Pilot Hitch Cover Brake and Tail Light CR-007A Stays On Even When Vehicle Lights Are Off

Question:

I installed this wiring kit and it worked fine with a u-haul trailer. I bought the Bully CR-007A lighted hitch cover and when I plug it in the light is off, then if I hit the brake or turn the lights on the hitch cover light stays on even after the car lights are off. Any ideas? 2010 Chevrolet Equinox.

asked by: Jeffrey S

Expert Reply:

The Tow Ready T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness you installed, part # 118494, is a powered custom-fit converter and its installation in a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is shown in the linked video.

There are a few possible causes for the issue you are having with your Pilot Hitch Cover Brake and Taillight # CR-007A. If you have access to another 4-pole harness-equipped vehicle you can try the light on that vehicle to see if it displays the same problem. If not, the best method for locating the issue is to first disconnect the light at the 4-pole and to separately test the output from the harness on its 4-pole connector. A lighted circuit tester such as # PTW2993 is best for this.

With the hitch light disconnected and a helper on hand to activate the vehicle lighting functions one at a time, test the output from the harness 4-pole with a circuit tester. I have linked a photo of a 4-pole showing the point where you should ground the tester and the three pins that carry the lighting functions. You will test each function one at a time while your helper activates each function. For example, with the vehicle lights on, apply the test probe to the pin for the brown running light wire; here you should detect a steady signal. On the green and yellow wires you should detect on-and-off blinking turn signals when the turn signals are activated and braking signals when the brakes are applied. Please refer to the linked video that shows this testing process.

If the harness output is not correct then you can re-check all the contacts on the connectors (the ones plugged in to your tail lights) and also the white ground wire with ring terminal. The ground wire must be firmly attached to a clean bare metal surface in order to provide proper harness operation. Clean any contacts that show any signs of greenish or whitish discoloration.

It is also possible that vibration may have caused the ground wire to become loose; you can try tightening it or moving it to a different surface with better metal-to-metal contact. You can sand off any paint at the grounding location if you wish. You might also refer to the linked troubleshooting article concerning 4-pole wiring installations.

Although this may be a remote possibility, it is also possible that the rented trailer had an intermittent short within its wiring that could have damaged the converter. If you can test the vehicle/converter with another trailer you can determine if the converter still functions and whether the problem is in the hitch light itself.