Troubleshooting a Blown Running Light Fuse on a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado  

Question:

Expert Reply:

If the tail light fuse blows only when you connect the trailer, then you probably have a short in the running light circuit on your trailer.

If this is the case, then I would recommend starting at the trailer connector and checking for any corrosion or damaged pins. If you find corrosion, then you will want to remove the wires from the connector as corrosion could have spread inside of the connector. You should also check the vehicle side connector for any corrosion or damaged pins and fix as needed.

If the connector looks clean, then I would recommend following the running light circuit looking for pinched, frayed or damaged sections that would allow the circuit to short out. I would also check that all of your ground connections are clean and corrosion free.

Finally, if the trailer has a lot of additional running lights, it could be too much of a power draw which would also cause the fuse to blow and the lights to not work properly. If you find that your trailer lights are drawing too much power, then I would recommend switching to LED lights because they will have a much lower amperage draw. If you are interested in switching to LED lights just let me know and I can make some recommendations for you.

If these troubleshooting steps do not help let me know what you have come up with and some more info about the trailer and I will be glad to help you figure it out. I have attached an article on trailer wiring for you to reference while troubleshooting this issue.

expert reply by: John H

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