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Trailer clearance lights all out

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by gokiddogo, May 13, 2014.

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  1. May 13, 2014 #1
    gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    Can't figure this one out.

    My trailer turn signals, brake lights, even abs light comes on as per normal, but none of the clearance/marker lights work. I don't know anything as to how this trailer is wired, or if it has fuses, where to even start. Trailer is a vanguard, year is 2010.

    The other day it did it, and I unplugged the main cord from truck to trailer and plugged it back in and was good to go. Not the same story today. BTW - it is a new cable, only a few months old, if that changes anything ..

    It rained very heavy all day today, if that makes any difference.
     
    gokiddogo, May 13, 2014
    gokiddogo, May 13, 2014
    #1
    sirrepairsalot and eeb Thank this.
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  3. May 13, 2014 #2
    eeb

    eeb Heavy Load Member

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    Check your truck's fuses yet? Many have separate fuses for taillights and marker lights. 'Course if you do have a blown fuse, you then need to figure out why it blew. Possible that one of the lights is full of water, or you have water in the harness somewhere.
     
    eeb, May 13, 2014
    eeb, May 13, 2014
    #2
    gokiddogo Thanks this.
  4. May 13, 2014 #3
    cnsper

    cnsper Road Train Member

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    Went through that this weekend with our stepdeck and all kinds of broken wiring.
     
    cnsper, May 13, 2014
    cnsper, May 13, 2014
    #3
  5. May 13, 2014 #4
    Bakerman

    Bakerman Road Train Member

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    Had this prob on my truck just 2 months ago. Socket pigtail plugged into on truck was orig. rusty and wet from truck wash. Replaced with new and a little dielectric grease. No prob since.
     
    Bakerman, May 13, 2014
    Bakerman, May 13, 2014
    #4
  7. May 13, 2014 #5
    gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    Well .. fuse panel isn't as simple as I had hoped ... looks like much digging will be required ... it is not the simple little remove and replace as I had hoped ... try it in the morning, I guess ...
     
    gokiddogo, May 13, 2014
    gokiddogo, May 13, 2014
    #5
  8. May 13, 2014 #6
    gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    Did yours do the blinkety blink before it quit? Or just totally cut right out one day?
     
    gokiddogo, May 13, 2014
    gokiddogo, May 13, 2014
    #6
  9. May 14, 2014 #7
    Up74427ca

    Up74427ca Light Load Member

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    You need a new electric wire connect to tractor n trailer because when it get wet in those pigtail,it cause the marker not working,happen to me,I was lazy to mount it and it was raining,so I brought. New wire ,problem solve.good luck.
     
    Up74427ca, May 14, 2014
    Up74427ca, May 14, 2014
    #7
  10. May 14, 2014 #8
    CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Like Bakerman said dielectric grease will put a stop to any moisture problems.

    If the lights flickered then you have a connection issue. New pigtail? Then possibly in the box the wire come loose. Pull the cover off and inspect the connections. If that's not it then possible an exposed wire. It should be a single wire running from the front to the back of the trailer. Perhaps it is exposed close to the frame.

    Go ahead and check the fuse but you need to find the underlying cause.

    What year/model truck? The fuse panel shouldn't be difficult to get to. As far as the pigtail plugged in it should be the black wire at the 10 o'clock position for the marker lights. If you have a DVOM you can check for 12V on that pin or even ohm out the the trailer box pins to ground to see if you have a short.
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2014
    CondoCruiser, May 14, 2014
    CondoCruiser, May 14, 2014
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    gokiddogo Thanks this.
  11. May 14, 2014 #9
    gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    2000 FL classic, detroit 12.7, I plugged into another trailer at the place I am delivering to this morning and the same thing happens - signals, brake lights all work but no marker lights. Have located what I think to be the fuse in question, but its a type of fuse I haven't seen before and the back of it is facing the firewall making it impossible to see (I don't even know what to look for) if it is broken, just going by the diagram on the back of the fuse panel box ... Tried to remove the nut holding on the wire to it, but the wire has been there so long it is welded to the nut - and if I continue the wire will break off right at the eyelet where it connects, and I will be euchred ... hate when something small like this ends up costing much more than it should ...

    If I could get that wire off of there somehow, or bridge the connection to the fuse directly below it, which says it is for the LH headlamp, that would mean it should work, at least enough to get it home, right? Would also tell me my problem ...
     
    gokiddogo, May 14, 2014
    gokiddogo, May 14, 2014
    #9
  12. May 14, 2014 #10
    gpsman

    gpsman Road Train Member

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    Always check the easiest/most common thing/problem to fix first, the pigtail connection. It is not at all unlikely the stud terminals on 2 consecutive trailers need to be spread with a small screwdriver.

    Next in my book would come the fuse.
     
    gpsman, May 14, 2014
    gpsman, May 14, 2014
    #10
    gokiddogo Thanks this.
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