Trailer plug night lights don’t work

[Tandem915]

On my 2014 DS30, My tow trailer night lights don’t work through my plug. All the other lights through the plug work and when I plug my trailer into my truck all the lights work including the night lights. I opened the plug and checked the connections, they were all good but I’m not getting power to the plug.

I checked for a bad fuse but couldn’t find anything so I reached out to Forest River and they said they connect directly to the Ford wire harness. Does anyone know where the approximate location of this junction would be?

I would rather fix it than run a new wire.

Thanks

[tonyz1]

I'm a little confused on what you are asking. Are you talking about the clearance lights on the side and top of the back end of your RV? If so, they get power from the seven pin plug you hook to your tow vehicle. Can you clarify which lights you are calling night lights?
Oh, are you speaking of clearance lights on a trailer you are towing behind motorhome? Sorry, I didn't notice this was listed under motorhome category to start with.

[BehindBars]

Originally Posted by tonyz1

I'm a little confused on what you are asking. Are you talking about the clearance lights on the side and top of the back end of your RV? If so, they get power from the seven pin plug you hook to your tow vehicle. Can you clarify which lights you are calling night lights?
Oh, are you speaking of clearance lights on a trailer you are towing behind motorhome? Sorry, I didn't notice this was listed under motorhome category to start with.

This thread is posted in a motorhome forum. Think of it in motorhome terms and it will make sense. From what I understand, the tail (and possibly clearance) lights on the trailer are not being supplied power by the motorhome. However, those same trailer lights do work when the trailer is connected to a truck other than the motorhome.

[Tandem915]

Behindbars you are correct. My 7 pin plug on my motor home is not suppling power for my pull trailer taillights. Sorry for the confusion

[Mr. Dan]

Sorry but what are you calling night lights?

[Chuck_S]

Night lights:



-- Chuck

[NoviBill]

Sounds like a break in the wire feeding the 7way plug. I think the owners manual should show a wiring diagram for how it is wired (well the old ones did, new one may be dumbed down to don't drink radiator fluid). If the running lights on your motorhome work a few thoughts:
0) Clean the female 7 way plug - they sell contact cleaner, but I have used WD40 and an emery board. Often the contacts get dirty/corroded and don't connect
1) Between the owner's manual and tracing the wire find where the wire-disconnect is. Easy if you are handy with a multimeter (volt meter).
2) If you cannot find the failure, pull a running light near the 7 way, find the hot wire and connect a wire between that and the pin on the 7way.

Good luck

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Tandem915

On my 2014 DS30, My tow trailer night lights don’t work through my plug. All the other lights through the plug work and when I plug my trailer into my truck all the lights work including the night lights. I opened the plug and checked the connections, they were all good but I’m not getting power to the plug.

I checked for a bad fuse but couldn’t find anything so I reached out to Forest River and they said they connect directly to the Ford wire harness. Does anyone know where the approximate location of this junction would be?

I would rather fix it than run a new wire.

Thanks

Where did you check the fuse(s)
Many vehicles, the fuses that protect and supply voltage to the 7 pin plug are in the engine compartment. Often a charging relay isn't installed either. (but often supplied with the owners manual/package)

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Often a charging relay isn't installed either. (but often supplied with the owners manual/package)

Uhhh...not sure this applies when the tow vehicle is an FR3 motorhome. Should have been installed at when the motorhome was built if not installed at the chassis factory, right?

[Tandem915]

Originally Posted by NoviBill

Sounds like a break in the wire feeding the 7way plug. I think the owners manual should show a wiring diagram for how it is wired (well the old ones did, new one may be dumbed down to don't drink radiator fluid). If the running lights on your motorhome work a few thoughts:
0) Clean the female 7 way plug - they sell contact cleaner, but I have used WD40 and an emery board. Often the contacts get dirty/corroded and don't connect
1) Between the owner's manual and tracing the wire find where the wire-disconnect is. Easy if you are handy with a multimeter (volt meter).
2) If you cannot find the failure, pull a running light near the 7 way, find the hot wire and connect a wire between that and the pin on the 7way.

Good luck

Thanks - I will try 0 &1, I was hoping to not do 2! But it may resort to that.

[Tandem915]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

Sorry but what are you calling night lights?

Tail lights on the trailer.

[Tandem915]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Where did you check the fuse(s)
Many vehicles, the fuses that protect and supply voltage to the 7 pin plug are in the engine compartment. Often a charging relay isn't installed either. (but often supplied with the owners manual/package)

I checked the fuses on the drivers side under the dash as well as the fuses in front of the engine just above the air filter.

[bubbles]

Isn't the FR3 an F53 Ford chassis? If so, might check relay #8 under the hood right below the fuse panel in the diode & relay module. Relay #8 is "trailer tow parking lamps relay". Just guessing.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

Uhhh...not sure this applies when the tow vehicle is an FR3 motorhome. Should have been installed at when the motorhome was built if not installed at the chassis factory, right?

Not necessarily. Automotive manufacturers don't always install that stuff and leave it for the body builder who may or may not install it.

[Capacitor]

Have you checked the voltage at the 7 pin connector on the back of the MH? They should be labeled on the cover. This will tell you if the problem is MH or trailer,

[BehindBars]

Originally Posted by Capacitor

Have you checked the voltage at the 7 pin connector on the back of the MH? They should be labeled on the cover. This will tell you if the problem is MH or trailer,

From post #1, “when I plug my trailer into my truck all the lights work”. I think this ruled out a problem on the trailer side, however there’s still no harm in checking the voltage at the 7 pin connector on the MH.

[Capacitor]

Thanks behindbars, I missed that. Here is a diagram. I would turn on headlights and check 7 o’clock to 11 o’clock pins to start.

[Tandem915]

Thanks everyone who responded, sorry it took so long to reply back - I rechecked the fuses based on Bubbles response which said "trailer tow parking lamps". I found fuse # 18 20 Amp (Big fuse) in the front was blown. Thanks again for your help!