBC7)
- Search Results: hitch
- Q&A: What is the Difference Between a 4-Way and 7-Way Trailer Connector
- Article: How to Choose the Right Trailer Hitch Class
- Q&A: What Hitch Do You Recommend for a 2024 Toyota RAV4?