Back up lights

[Cooper_D]

On Dec 23 2013 the back up lights on my truck caught fire and melted see photo of bumper.

They were made by White Knight and had been on the truck for several years

I parked the truck in my garage on Saturday and Sunday night I was in my garage and everything was fine, but Monday 6 am the garage was filled with soot.

Soooo if you have a set of these you might want to check them. Mine were set to only come on when put into reverse so not sure what caused them to "light up"overnight.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Wow, were they LED lights? Also I guess they were ground activated with 12v at the light all the time? I had some LED clearance lights burn up on my travel trailer but I think they did it while in service. bg

 

[Cooper_D]

2 - 55 w halogen lights from white night that attached around hitch & plugged into an adaptor that went into where your trailer lights hook up.
I really miss them but am afraid to install more after what happened.
Sorry to hear about your clearance lights

 

[wyosteve]

Thanks for posting. I have a set on my workbench from my old truck that I was going to install, but not worth it if that is the potential. I liked the concept of the White Knights, but had trouble in the past with moisture getting inside. With their location on the trailer hitch, they catch all the road mist and they are not sealed from the factory. Guess you get what you pay for.

 

[B.G. Smith]

That is a pretty hot light, about 4 amps per bulb. They almost had to come on to burn up and maybe with no airflow the overheated? If you determine what caused the failure please let us know. bg

 

[AEdelheit]

Something sounds really fishy, I dont see how they could just turn them selves on, for that matter burn up if they do, are you sure there is no other explanation??? If you are worried about reinstalling them I would wire them through a relay to keyed power. The only way I could see this happening is if the issue was with the adapter harness that plugs into the trailer plug, that plug does have constant power through a 30 amp fuse that probably could burn up small gauge wiring.

 

[Cooper_D]

Not sure by "fishy" the point of the post was if you have these lights installed check them.

I have had White Knight lights for years and loved them with the only problem being where I work people would hit them when they would park behind me in the parking lot or I would back to close to a snow bank.

This is the 1st set that I had used the adaptor that plugged into trailer plug.

I believe the wiring harness had come loose, dropped down and rubbed through and since that plug is always hot it started a smoldering fire.

If the 2 pictures show up you will see that harness & how it melted.

The 2nd picture shows the smoke damage - see the black streak up the right garage door. The bumper is only 6 inches from the new metal door ( the old doors were wood).

I moved both vehicles out immediately and only discovered the source of the fire when walking back into the garage I saw a pile of ash under where the bumper was sitting.

 

[Cooper_D]

At first I thought the only damage was to the bumper but when I took it to the body shop we took a rag to the tail gate and the paint moved away and exposed bare metal.

Not sure how hot that was but at least it did not catch my bed rug on fire.

 

[B.G. Smith]

I would look at the rear of the trailer receptacle, somtimes where the roads are salted corrosion will bridge the wires together and short out. b g

 

[JJPage]

Could the auto shift linkage not have returned to park and remained in reverse? Allowing the backup lights to remain illuminated...or would they turn off with key?

 

[Cooper_D]

I would look at the rear of the trailer receptacle, somtimes where the roads are salted corrosion will bridge the wires together and short out. b g

Bumper kit was installed and all parts replaced so I do not have the old parts to look at