Trailer Lights Not Working..Possible Causes and Solutions

[@thomasjolly5012]

Looked at several different videos to no avail. Yours helped me get my lights going. Thanks.

[@addismultitasking3504]

good to hear, have a good weekend

[@seatime674]

​@@addismultitasking3504You mean for the trailer lights to work the trailer literally has to be sitting on the ball hitch on the vehicle to make ground?

[@jobeanb]

Wow! Thank you! The white wiring was the problem! Thank you thank you!!!

[@addismultitasking3504]

Glad it helped!

[@craigmulder3124]

Thanks, thought I'd checked all the most common causes, now can check a few more 😊

[@addismultitasking3504]

Happy to help

[@tamarasotillo8388]

Great and straightforward way to diagnose the most common problems causing the trailer lights not to work.

[@addismultitasking3504]

thanks for watching, have a good rest of the day

[@OnTheGasPack]

U

[@truckerbugBR549]

The white wire is your ground. You dont even need to have the trailer hooked to the hitch for the lights to work if your white wire is connected to the vehicle and the trailer.

[@dylanhyde2668]

Yeah this guy doesn’t know shit. 90% of the time it’s the hitch not grounding the trailer….? That’s not how It works at all.

[@saulcolin9476]

Sometimes they come with no white cables

[@noahriding5780]

Its amazing the instructions for installing lights didn't say anything about the ground! :O And it would be more helpful if they had a picture diagram for the lights, both for install and for troubleshooting.

[@noahriding5780]

Thank you very much! Your video helped me solve my problems! You are awesome.

[@addismultitasking3504]

Glad I could help!

[@robertfeuer9523]

Thank you for the sand paper tip on the hitch. The lights came right on,

[@addismultitasking3504]

thats good to hear, have a good day

[@toddfarnand9223]

Thank you! The ground Not being set properly was the issue on my trailer.

[@addismultitasking3504]

glad you got it

[@dcbuis2]

Thanks, man!!! Helped me out.

[@420WILD]

Why does the ball/hitch connection matter for grounding purposes? The truck and trailer wires both have a white neutral wire, which serves the same purpose as a ground. I can connect the wiring between my trailer and truck and the lights work fine even when the ball and hitch aren't touching. Why is this?

[@scottf9044]

why do you need ground continuity between your vehicle and trailer, thru the hitch, when you have a white wire ground coming from your vehicle? Doesn't your vehicle provide the ground through that white wire?

[@addismultitasking3504]

if I'm doing the wiring myself from scratch I always make sure the white ground wire is grounded very good on the trailer and on the vehicle but if I'm fixing somebody's trailer lights it's usually because the ground wire was not done correctly to the vehicle but therefore the lights will still work when hooked up to the hitch providing the hitch has paint scraped away and that will provide the ground... If the ground wire gets rusted to where it breaks ground or it gets damaged during transport the lights will still work because they're grounded to the hitch as well.. however some people put big gobs of grease on their hitch ball which will break ground contact.. but if they have a good solid white ground wire the light still work..

[@addismultitasking3504]

To make a long story short... good white ground wires on vehicle and trailer and good clean hitch ball and receiver equals good lights

[@jerrygarcia7747]

what did you test with the meter? I'm not experienced with one.

[@louisbrenner6356]

Thank you. Sanding the ground contacts did the trick.

[@addismultitasking3504]

cool

[@07gtteaser]

Thank you, I have a new hitch all wires are I. Great shape so I got a strong feeling it's because of the paint like you said

[@addismultitasking3504]

Right on

[@randymasso6211]

Only my left break lite and turn signal works !! What’s the problem ? Thanks !!

[@alexjames4670]

Useful video! My problem ended up being that my trailer is 2 pieces bolted together, and the ground didn't make it from front to back (I'm guessing the bolts have corroded enough to impede the current). I jammed a screw in where the 2 pieces overlap and voila!

[@addismultitasking3504]

Nice job

[@randystarr5217]

Thanks! Great video...pretty sure my issue is the lack of a ground.

[@addismultitasking3504]

Glad it was helpful!

[@BobbyBarfield-jr7do]

just rewired trailor and not working, look at site. Went back and removed new paint (new trailer hitch). All lights working great- thank you

[@addismultitasking3504]

Nice work!

[@vicpetrishak7705]

When checking the light harness from the vehicle with that harness tester it will not draw much current , same as a LED light tester it will easily light up .

[@TDPEquinox]

Damn, didn't even think of the paint between the hitch and receiver stopping a ground. Thanks.

