Electrical help with a 7 Pin wiring harness (200 series LC)

[gomotomoto]

Recently, I purchased a 2008 LandCruiser for the purpose of towing our family airstream. It did not come with a wiring harness, so I purchased the hopkins plug in harness for the factory tow package. It has a 7 way and a 4 flat as well.

Install was simple enough, few bolts and two plugs that go right into the ports on the LC. I checked the two plugs against another 200 series LC that actually had it installed from the factory -- nothing to it... plug and play...

When I plugged the airstream plug in the harness on my 2008, it wasn't working -- only one of the turn signals was operating, nothing else.

I check all the related fuses and there was actually a micro 30amp (towing tail) that was blown. I replaced that.

Still not working. I used a test light and OM meter to confirm. Nothing operating.

Any ideas on what might be causing the issue?

Trying to save a family trip in a week -- any help appreciated.

 

[PAToyota]

I used a test light and OM meter to confirm. Nothing operating.

So you’re not getting any power to any of the pins in the plug? Are you using the ground in the plug or grounding to the frame or…? But the taillights do work with everything plugged back together?

 

[gomotomoto]

So you’re not getting any power to any of the pins in the plug? Are you using the ground in the plug or grounding to the frame or…? But the taillights do work with everything plugged back together?

I'm only getting the right turn signal to work. everything else is dead. Using the ground in the plug.

 

[PAToyota]

Right turn on the vehicle? Or trailer? I’d check with another ground - direct to frame or such.

 

[gomotomoto]

Right turn on the vehicle? Or trailer? I’d check with another ground - direct to frame or such.

On the trailer, the only response I can get on that trailer is the rear, right hand side blinker. Does seem like it's a ground issue, but I'm wondering if I'm either missing the correct wiring from the factory, or maybe some fuses (because the truck didn't come with a harness)

 

[gomotomoto]

Ok - maybe making progress. When I bypass the ground (ground to frame instead) I'm at least getting some confused communication from the truck and 7 pin on the back of the truck. However, according to the test light -- it's sending the wrong signals to the wrong pins in the 7 pin. For example, the brake and left turn signal is showing on the accessory plug.

 

[PAToyota]

I’ve found all manner of crazy wiring on trailers. Too many people wire them up based on their own preferences than following a standard. But the Airstream is a trailer you had before? So the wiring works with other vehicles you have/had?

The 7-pin connector has a ground, so make sure that it is securely grounded back to the vehicle from the connector, but also hook the trailer up so that it grounds through the hitch as well.

Start by checking everything coming out of the plug on the vehicle - make sure that power is getting to each pin there without any problems. Then connect the plug to the trailer and continue on from there.

 

[gomotomoto]

FIXED. it was actually the hopkins 7 pin harness. Even though it's all plug and play, there must be something different from the factory wiring. I took a factory 7 pin from a newer LC and everything worked. Damn etrailer!

 

[PAToyota]

Glad it worked out for you. I have Hopkins products on vehicles and trailers without problems, but some situations are unique.