Troubleshooting Taillight Converter Thats Been Replaced Twice on 2018 Kia Soul
Question:
I have had twice now a professional shop install a trailer wiring harness on my Soul. And both times the circuit for the running lights had stopped working. The trailer is a brand new MagicTilt ALSK1617. I can find no fault in the trailer side of the wiring. Ive hooked up a 12 volt battery to the trailer and the lights all work as expected. When I plug in a 4 flat light tester to the vehicle side the LEDs light for all functions except for the tail lights works. Does this mean that the converter module is blown? I have pulled the tail lights on the vehicle and whatever unit that was installed is spliced into the existing wiring. I have not been able to locate the converter module yet he buried it behind some of the body panels inside the trunk. I am not going back and pay to have a third harness installed, just to have the running lights die before I get home. So can I just remove this unit and cap off the spices and install this Tekonsha harness #118637 and finally have running lights that will work for more than one day?
asked by: Scott S
Expert Reply:
The main reason why folks go through multiple trailer taillight wiring harnesses/converter modules is a short in the trailer wiring. I know, it's a new trailer but all it takes is one nick in the wire insulation when they were pulling the trailer wiring through the trailer frame and you'll continue blowing out converters until the end of time until you locate and repair the short. Since you're not getting any output on the taillight circuit, that's probably where the trouble lies.
I'd attempt to locate that converter box and use a circuit tester like # PTW2993 on the brown wire entering the box on the input side. Then, check the brown wire on the output side. Do this with the car headlights on. If you have signal entering but not leaving the converter box, then the box is indeed bad and needs to be replaced.
On the trailer, the taillight circuit is typically a brown wire. Follow that wire from the trailer connector all the way back to the taillights. Look for nicked or cracked wire insulation or loose connections-anything that would allow the copper wire to short out on the trailer frame. Once you find the short, repair it.
At that point, you can install the Tekonsha # 118637. As you can see from the install video I've linked, the install is pretty straightforward. I'll also link you to a help article about troubleshooting trailer wiring,
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 >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
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 >
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