Question about Trailer lights

[Peltz]

Hi. One of the lights on my trailer is not working properly. The brake portion works as does the turn signal, however the general running light does not work. It is only on the right side light. Is there a way to fix this without having to replace the entire unit? Is there a bulb, a wire or something that can be repaired or replaced fairly easily? Thanks

[germandogs]

If you are running the older type lights (non-LED) then one element of your bulb is burned out. Replace the bulb and you should be good to go.

[PostOpus]

Could be as simple as one filament of the bulb being burned out. There are so many different types, it's hard to say how to remove the bulb from your particular lights; just examine it closely and I'm sure you'll find out. Some lights you have to remove the lens (a few screws around the perimeter) and others have a fitting on the back that you remove.

If it's not the bulb, and assuming the trailer has standard wiring, check the connection from that light to the brown wire; brown feeds the "running" lights, side marker lights and tag light.

And welcome to the exasperating world of trailer lights!

[Flagstaff]

Clean the contact between the trailer plug and the tow vehicle. Or, buy a new running light they are easy to replace and don't cost that much.

[frogbiscuit]

Read my sig. If they work at all I am happy.

[thejeffrey]

Sounds like a ground problem to me. If you verified the bulbs are good, clean all the trailer light grounds down to bare metal, spray with corrosion X and reassemble.

I had this problem on 2 different trailers and it brought them back to correct working order. Ground problems on trailers cause the lighting system to do some really strange things.

Good luck.

[ggibby]

Agree with all the info above.

IN addition, I've had the wire to the light break off, right at a screw terminal, twice recently.

Take a look at your light fixture, generally there is some way to remove the innards, look at this carefully and the problem may be obvious. If not, change the bulb. Move all the wires....one may be held only by plastic insulation....

The water corrodes the copper wiring.

good luck!
gordon

[kerno]

I've seen quite a few trailers that run a harness down both sides of the trailer. One side gets the yellow (left brake and turn) and brown (tail). The other side gets the green ( right brake and turn) and another brown for the tail and running lights on the right side. If the brake and turn work on the problem side is is probably not a ground. If the brown is not getting power, both the tail and running lights for the side in question should be out. If only one bulb is out, check the bulb.

[Peltz]

Easiest boat repair ever. Simply replaced the bulb - one of the filaments was broken. I wish all boat repairs were so simple. Thanks for the replies.