Trailer T/M Light Burn Fuse

[Melcollier]

Ok, here it comes. Another trailer wiring problem. I just bought a 2002 4X4 1 ton and I am having a problem with my trailer running (T/M) lights. The lights will come on and stay on for about 3 – 5, then the fuse will blow. I bought the truck with the standard towing package. I am trying to wire in a 6-way plug. The harness is setup for a 7 – way plug, but that shouldn’t be a problem.



All of my other lights are working fine and the brakes. It is just the running lights. My other truck was a 2000 ¾ ton, plain with no running lights at all and I didn’t have any problems with it. It had the same 7-way factory harness on it also. So I am little confused. Do you think that the extra running lights on the truck, along with the running lights on the trailer are too much for the fuse? Should I wire the trailer running lights separate from the trucks? I don’t really want to put a larger fuse in the circuit. The standard fuse is a 15 amp.



Total running lights on the trailer - 17 lights.

Total running lights on the truck - 16 lights (I think).



I know that there is a calculation for total amount of amps a fuse can hold, per the amount of lights you are running. Does any know what that calculation is? Is it basically the total number of lights, times the amount of amps the light will put out?



Thanks in advance..... Oo.

 

[Fuzz]

Not sure but,

If I understand correctly,you have the factory trailer tow package.

If so, the running lights are "fed" from a relay in the PDC. So I would guess that if you are tapping into the standard 7way and going to a 6way. . you would still be using that relay. So it should not be blowing the fuse. If I'm guessing right then it seems that

it might be a short in the 6way(added later). Could a fella use a

couple of wires to go from the original 7way to the camper?Then if it blows it at least partially rule out the 6way. Partially because there could be a strand of wire or something grounding out where it is tied into factory wiring.

These things are a bear aren't they. ?Can't find the amp draw on the clearance lights. . Have it somewhere but???

Anyway it should all be coming through that relay. . shouldn't it?.

A bad ground can sure cause some weird problems.

Good lucK

BTW I have a y2k 3500 with Cab lights,plus,lighted running boards,plus J&J lighted mud flaps,plus the 5ver. . All on the same cicuit. . No problems.

Fuzz

 

[Melcollier]

Thanks for replying Fuzz. That was my next course of action. Get an adapter for the 7-way plug and make sure that the harness doesn't have a short. I guess if it does I will have to run a new wire from the front for that one particular wire. What a pain that will be, but... .



Thanks again,

Mel

:{

 

[jeepit]

I have a 4 pin and kept blowing fuses. I traced it to wire insulation that had worn away and was touching the metal trailer. It took a while to find since it was pinched behind the tailight itself. Check your grounds. They are the cause 99 % of the tiime.

 

[Fuzz]

I wonder

Mel,I wonder if you went "ahead" of the 7way and 6way and

spliced in to the clearance light wire(forgot the color,Black/orange stripe?)after the relay,but before the connector.

Just use a test wire to run to the clearance light hole on the camper plug... wouldn't that at least eliminate the connectors on the truck. It does sound like it is in the Connectors or the trailer.

Just a thought.

Fuzz