2012 Trailer Light Problem

Guys, I've got a 2012 Tacoma with factory towing package. When I hook to my trailer, everything works except the tail lamps when I turn on the headlights. I've used a meter to check the tail lamp spade in the 7 pin factory installed plug, and I don't have 12V. The blinkers work, brake lights work, but no tail lights! Ive checked the two fuses and relay under the hood, all good. I jumpered from the truck taillight wire and made the tail lights work. Electrically speaking, the only thing I've done is unplug the factory fog lights when I installed an ARB bumper.......which shouldn't have anything to do with this problem I don't think???? Any ideas from you guru's? I hate electrical problems!

Thanks,

Barry

 

Rep lug the fog lights back in and see what happens. Also check your ARB installation to see if you pinched or cut something. If it worked befored you did the work look at ALL your work no matter how minor.

 

Make sure you don't have any corrosion in the socket where the round trailer wiring adapter goes or on the adapter itself. Sounds like you just have a bad connection. If it is a bad connection, get it as clean as you can then coat the connectors with dielectric grease to help prevent further corrosion.

 

Check the ground wire(brown) on your trailer. I have found in the past that cutting the ground on the trailer makes the lights work. I think it is because the trailer ground is literally grounding out the vehicle ground, causing the lights to fail.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll get back on my search when I get off work. I'll post what I end up doing to correct the problem. BTW, there is no corrosion at the plug. This cat WILL get skent!

 

Trailer ground wire is white the brown wire is for the parking lights. A trailer ball is a shit ground you need the white wire for them to work properly.

 

Well, after chasing my tail all over the place, it ended up being one of the relays. I'm a little confused about what actually happened, I had a guy help me at Oreilly's Monday, and we unplugged a relay while doing our troubleshooting. Somehow the relay got plugged into the wrong spot I guess. Plugged it back in the right place and viola, it worked! Like I said, I'm confused about when and how this happened, but they are working now. Thanks for the replies!

 

Well I'm glad you got things working correctly. Thanks for relaying that information.

 

What a dik-head

 

Wow, I guess I need to change (photoshop)my license plate (again) and then black it out.

 

You should make one that says "Shadow" like your username.

 

Hmmm.....maybe I should....oh yeah, I already did that on my signature.

Hey, How about you updating your avatar...