Troubleshooting Trailer Wiring Harness Installation in 2014 Dodge Avenger R/T  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Since you have had your wiring harness installation tested with a circuit tester and have found it to carry the appropriate lighting signals from your 2014 Avenger, the issue is almost certainly within the trailer's wiring.

Inspect the trailer connector for any signs of corrosion. The contacts do not have to appear rusty or deteriorated to have a corrosion issue; even slight greenish or whitish discoloration can indicate mild corrosion that can interfere with signal transmission. Clean the trailer connector with a spray-on contact cleaner (available at most auto and hardware stores) or replace it. If you do need to replace it you can use a 4-pole # W787264 along with a junction box # 38656 and ring terminals # 44-5310A to make the connections.

Also check that the (usually white) ground wire is solidly affixed to a clean bare metal surface on the trailer frame. (Aluminum trailer or trailers with folding tongues can present a grounding problem so in these cases separate ground wires may be needed for each light). Look for signs of worn or cracked insulation in all of the trailer wiring and replace or repair as needed.

You can also test the trailer directly (without connecting it to your Avenger) by applying 12V power to each lighting circuit using a spare battery or the vehicle's battery. Connect a wire between the negative battery post and the trailer connector's ground pin and then connect another wire from the positive post one at a time to each of the other pins to check for correct light functions within the trailer itself. If you have access to another vehicle with a 4-pole connector you can try the trailer with that vehicle; if the lights work then the problem is within the vehicle wiring harness.

I have linked a troubleshooting article with additional guidance.

expert reply by: Adam R

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