BassCat Trailer Electrical Problem

This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 5 years ago by Roostertail1964.

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June 6, 2021 at 12:23 pm #698913

Roostertail1964
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Has anyone out there ever experienced a problem with trailer lights with the following symptoms:

1) whenever you depress the brake pedal, the marker lights come on

2) whenever you turn on the turn signals the marker lights flash

3)if the lights are on and you turn the turn signal on, the tail light does NOT blink

The obvious indication would be that there is something wrong with either the tow vehicle or trailer’s ground.

I started out with the 12V test light and the tow vehicle tested fine. I then checked the trailer’s ground…looked great. I then checked the ground at each individual light…all looked great .

I also opened my folding tongue and checked the condition of all the wires at that point. Everything looked good!

What am I missing? After (3) hours of troubleshooting, I have no answers. If anyone has any suggestions, it will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for any help with this matter.

June 6, 2021 at 1:58 pm #698914

JEH in La
Participant

Roostertail , it sounds like the typical grounding type of problem. Need more information though. Did this problem just “pop up” without anyone doing any work on your trailer like changing lights or repairing wiring or anything at all? If so, did they install LED lighting and get the polarity correct?

Ground connections “look great” but could still not be good at all. I’m wondering if you used a multimeter to check for continuity on your grounds?
Anyway this sounds like you have a big problem but it will turn out to be something simple that you are overlooking.

Only suggestion I would have is to thoroughly inspect every wire contact by pulling on them and looking for corrosion or broken connections. Unplug the light connectors, clean them and re-install. Remove all ground connections and wire brush them and re-install. A thorough visual inspection focusing on grounding and connectors should uncover your problem. Good luck and let us know how it all comes out.

June 6, 2021 at 2:12 pm #698916

Roostertail1964
Participant

The only work that was done was I installed a Garmin Force trolling motor and I had to fold my trailer tongue to deploy the motor. I even checked the lights after reconnecting the tongue and everything functioned properly.

I physically removed the ground wire(s) from every point and wire brushed the rings and reinstalled throughout.

This situation literally surfaced between parking the boat Fri., and using it today. I’m scratching my head…

June 6, 2021 at 7:32 pm #698918

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Odds are it’s in the ground and if your using a flat plug and adapter, it’s likely on the vehicle.

June 12, 2021 at 10:16 am #699048

DLB68
Participant

Roostertail1964 .

The brown wire = the running / marker lights. … Both side of trailer.

Yellow wire = Brake & Left turn Signal

Green wire = Brake & Right Turn Signal

Blue Wire = Surge Brake Release Solenoid. This allows the trailer to move backwards without actuating the surge brakes.

White Wire = Ground.

If you turn on the right turn Signal and the running / marker lights blink.

The fault is a short between the Green and Brown wire on the right side of the trailer or at the swing Away connection.

If you turn on the left turn Signal and the running / marker lights blink .

The fault is a short between the Yellow and Brown wire on the Left side of the trailer or at the swing Away connection

I’m betting your ground wires are fine.

In the event that a tail light pigtail has been replaced . Please ensure that the wires on the lights pigtail connection are hooked up correctly.

Red wire on pigtail = Green Or Yellow Trailer Wire

Black wire on pigtail = Brown Trailer Wire

White is the Ground Wire.

Happy Dream Hauling !

June 12, 2021 at 1:31 pm #699051

Roostertail1964
Participant

Thanks for the feedback DLB68. I am just about crazy troubleshooting this problem. I took ALL the ground wires off and put new connectors and hardware. I’ve had the swing away tongue open several times as well.
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