Popentx
Hurst, TX, USA
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Joined: 09/19/2003
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I just purchased a used (1998) Coachmen pop-up trailer but none of the trailer lights work. I purchased a tester to make sure power was coming from the tow vehicle (1999 Ford Expedition) and it appears to be fine so the problem must be somewhere in the trailer wiring.
Since this is my first experience towing anything I don't know what to look for. The wiring looks good to me (no cut wires or obvious connection problems). Any suggestions?
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Bob O
Mosinee, Wisconsin & Sacramento, California
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Joined: 07/08/2003
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Check to make sure you hve a good ground between the trailer and the tow vehicle. I prefer to ground direct to tne Neg. side of the TV battery.
Bob
1998 Dodge 2500 Cummins QuadCab
2000 Cedar Creek 32'
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smokedummy
Eddy TX
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Joined: 06/08/2003
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If you have a good ground between the TV and trailer, next check for a good ground connection between the wiring plug and the trailer frame, then between the frame and the lights. All of the back lights stopped working on my TT at one time; the problem was a bad connection of a ground wire to the frame near the rear end of the trailer.
Trailer lights have always been a pain, always will be, especially when the trailer gets some age on it. You're lucky - yours is only 5 years old. Mine is pushing 28.
1976 Prowler 18'
Boondocking on the beach, Port Aransas TX
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bmckee
Owasso, Oklahoma
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Joined: 05/23/2003
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I assume you are talking about the stop and tail lights and the side marker lights. I agree with checking the ground wire.
If you have a meter with the ohm scale you can run a continuity check of your wiring. Do without power being connected to the trailer. Check between ground terminal and frame. Meter should show 0 ohms if ok. Check between tail light terminal and tail light contact. If you do not show continuity I would start at the plug and check at each connector or splice in the wiring. A 1998 camper should not have a wiring problem unless it has been setting and their is a lot of corrosion on the plug or the light terminals. That is unless something has chewed or torn the wires loose.
If you ever have a problem with the interior lights my popup had a safety switch that would cut off power to the interior lights when I put the top down. At times the switch would stick and I would not have power. Most of the Popups probably have this switch. No problem after you finally figure it out the first time.
Good Luck
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DoubleTrouble
Santa Clarita, CA
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Joined: 07/10/2003
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If none of the lights work it’s usually a ground problem.
Since you have newer equipment, you probably have a 7-circuit (blade) plug from the trailer to the factory tow receptacle so you shouldn’t have any problems there.
If you’re using a continuity tester (test light with a battery in it) then unplug the trailer from the tow vehicle and check to see if you have continuity from terminal 1 (white, ground) of the plug to a good ground on the trailer. You can do the same test on the tow vehicle receptacle to verify ground at the appropriate terminal.
If you’re using a test light (no battery), connect the alligator clip end to the positive terminal of the trailer’s battey. Touch the point end to a known good ground on the trailer frame and make sure the light turns on. Now, touch the tester point to terminal 1 on the plug. If the test light does not turn on then you’ve got a missing ground connection somewhere between the plug and frame. Usually, somewhere up front on the trailer frame, you can trace the cord and find the heavy (10 ga) white wire attached to the frame with a screw and star washer under it.
Look here http://www.marksrv.com/wiring.htm for connector pin-outs.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
--Steve
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'03 F-350 XLT 6.0 Powerstroke Torqshift Crew DRW 4WD 4.10's
'03 Fleetwood Quantum 285 5th Wheel
'97 Mastercraft 21' ski boat (summer) or
20' Santek enclosed toy trailer (winter)
Tekonsha Prodigy brake control
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