Truck or Trailer

[VanBuren]

Hi everyone. If I do not have this posted in the right area I am sorry I am new here. The question I have is I have a 2002 tahoe and a 2000 16ft car hauler with the 7 plug. when Iplug it into my truck everything works. but when I turn my trucks lights on the trailer lights come on but are dim. When I hit the brakes all the lights on the trailer go out. when I release the brakes the lights come back on dim again. Has anyone ever seen this before. Is it a problem with my truck or my trailer? Thank you for any help.

 

[TomC65]

Sounds like a ground issue to me. Easy test - connect a jumper cable to a good ground on the Tahoe and to the frame of the trailer. If the trailer lights get brighter, the problem is either the plug or the grounding location on the trailer. Could be the ground wire on the truck too I guess.

 

[clkelley]

Welcome to the neighborhood!

X2, you probably have like stated, a bad ground, or possibly a worn wire that is grounding but more than likely it is on the trailer.

 

[ooblackhoe]

x3 on a ground issue they seller a tester at walmart and other places that plugs into your truck where you would plug in your trailer lights. it has leds on it and you can test each function left turn, right turn, brake, parking, and all the combonations. the tester is about the size of a matchbook and i think i paid about $4 for it. you just need 2 people to do the tests, one in the car and the other looking at the tester. that will immediately eliminate or identify the vehicle as the cause of the problem.

heres a link to one on amazon to give you an idea of what to look for


http://www.amazon.com/Attwood-Trailer-Light-Circuit-Tester/dp/B003EEX8BM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1330029663&sr=8-3


it does work

 

[VanBuren]

Tank you for the answers. I am going to get one of those testers tonight and see what it comes up with, and report back. Thanks for all your help