[@addismultitasking3504]

Your welcome, Have a good Sunday

[@taronhowell2523]

Did any of your lights work ? Before

[@d.l.atwell8393]

THANK YOU!!!

[@addismultitasking3504]

Your welcome

[@Fb0496]

4:11 But why do you need to have scraped metal to metal contact between the hitch and the trailer if we already have a ground wire connection??

[@addismultitasking3504]

Its just extra insurance for ground

[@camperschoice8802]

What do you do if the lights and blinkers on the right side of the trailer work but the left side doesn't? Seems like a ground issue but I can't find any broken or scraped wires. The bulb is good.

[@addismultitasking3504]

hmmm...make sure there is NO RUST on any ground connections, must be bare metal non painted

[@serenawilliams9973]

We’re having a problem with our boat trailer now it’s a 14 footer and the passenger side light will work like when your signaling driver side won’t work at all My Husbands just put a new wiring harness on because the old one was too old and it’s still not working we tried checking the truck. The truck seems to be OK so we’re not sure what’s going on

[@ROCKONNORG]

Rusty nuts. That was it! Thanks!

[@addismultitasking3504]

Thanks for watching

[@montellwilliams811]

@@addismultitasking3504 say , I replaced the wiring & the power line connect to my vehicles battery from the trailer has a fuse that's continue to blow " help " 🤔

[@eduardomelchor1151]

@@montellwilliams811 wire might be rubbing on the chassis on the trailer caused it to open up n cause the fuse to blow

[@peteryeung111]

If you’re plugged in to the harness, then the white ground is connected, granted continuity is good.

[@authentic4225]

Would the side amber lights not work cause ground wire is bolted on rusty area?

[@addismultitasking3504]

oh yeah

[@taronhowell2523]

Do you have to run side marker lights ?...

[@lebsivart2755]

Don’t forget you can use shrink tubing and slide over soldered wiring separately then tape. Just a thought.

[@PercussionAndLungs]

Would grease on the hitch ball affect the ground?

[@addismultitasking3504]

maybe depending on grease, should use dielectric grease to be sure

[@patrickmckeown3683]

Great video thanks.

[@addismultitasking3504]

thanks for watching

[@DarkKnight-ym6nc]

Is the white ground wire on the connector required?

[@addismultitasking3504]

yes

[@mashaisbaltodano3914]

Very helpful thanks

[@addismultitasking3504]

Thank you, and have a great weekend

[@obetmaldonado]

Mind blown!! Thanks a lot of the video.

[@addismultitasking3504]

thanks for watching

[@jonathanwillard1776]

Wow awesome video! I am going to go fix my trailer right away I didn't know why my trailer taillights will not work but stop and turn signals do work..I didn't know painting the receiver would cover up my completed connection.thank you sir for your service!

[@addismultitasking3504]

hope the vid helps

[@Juan-kz1fj]

What if you’re not getting any power from the car? Could it be a fuse?

[@addismultitasking3504]

sure can

[@rickylove619]

Awesome thanks for the great info

[@addismultitasking3504]

No problem 👍

[@kirkleadbetter1093]

I suspected it might have to do with the ground. Brand new hitch. Thank you sir.

[@addismultitasking3504]

You bet,, brand new hitch needs a little paint worn off

[@bassman4819]

Brand new kit installed. Trailer lights come on but brake lights and signals fail to work. Any ideas? Thanks in advance

[@addismultitasking3504]

what the heck??? Bad bulbs? Double check the connection points

[@bassman4819]

@@addismultitasking3504 rechecked all connections ...lights will come on when truck headlight(evening lights) are activated .....only thing is brake lights will not activate or signals....could this be due to the ground wire and frame connection as stated

[@addismultitasking3504]

Its not the ground, Im thinking its the connection / tie in harness thats plugged into your trucks wiring behind the lights

[@kennethwers]

Trailer lights should not have to ground thru the hitch. The lights ground through the white wire.

[@stephenfenoglio3730]

Can you tell me what the plug in tester is called (at the first part of you video). I looked on Amazon, but cannot find it.

[@addismultitasking3504]

theres a link in the video description to buy it on amazon

[@joelpanganiban1606]

Harbor Freight has it for $3.99

[@AndrewJPlays]

I had chewed up wires in my back right taillight. Everything except this light and the small running light next to it worked. As soon as I unplugged them from the lights all lights shut off. So I put them back in and the lights all stayed off. Spend 4 hours still cant fix. I don't understand. There is a black and white wire going into the running lights

[@addismultitasking3504]

There shouldnt be blk and white to the light, Id go to harbor freight and buy a wire kit and start with correct wires.

