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Trailer Light Problem

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by damnfingers, May 24, 2017.

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  1. May 24, 2017 at 3:06 PM
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    damnfingers

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    damnfingers [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have a 2016 Tacoma with the tow package and occasionally pull an enclosed trailer with the matching 7 pin socket. We're getting ready to go on a trip so I pulled the trailer out today to wash it and make sure all the electricals are working. They aren't. The right turn signal works but the left one doesn't. I spent all afternoon tearing things apart on the trailer without finding a problem so I asked my buddy to come over with his truck to see if the lights worked with his...they do.

    When the trailer isn't hooked up the left and right indicators on the truck work perfectly but apparently now the extra draw with the trailer hooked up causes the turn signal relay (?) to overheat on the left hand side and it stops working after one flash. Anyone have any idea what the fix is? I have to take the truck in for service later in the week but I'd like to go in with some idea of what they have to do to make it work.

    Thanks.
     
    damnfingers, May 24, 2017
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  2. May 24, 2017 at 3:09 PM
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    myoldmantruck

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    myoldmantruck Well-Known Member

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    Does your buddy have the same truck and setup, wired exactly the same?
     
    myoldmantruck, May 24, 2017
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  3. May 24, 2017 at 3:15 PM
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    damnfingers

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    damnfingers [OP] Well-Known Member

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    No, he's got a Chevy but a 7 pin connector is a 7 pin connector...all are wired the same.
     
    damnfingers, May 24, 2017
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  4. May 24, 2017 at 3:20 PM
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    myoldmantruck

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    myoldmantruck Well-Known Member

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    Take an ohm reading on the left light and right light of the trailer and compare. Include all the wiring.
     
    myoldmantruck, May 24, 2017
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  5. May 24, 2017 at 3:28 PM
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    damnfingers

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    damnfingers [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I did...spent all afternoon troubleshooting the trailer...the fact that the lights work with another truck makes me believe that it has to be my truck, not the trailer.
     
    damnfingers, May 24, 2017
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  6. May 24, 2017 at 3:31 PM
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    myoldmantruck

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    myoldmantruck Well-Known Member

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    Did you do an actual ohm reading or a continuity test? What were the ohms for each side?
     
    myoldmantruck, May 24, 2017
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  7. May 24, 2017 at 3:42 PM
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    damnfingers

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    damnfingers [OP] Well-Known Member

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    1 ohm to ground...both sides
     
    damnfingers, May 24, 2017
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  8. May 24, 2017 at 3:42 PM
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    gorram

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    gorram Well-Known Member

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    Same result with the engine running?

    Have you changed any of your lamps to LED? Resistors for hyperflash?

    Would it be easy to swap the lamps on trailer from one side to other, does the problem move? Clean up the contacts on the trailer lamps while in there.
     
    gorram, May 24, 2017
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  9. May 24, 2017 at 3:52 PM
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    daddy_o

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    daddy_o Well-Known Member

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    I have seen many strange things on boat trailers. Let me ask you this, is the trailer ball and draw bar you are using brand new? I know it sounds strange but like I said, I have seen some crazy stuff.
     
    daddy_o, May 24, 2017
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  10. May 24, 2017 at 3:53 PM
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    damnfingers

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    damnfingers [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Same result truck running or off...lamps are original (not LED)...swapped lightbulbs from side to side on the trailer with no change.
     
    damnfingers, May 24, 2017
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  11. May 24, 2017 at 3:56 PM
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    damnfingers

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    damnfingers [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Not a boat trailer, it's an enclosed car hauler. With the 7 pin connector you don't have to have the trailer grounded to the truck...lights worked fine when my buddy backed his truck up close enough to mate with the trailer connector...not contact between his truck and the trailer...the ground is through the connector.
     
    damnfingers, May 24, 2017
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  12. May 24, 2017 at 4:14 PM
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    daddy_o

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    daddy_o Well-Known Member

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    I know you said 7 pin and I have seen it happen on a boat trailer. Some boat trailers have 7 pin connectors, and I have had it happen with a new ball. Once driven a few miles it all worked fine. I know it makes no sense due to the ground being through the connector, but I have witnessed it personally. It was just an idea.
     
    daddy_o, May 24, 2017
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  13. May 24, 2017 at 4:22 PM
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    angrysam

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    angrysam Huh?

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    Have you verified the circuit works on at the truck's 7-pin connector? That there is power coming out of that terminal.
     
    angrysam, May 24, 2017
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  14. May 24, 2017 at 4:24 PM
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    myoldmantruck

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    myoldmantruck Well-Known Member

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    Basically a short then.

    So you're drawing 12 amps and wondering why your relay is heating up?
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2017
    myoldmantruck, May 24, 2017
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  15. May 24, 2017 at 4:33 PM
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    Brianz1001

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    Brianz1001 Well-Known Member

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    If your overheating the relay the amps should go up, your fuse is not blowing out? 7pin wiring is the same unless you have a dyi application. Are you using a 7 pin to 5 flat converter?
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2017
    Brianz1001, May 24, 2017
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  16. May 24, 2017 at 4:48 PM
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    Skidog1

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    Skidog1 Well-Known Member

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    With a couple of pieces of wire you can test if the trucks left hand turn signal power will make the right side lights work and visa-versa. You need a ground wire between the truck and trailer and power from the 7 pin connector on the truck.
     
    Skidog1, May 24, 2017
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  17. May 24, 2017 at 4:50 PM
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    Brianz1001

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    Brianz1001 Well-Known Member

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    IMG_0078.jpg
     
    Brianz1001, May 24, 2017
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  18. May 24, 2017 at 4:53 PM
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    MESO

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    MESO Major Modder Vendor

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    Our Tacoma flasher relays are hyper sensitive. This was happening to me with my LED mirror turn signals. Too little of a load causes the notorious"hyperflash" too MUCH load caused what you are experiencing.
    Unfortunately, the relay cannot be changed or accessed due to it being built into the speedometer cluster(I kid you not) thanks Toyota!:luvya:
    Try your turnsignals / hazards with the truck off.. just a test for me.
    Are the left/right trailer bulbs all the same?
     
    MESO, May 24, 2017
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  19. May 24, 2017 at 5:05 PM
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    Skidog1

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    Skidog1 Well-Known Member

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    Anyone know if there is a separate fuse for the right and left turn signal in the fusebox in the engine compartment?
     
    Skidog1, May 24, 2017
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  20. May 24, 2017 at 5:06 PM
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    03coma

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    03coma Well-Known Member

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    This is a 2016 Tacoma? Do they have the trailer converter box?
     
    03coma, May 24, 2017
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