Battery Dies After Installing the Curt Powered Wiring Harness on a 2008 Ford Escape
Question:
Sir, I have a 2008 Ford Escape that I installed my new Curt trailer hitch and wiring harness assembly. Since I have installed the product, my battery has drained completely and dead when I tried to start it. I have removed the fuse to see if the drain was from the wiring harness. The battery did not lose any power and did not drain with the fuse removed from the wiring harness. What could be causing the wiring harness to drain my battery?
asked by: Bill W
Expert Reply:
There are a few things that could cause your battery to drain after installing a trailer wiring harness like the Curt T-Connector, # C56329. The first thing that we can test for is a bad converter box. With the fuse in place, test the 4-flat connector on the wiring harness without any vehicle lights on using a circuit tester with an incandescent bulb like part # PTW2993. Be sure to test each pin. If there is constant power on any of the pins with the vehicle lights off, then the converter box could be bad and would need to be replaced.
I have attached a video of my coworker demonstrating how to test a 4-way trailer connector with a circuit tester for you to check out.
If the 4-flat connector is functioning properly, then there are a few other factors to consider. Typically, with vehicles that are a few years old and still have the original battery, our installers have found that the battery will die or be close to dead once the installation is complete. This is because the rear hatch, side doors or hood were left open for many hours causing the interior lights to be on the entire time.
If the 4-flat connector is functioning correctly and the vehicle battery is now charged install the fuse into the fuse holder to see if the battery dies again. If there is no power coming out of the converter box, it would be very difficult for the converter box to drain a vehicle battery. The converter box on this harness only draws a few milliamps that would not affect the battery.
If you are unable to resolve the problem, let me know what you come up with and we can do further troubleshooting.
Products Referenced in This Question
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring
- Trailer Hitch Wiring
- Powered Converter
- Custom Fit
- 4 Flat
- CURT
more information >
Featured Help Information
Instructions
Miscellaneous Media
Continue Researching
- Shop: Trailer Wiring
- Shop: Trailer Hitch
- Article: Wiring Trailer Lights with a 7-Way Plug (It's Easier Than You Think)
- Article: Brake Controller 7- and 4-Way Installation Kit (ETBC7)
- Article: Trailer Wiring Diagrams
- Article: Wiring Trailer Lights with a 4-Way Plug (It's Easier Than You Think)
- Q&A: Can a European 7-Way Trailer Connector be Converted to a U.S. 4-Way
- Shop: Curt Powered Tail Light Converter with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Shop: Fluid Filters
- Shop: Vehicle Lights
- Shop: Performance Chip Tuners
- Shop: Tire Chains
- Shop: Brake Controller
- Video: Tekonsha T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness Installation - 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan
- Search Results: 56331
- Shop: Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires
- Video: Curt Wiring - Trailer Connectors - C59236 Review
- Shop: Hopkins Tail Light Converter with 4-Way Flat Trailer Connector
- Shop: Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty Brake Controller - Dash Knob - 1 to 2 Axles - Proportional
- Shop: Curt Powered Tail Light Converter w/ 4-Way Flat Trailer Connector and Install Kit
- Shop: 7-Way RV Upgrade Kit for Trailer Brake Controller Installation - 12 Gauge Wires
- Shop: T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Video: Performance Tool Hook Probe Circuit Tester Review
- Search Results: quick splice wire connectors
- Search Results: heavy duty tail light converter
- Q&A: Can the Tongue Weight of a Vehicle Be Increased
- Video: Timbren Vehicle Suspension - Rear Axle Suspension Enhancement - TFPR001 Review
- Q&A: Is a Battery Isolator Needed When Using 7-Way Connector To Charge the Trailer Battery
- Q&A: Wil Curt Trailer Wiring Harness C59236 Work with LED and Incandescent Lights
- Q&A: Should Vehicle Battery Be Disconnected Before Installing Curt Wiring Harness C56208
on Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring
