Troubleshooting Boat Trailer Running Lights Staying on Even When 2011 Equinox is Shut off

Question:

I just re-wired my boat trailer and the running lights/side marker lights are causing me problems. At first, the marker lights would flicker and go out but the tail lights on the trailer would still work. After driving for a short time the running lights went out but the brake and turn signals would work. Then the next day I turned the system on again and the fuse blew. I have an aftermarket wiring harness on the car with a separately wired converter. I checked the wiring connections on the trailer and there does not seem to be any crossed wires and all connections seem to be solid. The brake, turn signal, and running lights are all grounded to the same spot. I clipped the marker lights just to see if there was a problem with them and after installing a new fuse, the running lights came on. But when I shut off the car and the car's running lights went out, the trailer running lights stayed on, it didn't matter whether the car switch was on, off or on automatic. I am wondering if the problem might be with the aftermarket converter that I installed in 2011. Any insight would be appreciated.

asked by: Greg

Expert Reply:

There are a host of potential problems with wiring, so troubleshooting them is going to be a process of elimination. The first thing to do would be double-check the ground connections. Make sure the ground area is clean and free of corrosion and paint to the point that bare metal is visible. Once you have confirmed that the ground connections are solid, you can check the functions at the 4-way plug by using a circuit tester such as # PTW2993.

You'll need to make sure your wires are in the correct location and also that you have the correct harness; I've added a link for you which will lead you to all of the wiring harnesses that are confirmed fits for a 2011 Chevy Equinox.

With a boat trailer, something else to watch out for is the connectors getting wet which could cause too many amps being pulled through the converter. Make sure to disconnect your trailer connections before backing into the water. If you are still having issues, please refer to the pair of help articles on wiring and troubleshooting wiring I've attached.

expert reply by: Kyle S