Troubleshooting Right Turn Signal Not Working on Dump Trailer

Question:

Morning! The right rear light on my trailer only works with brake and in on position. Right turn signal doesnt work. I have replaced the light itself as it did not work at all before, now no turn signal. Can you guide me? Thanks,

asked by: Nilda S

Expert Reply:

If just the right turn signal on your trailer is not working, the cause is likely a weak or bad ground connection. The brake and turn signals are typically sent along the same circuit, so most likely the issue isn't related to your tow vehicle or the lights themselves, as it sounds like the brake light is working fine. A weak ground can cause a lot of unusual things to happen with the trailer lights, so I suspect this is the issue.

Since you just replaced the light assembly, I recommend first making sure that the assembly itself is securely grounded. Depending on the style of light, it may have a dedicated ground wire or it may simply ground through its mounting hardware. Regardless of how it is installed, you will want to make sure it is grounded, or installed, onto a bare metal surface without any dirt or corrosion. Also check to make sure that the grounds on your trailer wiring are secured in the same manner.

If this does not resolve the issue, please let me know and I will be happy to look into this further.

expert reply by: Chris R