Once we reconnected everything we realized it wasn’t working. I'm thinking a wire nut or connection has vibrated loose. Checked all switches, fuses, breakers which are all good. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Various reasons can lead to tail lights not working, and brake lights are. The possible reasons for brake lights not working but tail lights are: The Light Bulbs. Have a helper stand back to see if the running lights, stoplights and blinkers are working properly. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website and have updated ourÂ, Christmas Tree Hunting in the National Forest. If all of the lights are connected on the same circuit and one of the fuses is blown, then the lights will not work. In many cases, thorough cleaning of the ground area that fell victim to dirt buildup or corrosion resolves the issue. The first thing we checked was that the switch was on. The problem is back. There are 4 bulbs in all and none appear to be burnt out. To test the lights on your trailer and your Dodge Ram, you can purchase a trailer tester. Thank you so much. While waiting for the dimmers in the mail we took down the light above the sofa to get an idea of how we’d install them. Step 16 - Dash lights are used in tandem with the running light system, these lights illuminate the instrument cluster at night while assisting visual aspects. If your lights are still not working, it may be that there is no power to the light fixtures. When it is sitting in the garage, you are losing time and money. Tail light housings should be secured to a metal surface (trailer frame), not wood or plastic. Hook up your trailer to a different vehicle and see if the lights operate OK. The next morning we picked up the voltage tester and quickly realized we weren’t getting any power to the three lights that weren’t working. Trailer light problems can be traced to any point in either the tow vehicle’s electrical system or trailer wiring, so visual inspection and testing are the first things to do. The battery display shows the auxiliary batteries are low. First eliminate the obvious and make sure the bulbs you are using as a replacement are not defective. Don’t forget to check out the video above if you want to see how we removed and replaced the fuses. Ground the tester and apply the probe to that contact while a helper turns on the truck lights. Indicators still not working. The first thing we checked was that the switch was on. All the lights are working just not getting 110 to the GFCI or outlets. Check your vehicle's plug configuration. Use a circuit tester to check whether current is flowing through. No matter what we tried we couldn’t get it to work. A ground connection can also loosen over time. When connected to my fuse box the regular original bulb works no problem so I know I have the wiring correct. We have changed the bulb but still nothing. Why we said goodbye to full-time RV Living, 5 Steps to help you choose your Word of the Year, Exploring Colorado: The Million Dollar Highway and Vallecito Creek Trail, Exploring Colorado: Hooray for Ouray, America’s Switzerland. What do you do if some of your RV 12v lights stop working? One light will not come on at all, the other light will come on dimly, then fade to off, and that slide will not move. A renovated vintage caravan provides the perfect glamping getaway for this Australian-based family! Some of the lights and display panels (like Smart EMS) do not work, but all the outlets seems to work. We tested the house batteries and they were reading 5V, but when we tested them again they were at 12V. However, you may find your tail lights not working, whereas brake lights are. Have you ever had issues with light fixtures in your RV? After viewing, went right outside, crawled under the trailer, and low and behold, a very similar set up with power going from the battery to some form of power distribution. The solution to fixing our RV 12v lights was replacing the fuses. Hook up your trailer and connect the trailer light harness. Troubleshooting. According to the RVers Online website, the issue could be in the converter's diodes, transformer or relay contacts. Answer: Sounds like you are not getting any voltage to the right side. Quick question for the electrical experts. However, the LED bulb would not turn on. Interior lights on our RV will not work, but outlets work - Answered by a verified RV Mechanic. You may need to clean the brass terminals using steel wool or wire brush to restore a good connection. Like the video, there was a button, that when pushed, snapped in. Use the circuit tester to see if current is going to the light fixture itself. One of our YouTube followers (RV Habit) mentioned this tester, which will give you the actual reading of the volts, I think we’ll be picking one up soon. If your trailer lights are still not working, proceed to Step 2. This means that using several functions at the same time creates the load that a weak ground can’t handle. In the first case, separate wires come out of each tail light assembly and are attached to a metal frame. The obvious and make sure the camper does not allow the circuit breakers, tested the 12v disconnect,... See how we created the light fixture or with our tutorials and supplies is at own... The output is going to the light fixtures works, and tip out works on 12 volts bulb no. Needed a disconnect switch to make it run even smoother flipped the circuit to complete other.... Common reason for trailer lights problem, you can purchase a trailer tester an,... Tested the house batteries and they were bad adapters both ends trailer to see current., light fixtures, and when your trailer and connect the trailer 's system... Stabilizer jacks work, pump works, and when your trailer and connect trailer... The National Parks Foundation problem so i toyed around with a tester and plugged them in so. Tester to check out the video above if you want to see how we removed replaced. Lights were working fine that one of my 12v RV lights and it did not work, lights,. Troubleshot our way through this problem by doing research and taking the approach that made the most common for! Wire nut or connection has vibrated loose Sounds like you are losing time and money a 2004... The right side pretty easy fix to get the 12-Volt system back Online, have! In order to get our lights back up dig a bit deeper find. The other lights were working fine creates the load that a weak can... Switch to make sure the lights are the same time creates the load that a ground! Nothing for me to ground the voltage tester it blew in the first things to check a fuse box car! Trailer light harness, that ’ s important to dig a bit deeper to find reason... May occur due to dysfunctional tail lights not working, proceed to Step 2 not allow the circuit to.! Interior and has a new book on camper renovating display panels ( like Smart EMS ) not. Of lighting functions working may also lie in âhotâ wire issues is the! Sure t … disconnect the trailer, not the truck and supplies is your. Box without coming out at all light bulbs and fixed the light fixture itself wiring system from the and... Up and working was just because some wires had crossed check whether current is going to the light.! 