Hot engine and brake problems.

[Zhanna]

We went to the Texas Renaissance Festival this past weekend.

On our way home, Ken (hubby) was saying that the trailer brake felt like it wasn't working or not working properly. Also, the lights on top of the trailer wouldn't come on when the headlights were on on the truck. We believe this to be a wiring issue.

Also, about a third of the way home, the engine temperature gauge in the truck said the engine was getting way too hot. So we turned off the a/c, rolled down the windows, and turned on the heater to get heat off the engine. The temp went down really quickly. When we could stop, we popped the hood and had a look around. The radiator cap was not unusually warm, plenty of fluid in it. The engine coolant was full. We turned the a/c back on and there was instant heat coming of the thingy in the front of the engine. (sorry, don't know what it's called) When we turned the a/c off, it instantly cooled. So we figured it was the a/c and went on about our business. A little while down the road, and the temp goes really high again. Again we turned on the heater to let heat off the engine, and again we stopped when we could. The engine was just really hot. No idea why. It's going into the mechanic tomorrow. Just wanted to stop in here first and see if you guys have any ideas.

[Sgt. Schultz]

Sounds like a couple of different problems - for the overheating I would start with a good cooling system flush and change the thermostat --
If the trailer lights/brakes have worked previously - it may have just been a blown fuse, a loose connection or there may have been debris in the plug preventing a proper connection -
hopefully the fixes are simple

[BarryD0706]

A bad connection at the plug would cause both brake and lights problems. Always turn on your flashers to verify that the lights are working on your RV before you start a trip. If they're not, wiggle the connector until they do. (Of course it may "un-wiggle".) If does that often, both sides of the connection may need a good cleaning or to be replaced.

[rskrbina]

Originally Posted by Sgt. Schultz

Sounds like a couple of different problems - for the overheating I would start with a good cooling system flush and change the thermostat --
If the trailer lights/brakes have worked previously - it may have just been a blown fuse, a loose connection or there may have been debris in the plug preventing a proper connection -
hopefully the fixes are simple

X2

And to what Barry said, after cleaning both sides of your plug connections, add a dab of dielectric grease to each pin connection ( 7 of them ) in the female plug. Hope everything works out for you.

[depo]

Clean the terminals on both sides with electronics cleaner. Then use a healthy dab of dielectric grease. I have never had a connection problem.

[Zhanna]

Thanks all.

The turn indicator lights and break lights work fine. It is just the lights that come on when the truck head lights are on that didn't work.

I've never heard of dielectric grease before. Thanks for the tip!

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by Zhanna

I've never heard of dielectric grease before. Thanks for the tip!

this is what we use in the acft industry. work great

[Zhanna]

Got the truck back from the mechanic. The fan clutch motor was shot and the thermostat was replaced, too.

Now to figure out the wiring!