Troubleshooting Trailer Lights on 1996 Evans Log Trailer and Dashboard Noise  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Normally when there is an issue with some wiring working and some not working it is due to a bad ground or a short. The noise in your dash sounds like another wiring issue with a relay or a circuit breaker and can be due to a bad ground or a short as well.

Let's start with the lighting issue. I recommend using a circuit tester like # PTW2993 and checking each function at your trailer connector when the trailer is not connected. Individually check each pin for proper function on your vehicle. If the running lights do not work there, then you have isolated the issue to your vehicle. If they do work there, then you have isolated the issue to your trailer.

The first thing to check in either case is your ground connection. You will have a ground on your vehicle side and a ground on your trailer. Those ground connections need to be bare metal to metal without corrosion or rust. Most of the time when one function doesn't work, it is due to this connection not being clean enough for proper ground. Even paint can be an issue, so you need bare metal to metal. If you fix this issue, you should have all the functions and your dash noise should go away too.

I also recommend cleaning the connections of your trailer with some light sand paper and using dielectric grease like # 11755 to help the electrical connection and keep dirt, debris, and moisture out.

If your ground connection is not the issue, then you will need to trace that running light wire from your connection probing the insulated wire every few feet to locate the short. When a short is found, you will need to replace that portion of the wire using # 16-1-1 which is sold by the foot.

I've attached a video and a wiring article to assist. Let me know if you have further questions.

expert reply by: Jason S

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