need help with flatbed wiring on 03

[run2trouble]

I have put a flat bed on my 03 and think I have some wires backwards. First of all when I start up the truck, I get a " lamp out" on the dash. When the clearance lights are off and I step on the brake I get both brake and clearance lights. Aside from that, my left side works perfect. But on the right side, when I turn on the blinker without the brake pressed it works fine. When I step on the brake pedal and have the blinker on it doesnot flash, I get the real fast flash on the front of the truck, but nothing on the bed.



A question I had was on the lights. There are three wires, red, black, white. I know the white is ground. The red is turn/ brake, and the black is clearance. Do I have to ground to the truck light plug, or can I ground to a bolt? For the brake and turn do i wire the red wire on the light to both the turn and brake on the truck?



Thanks in advance,

 

[SRadke]

I'm going to try to help here although I must admit I'm a little confused.



The lights on the bed need only be grounded to the bed or frame of the truck. The brake lights and turn signals use the same wire on the pickup. Looking at my notes I think left turn will be a yellow wire w/pink tracer and right turn will be white wire w/pink tracer (on the truck). I hope somebody speaks up if I'm wrong on that.



-Scott

 

[QRTRHRS]

I can't help with the wiring but one thing you want is a ground to the bed if you had not done so. Use a ~1/4" or so wide flat braided wire from frame to bed. Right behind the cab is a good area as it will be a less hostile environment then at the rear of the truck

 

[GSchroeder]

I sell and install flatbeds and I have the same problem with the new trucks. they are using the European light system which is separate brake and signal lights. you cannot combine the wires or you get a lamp out signal. I will add another light for brake until i can get the manufacturer to install three sealed beam lights on each side. The J&I beds I sell use the old truck style lights and the sealed beam would be better anyways. My Hillsboro beds use the sealed beam and they only have to cut another hole on each side. I hope this helps you.

 

[SRadke]

My experience was with splicing into the trailer plug wires. Sorry, I should have specified. The wires on the bed lights may not be the same. I suppose with independantly fused circuts tapping into those wires for bed lights may not be so good either. Sorry.



-Scott

 

[QRTRHRS]

Do a search

in the Second Generation Forum (non drivetrain). For your search, type in turn signals. There are some threads on seperating the turn signals and brake lights. One of the best IMHO is the six way conversion by Evan Beck.

 

[dan.poitras]

Their is a TSB about this subject. Your controller needs to be reprogrammed.

 

[run2trouble]

Thanks for the input. I have found the TSB, My truck has to go in for 2 recalls anyway, so I can get the computer changed too.



Thank you,



Ky