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Jimpantera2.
Hey guys – I thought I would reach out to you about a surprise I found last weekend getting ready to head out on first trip last weekend.My new to me 2005 PUMA with tandem trailer was working great last year and I was so proud I got the 5 wire harness hooked up to my tow vehicle.All worked well last year.First thing I noticed at stop light last weekend is that the R light on console slowly became lighted along with D while I was in drive. Certainly caught my eye and I noticed transmission didnt engage. I put it in park, tried again and it did thing like it was in neutral. I went back unhooked the harness scrubbed on the plug and noticed some corrosion on female. On way back I noticed the trailer small yellow lights were a little dim. I shot some reel grease in plug and put together and yellow lights got real bright. Got back in and everything seemed to work. As I was headed to the Potomac the R light lit on console again as I was driving on highway. While driving and performing forensics, it seemed like the yellow lights would go dim as R light lit and as I would accelerate the yellow lights would get brighter. Add to that when I was putting trailer in water my partner noted my turn signal on tow vehicle signaled just opposite of the trailer turn signal. STRANGE….I would bet my savings that last year I know I tested and seen the turn signals on truck and trailer operate correctly.While I did have boat serviced over the winter and I have had truck serviced for standard oil change etc, I just cant figure what would cause the signals to operate out of synch.I am led to believe its either a ground, corrosion or combo there of, or somebody spliced/swapped the wires ……..will need to trouble shoot this weekend but thought I would ask if anyone experienced something so weird!
It has to be in the vehicle if the lights on the trailer function properly when hooked directly to 12 volts.
Charlie, this sounds familiar to me as I had similar symptoms earlier last year. My problem was “ground related”. My ground wire was connected to a screw on the bottom of my reverse solenoid as Im sure yours is also. My solenoid was “loose” for some reason and BCB indicated that it should not be like that. The ground is supposed to be through the solenoid base to the frame of the trailer and mine was not making a good ground. I used a voltmeter to check for “continuity” between the white wire on the solenoid to the trailer frame. I had infinite resistance on that measurement. I solved the problem by running another wire from the solenoid screw to the trailer frame to complete the ground and that fixed my problem. The other alternative was to take apart the coupler and tighten whatever was loose and I didnt want to go through all of that. I could take a picture of what I did to show you if you would like. By the way, I got the charger in and it is working fine. Thanks, JimEveryone should believe in something. I believe Ill just go fishing!
Electricity is evil.I couldnt even guess what yours is but seems like everytime I hear of strange things it seems to mostly be some type of grounding issue.
Nothing on the trailer should default trailer lights short of a grounded clearance light orrear light bar.
Awesome guys….good news I am an electrical engineer and thought it might be ground related. I will check it out saturday( snow and rain expected!!)JEH – good to hear charger is working great……where is the reverse solenoid? picture would be great.. send me a PM with your tele number
Reverse lock out solenoid is located inside the tube tongue just behind the coupler. You can easily find it right npbehind the coupler and by following the single wire.
MDBASSNPRO wrote:Awesome guys….good news I am an electrical engineer and thought it might be ground related. I will check it out saturday( snow and rain expected!!)JEH – good to hear charger is working great……where is the reverse solenoid? picture would be great.. send me a PM with your tele numberCharlie, unfortunately boat and trailer is 150 miles away from where I am now so dont be looking for a picture soon. Sorry about that. I would love to take a pic for you but I wasnt thinking straight when I offered to do that. Ill pm you with my number and we can discuss.The first thing I would do if I were you would be to check continuity between the white wire that is connected to your reverse solenoid and the trailer frame. That should show a direct short. Mine was showing “open” until I ran the separate wire. JimLast edited by JEH in La on March 13th, 2013, 7:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.Everyone should believe in something. I believe Ill just go fishing!
bass1958 wrote:Electricity is evil.Everyone should believe in something. I believe Ill just go fishing!
JEH in La wrote:bass1958 wrote:Electricity is evil.electricity is NOT EVIL, its my bread and butterit sure sounds like a ground issue, check the ground on the truck too.
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