why wont my trailer lights work?

Question

I have a hot dog cart with tail lights. When I turn my truck lights on (05 F150) the tail lights wont work. I can get one blinker to operate correctly, but when I turn the other one on, both tail lights flash. I seem to be getting power from two pins when I test with a meter, but one has no power ( even with the lights to the truck on ). I had a 4x8 cargo trailer and everything worked fine at first and then the tail lights did not work on that, just the blinkers and the hazards. Could this be a fuse on the truck? Sorry for writing a book.

Answer 1

If all the lights on your truck work you've lost connection from the source wire to your pigtail receptacle. Get a 12v test light put it to a good ground and check the pins at your receptacle. You should have juice to at least three pins (generally the white is ground and won't show hot). Trace the wires back to their source of power. Before going through that your test light should have a sharp point at the tip for penetrating the insulation of the wire. Check each wire at the back of the of the pigtail receptacle. Some wires may have pulled out of there. Which may be why you're getting flashing of both turn signals when one is applied. Somewhere both turn signals are getting juice when one is applied. If you have juice at the pigtail receptacle it could be wires pulled lose in your trailer pigtail. Slide back the cover and make sure they are all connected securely and no stray wire of one touching another.

Answer 2

Bad ground from the truck ball to the trailer hitch.

ADDED:
Oh, Ford.......either the fuse in the power distribution box under the hood, or burned up light switch on the dash.

Answer 3

There should be 4 wires: L-Stop/TS, R-Stop/TS, Taillight, Ground. Grounding through the trailer ball is often ineffective.

http://www.accessconnect.com/trailer_wiring_diagram.htm
:
If truck lights work, fuses should be okay. Also, better to give us too much info than not enough!

Answer 4

Check to see if the elements on both your trailer lights are ok once in awhile the element will burn off one end and fall on the tial lamp circiut and cause wierd problem

Answer 5

check the trailer ground first......it,s not the fuse...if it were you,d get nothing at all......double check your trailer wiring....sound,s like your getting a bad connection somewhere....possibly more than one bad connection.....check all point,s where wire,s were connected...especially if scotch lock wire connector,s were used.....be sure wire routing is correct...I strongly suggest soldering all connection,s & using a heat shrink type insulator....once again... be sure your trailer ground is good...best of luck to you!