[@Xrorav]

Break lights and turn signals work but running lights don’t I’ve check ground and connections and still haven’t found the issue. Any suggestions?

[@addismultitasking3504]

Actual bulb possibly burned out

[@addismultitasking3504]

The yellow running lights are usually grounded through the screw that holds them in and if there's a little rust on that screw it won't ground properly take them out sand off any rust and reinstall

[@mickjones2871]

My running lights had a blown fuse in the fuze box under the hood. 10 amp. Replaced & then started working

[@mickjones2871]

Both of my truck turn signals make both sides blink on my boat trailer as if I've turned on the hazard lights. I've unconnected, sanded & reconnected all of the lights. The only thing new is the trailer lights.

[@sethwoot]

never knew hitch grounded some trailers thankyou

[@TeachaMantoFish]

Thanks! I was 90% and wouldn’t have known it without this help video.

[@addismultitasking3504]

thanks for watching

[@1dimai1]

So much good info!

[@addismultitasking3504]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JasonBellrealestate]

Very helpful- thanks 😊

[@addismultitasking3504]

Thanks for watching

[@castmastersoutdoors7762]

I turn on my headlights all my trailer lights work my right signal works but my left signals don't work but when I detach it my car works just fine. When connected my vehicle and trailer do not work on the left

[@joeellis2692]

I got power halfway down my trailer then it stops. No power at all. Both sides. I can't figure it out. About to replace it all.

[@addismultitasking3504]

Sometime its best to start all over with a brand new wire kit, harbor freight has them cheap and work good

[@augustinpicard4042]

Great vid. Thank you!111

[@addismultitasking3504]

Thanks for watching

[@showbizwisconsin8350]

It's so bizarre that the lights would rely on a ground through the hitch to even work. My trailer hitch on my car was rusted to hell so it was making no contact at all. However, I sanded some away, and tied a wire around the ball and connected it to a bare metal spot on the hitch, and sure enough. Lights came right on.

[@addismultitasking3504]

Good Job!

[@milahuak]

Thanks

[@addismultitasking3504]

No problem

[@augustodiazhernandez4393]

I have a utility trailer and the brake lights aren't working but all the other lights are working it's just the brake lights. Do you have an idea on why it might not be working.

[@addismultitasking3504]

The brake light bulb usually has two filaments in it and one of them could possibly be burned out..

[@augustodiazhernandez4393]

@@addismultitasking3504 ok thank you

[@theknaryagency4013]

Could too much grease on the ball cause the trailer not working? My trailer lights went out in a rain storm but the bed lights, for loading at night worked, but not my tail or running lights.

[@addismultitasking3504]

It sure can

[@addismultitasking3504]

If it was raining you could have also blown a fuse

[@fernandoespaillat2614]

Was looking for the lights out movie trailer, found something better.

[@laserlars345]

What if I got brand new lights twice and the shit doesnt work

[@jefflajos3118]

I didn thave my trailer connected at trial; duh - great reminder thans!

[@addismultitasking3504]

Thanks, have a good day

[@DavidSmith-cp7ro]

Could you please tell me why it is that both of my turn signals only make the right trailer signal flash?

[@addismultitasking3504]

I've never seen that before but it's got to be the wiring coming out of your vehicle..

[@saulperez5769]

My problem is that my driving mode lights donde work all the other ones work perfect

[@paulco5089]

all lights are working properly, but brakes sre working on car and not on trailer

[@Trytooooo]

Trailer Left Side Tail Light Stays Lit Up and bright all the time

[@mattsmith6828]

F.Y.I - the white wire is also a ground. as long as you have the white, yellow, green and brown wires connected to the "flat-four" connector of your vehicle, your trailer will get power. if you're relying on the connection of your hitch for the ground, you probably did something wrong.

[@Thomass7878]

The only think I can’t figure out is my running lights/ night time lights. Everything else works

[@addismultitasking3504]

gotta be the bulbs??

[@Thomass7878]

@@addismultitasking3504 that’s what I’m hoping. I’ll be checking tmrw

[@djphillmp]

Headlights? You mean running lights ( brown wire)

[@josephherron7671]

Dude, the White wire IS the ground. You don't need to sand of paint. Just plug in the fucking harness.

[@jamiesworkshop3198]

Thanks! That helps a lot!!!

[@addismultitasking3504]

thanks for watching