Brake Lights and Turn Signals Do Not Work on a Trailer Towed by a 2012 Dodge Durango SXT

Question:

I bought a light kit, a haul master , deluxe 12 volt dc light kit model # 93861, i can get all the running lights to work but still have no braking or signaling lights, i have wired it per specs. that came with it, proper grounds on both truck and trailor side, however still cant get it to work on my 2012 dodge durango sxt. what am i doing wrong or does this vehicle call for a 7 blade setup to work properly with the trailor because it has both types of hookups or could the wiring harness been installed incorrectly from the dealership.

asked by: Glendon L

Expert Reply:

The easiest way to see if the issue is on your trailer or on your 2012 Dodge Durango SXT is to use a circuit tester like # PTW2993 and test the pins on the 4-way connector on your vehicle with the trailer disconnected. Assuming the vehicle was wired properly, you should be able to use the 4-way connector or the 7-way connector.

Have someone active the turn signals and brakes as you test each pin on the 4-way connector on your vehicle. I have attached a video of my co-worker demonstrating how to test a 4-way connector with a circuit tester. If the circuit tester indicates that you have the proper signals at your 4-way connector, then the issue is on your trailer. If you do not have a signal for the turn signals or the brakes, then the issue could be the wiring on your vehicle, or you could have some missing or blown fuses in your fuse box.

Your owner's manual should have a diagram that shows the location for each fuse. Check that you are not missing any fuses for the trailer wiring.

If the trailer connector on your vehicle tests fine, then we know the issue is somewhere on your trailer. The first step would be to double check the ground connections from the trailer connector and each light. Some lights will ground through the mounting stud, so you should be sure they have a good ground connection at their mounting location. The trailer connector and each light should be grounded to a clean, bare metal surface.

If the ground connections check out fine, then you will want to check for any pinch, frayed or damaged sections of the wiring that could be causing a short. I have also attached a wiring article and a video of our installation technician installing a similar trailer light kit on a trailer. This video should help when you are troubleshooting the wiring on your trailer.

If you are unable to find a solution or the cause of the issue after following these steps, then let me know what you come up with and we can take further steps.

expert reply by: John H