Trailer Wiring Harness Malfunction on 2011 Kia Sorento  

Question:

Expert Reply:

The 2011 Kia Sorento comes in quite a number of versions (EX, LX and SX both with and without the factory tow package). The correct harness for your Sorento will depend on which particular version you have.

The link provided will take you to our main page for all wiring harnesses and you can use the drop-down menu at the top of the page to choose your particular vehicle style. The first harness shown, Curt # C59236, is a hard-wired type that installs through splicing into your vehicle tail light wiring.
Installation requires correct identification of the functions carried on each vehicle wire before connecting each to the harness; this is why a circuit tester is included in the Curt kit. Other versions of the vehicle have a plug-and-play (no splicing) harness available, which is the T-connector type you mention.

If a hard-wire type kit was installed and the wires were connected incorrectly, then this could explain your issue. If the vehicle running light circuit were connected in error to the turn signal wires on the harness, this would explain their always-on condition.

If you have a hard-wired converter box, you can use a circuit tester like # PTW2993 to test the vehicle wires leading to the input side of the harness. Have a helper activate each function (lights, turn signals and brakes) one at a time while you apply the tester to the wiring. The brake wire should carry a signal only when the brake is pressed; the running light wire should have a signal only when the vehicle headlights are on; the turn signal wires should carry a blinking on-and-off signal only when the vehicle turn lights are activated. If correct signals are going into the harness but not coming out, then the unit is bad.

I have linked an article on troubleshooting 4-pole installations and a video on how to use a tester.

expert reply by: Adam R

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