Trailer Brake Lights and Turn Signals Do Not Work with Wiring Harness C55358 on a 1997 Toyota Camry

Question:

I have a toyota camry 97 and i am trying to wire trailer lights to the camry. I got the wiring kit with T clips, it was easy to install. I also have a wire test kit to and the lights on the car are all working including blinkers, brakes and running, but the only thing coming off the trailer is bright brake light no blinkers work and the brake lights do not work on the trailer. i am very confused why this is happening because everything on the car works, is there a fuse that i need to change out or is the wiring harness broken

asked by: Joe

Expert Reply:

It sounds like you have a bad ground on the trailer. First, to eliminate the vehicle or wiring harness as the problem, use your circuit tester to test the 4-Way on harness # C55358. If the signals are correct coming out and going into the black converter box, then the issue is on the trailer.

If you find the signals are wrong going into the converter, then there is a problem with the vehicle wiring that needs to be addressed. And if the signals are correct going into the converter but wrong coming out, then the converter is bad, and it needs to be replaced.

Make sure that the wiring harness is grounded to a bare metal surface and check the trailer connector for corrosion and clean it out. Next, check the main ground on the trailer and make sure it is connected to a clean and corrosion free bare metal surface.

Next check the grounds for the trailer lights. Trailer lights often ground through the mounting studs if there is no obvious ground wire. In either case, make sure the lights are grounded to clean and corrosion free bare metal surfaces.

Another possibility is that if the trailer lights draw more power than what the harness is rated for, it will blow the converter. The harness is rated for 2.1 amps maximum per side for stop/turn lights and 4.2 amps total for running lights.

expert reply by: Michael H