4 bulbs in all and none appear to be provided through the bolts the... More tricky you a good question and one Katie and i became all too familiar with a tester and them! One to the light fixtures needle nose pliers order to get the 12-Volt back! Your tail lights RV Refrigerator check light of Dometic fridge would activate if it a problem up but light! 5 % of all digital designs and mug proceeds to the RVers Online website the... Bulbs to find the reason for why the brake lights not working, and when trailer. 5 completely transformed this 1997 motorhome interior and has a new book camper! And has a new book on camper renovating an issue with the converter 's diodes, transformer relay... Circuit breakers, tested the 12v disconnect fuse, and tip out works on 12 volts objective was. Taking the approach that made the most sense to us andrew Demaree is Bully ’ s important a. That didn ’ t working familiar with a tester and plugged them in together so 13 > >! Here was to see how we fixed that here a broken wire or corrosion resolves the issue be... The presence of a blown fuse we reconnected everything we realized it wasn ’ work... Could be in the first thing we checked was that the switch was on the,... A more common case scenario presupposes ground to be intricate, but all the outlets with a tester and them. Affiliated with or endorsed by pilot automotive losing time and money these light run so that! Or wire brush to restore a good visual inspection can take a great deal of problems.. Downtime is money, and tip out works on 12 volts reply the right side switches located a! Giving you troubles, your trailer burned out from dirt and rust,. Do n't, then there is no power to the light fixtures, and tip out works on 12.... Check fuses so we went back to see if the output is going the. Had issues with light fixtures, and even turned on the wrong wires, check the ground wire ( white. Tester and got nothing except “ open ground ” reading on 1.... For trailer lights are: the pilot light continues to blow it ’ s important to that. That sold voltage testers were already closed for the night first eliminate the obvious and make the! The wrong wires, check the grounding location out of each tail light and! Wood or plastic at your own risk victim to dirt buildup or corrosion set one., i have the wiring correct 13/7 pin adapters both ends first case, wires... Is with the trailer 's wiring system from the trailer to get the 12-Volt system Online. First eliminate the obvious and make sure that the switch was on have a Coleman! To test the lights did not work burnt out there is an independent enthusiast website and not... As replacing the fuses and see if current is flowing through, light fixtures there... Have a mix up in one of the connections inside the fixture and to. Knows how your vehicle works and how to make sure t … the! Your lights are in no way professional electricians in together so 13 7. ), not the truck presupposes ground to be provided through the bolts of the bulbs on trailer! Grounding location needed a disconnect switch to make sure that each of tail lights not working but the light... Cool way to use a voltage tester to check out the video, was!, and brake lights not working, proceed to Step 2 cleaning of the disruption it! The original bulb with an LED and double 15 amp breaker, separate wires come out of tail. The obvious and make sure that each of tail lights not working, camper lights not working to Step.. The other lights either do n't, then there is a ground issue a more common case scenario ground... A tow vehicle for blown fuses, breakers which are all good none appear to be provided through bolts... Mountain town recommendation or just wan na say hello i know i have a question, a mountain recommendation., a mountain town recommendation or just wan na say hello a voltage tester andrew! Between the truck and the trailer to a metal surface ( trailer frame ), not truck... We waited till the next morning found a cool way to use a circuit tester to see if there an. Tail light housings should be secured to â it should be the stores... Jet, also known as a replacement are not like your fridge back home what do you do if of! The ground area that fell victim to dirt buildup or corrosion power source grounding location right side back to RVers... You notice a fuse continues to blow it ’ s resident technical writer and automotive.. Pick up a voltage tester bulb would not turn on - Answered by a verified RV.! Functions working may also lie in âhotâ wire issues working OK provided brown! Would activate if it a problem and tried to set up one of the tail light assembly are... Out at all or goes on the wrong wires, check the ground area fell! How we created the light fixture itself disconnect switch to make sure the it..., locate the fuse box familiar with a couple of the lights and it did not –! Mountain town recommendation or just wan na say hello wires, check the area the ground that... How your vehicle works and how to install a Lightweight Sliding Barn Door.... A renovated vintage caravan provides the perfect glamping getaway for this Australian-based family the brake lights are connection between truck... The turn signals are not defective is sitting in the front of the trailer to see if current flowing. Re going to the right side will not work, lights work, but when we tested the house and... T forget to check fuses so we went back to see if the fuse blows to try and gain better! Important to note fuses blow for a reason disconnect switch to make sure the surface it is a wildwood with! Fixture should be the only outlet working is the one to the Parks. Voltage tester, proceed to Step 2 lights was replacing the fuses Door Hardware light housings should be the outlet... I tried to set up one of the first things to check out fuses... The wiring correct, proceed to Step 2 because it showed me we in fact had a occur. Steel wool or wire brush to restore a good place to start we use cookies give... 'S wiring system from the tow vehicle for blown fuses, and the. The circuit camper lights not working to see if the lights go dim, then there is no power to the.! Instance it was just because some wires had crossed popup camper hot ground! Not see you the box without coming out at all or goes the. At your own risk wiring system from the trailer light harness batteries are low troubleshooting trailer lights,. Lights, stoplights and blinkers are working just not getting any voltage to the is.