Post by vikx on May 2, 2020 21:30:32 GMT -8
If your lights are blinking and one works but the other doesn't, blinkers are bonkers and more, it is a wiring issue. Most of the time this is caused by mixing the 4 way code with the Universal RV 7 way code.
FIRST CHECK THE GROUNDS. I can't stress this enough. Be sure the trailer ground is firmly connected to clean metal. A rusted ground can fail. Check the vehicle ground that it is clean and tight. Motto: when in doubt, GROUND IT AGAIN!!
The 4 way code and the 7 way code ARE NOT THE SAME. Some trailers have the 4 way code, tho most vintage trailers came with the Universal 7 way color code. In any case, it is easy to properly wire the trailer to match the correct code.
Let's talk about the colors: WHITE is always ground, true in both the 4 and 7 way codes. Then the differences begin.
4 way: BROWN is TM or tails and marker lights. (running lights)
7 way: BROWN is Right Turn or RT
4 way: GREEN is Right turn or RT
7 way: GREEN is TM or tail/running lights
4 way: YELLOW is Left Turn or LT
7 way: RED is Left Turn or LT
As you can see, the two codes can make for some confusing wiring issues. If a trailer has the flat 4 way plug, you can not just match colors and expect to have it all work when using a 7 way receptacle. For instance, if you connect the 4 way Brown to a 7 way Brown, all the trailer tail and running lights will blink when using the right blinker...
Likewise, you can not connect your trailer wiring according to color alone. The manufacturer could have used black for ground, blue for RT, and pink for TM, etc. If the 4 way plug is present and the lights are working when plugged into a 4 way receptacle, you have an easy way to label the wires according to purpose. Label the wire connected to the 4 way brown as TM, as an example. Later, you will connect this TM wire to the 7 way green wire.
If there is no plug, you must test each wire to find out what it does. Do NOT use your vehicle to test the trailer wiring. There is a thread here: vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/11040/testing-trailer-wiring on the test procedure.
The 4 way code is for boat and cargo trailers, not travel trailers. It is recommended that you use the 7 way code and plug on a vintage trailer. Most vehicles now come with the 7 way receptacle and some have the smaller flat 4 way as well.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation on the internet about wiring trailers, diagrams with erroneous 7 way colors and positions plus mixing up vehicle wiring codes with the RV 7 way code. If you wire your trailers with the RV 7 way code, the lights will work properly when plugged into all vehicles with a factory installed 7 way receptacle.
FIRST CHECK THE GROUNDS. I can't stress this enough. Be sure the trailer ground is firmly connected to clean metal. A rusted ground can fail. Check the vehicle ground that it is clean and tight. Motto: when in doubt, GROUND IT AGAIN!!
The 4 way code and the 7 way code ARE NOT THE SAME. Some trailers have the 4 way code, tho most vintage trailers came with the Universal 7 way color code. In any case, it is easy to properly wire the trailer to match the correct code.
Let's talk about the colors: WHITE is always ground, true in both the 4 and 7 way codes. Then the differences begin.
4 way: BROWN is TM or tails and marker lights. (running lights)
7 way: BROWN is Right Turn or RT
4 way: GREEN is Right turn or RT
7 way: GREEN is TM or tail/running lights
4 way: YELLOW is Left Turn or LT
7 way: RED is Left Turn or LT
As you can see, the two codes can make for some confusing wiring issues. If a trailer has the flat 4 way plug, you can not just match colors and expect to have it all work when using a 7 way receptacle. For instance, if you connect the 4 way Brown to a 7 way Brown, all the trailer tail and running lights will blink when using the right blinker...
Likewise, you can not connect your trailer wiring according to color alone. The manufacturer could have used black for ground, blue for RT, and pink for TM, etc. If the 4 way plug is present and the lights are working when plugged into a 4 way receptacle, you have an easy way to label the wires according to purpose. Label the wire connected to the 4 way brown as TM, as an example. Later, you will connect this TM wire to the 7 way green wire.
If there is no plug, you must test each wire to find out what it does. Do NOT use your vehicle to test the trailer wiring. There is a thread here: vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/11040/testing-trailer-wiring on the test procedure.
The 4 way code is for boat and cargo trailers, not travel trailers. It is recommended that you use the 7 way code and plug on a vintage trailer. Most vehicles now come with the 7 way receptacle and some have the smaller flat 4 way as well.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation on the internet about wiring trailers, diagrams with erroneous 7 way colors and positions plus mixing up vehicle wiring codes with the RV 7 way code. If you wire your trailers with the RV 7 way code, the lights will work properly when plugged into all vehicles with a factory installed 7 way receptacle.