Problem with Hoppy trailer harness (1 Viewer)

[MonsterDood]

I just installed a Hoppy harness for my '96 LC and everything seemed fine when I checked out the basic operation. I didn't check it with an actual trailer, but the brake light and blinker worked right so figured so far so good. Later, when I turned on my lights, the left blinker light on the dash some on and stays on. The left turn signal stays on in conjunction. When I turn the lever to signal a left turn... nothing, light just stays on still. The right one works like it is supposed to. Also, the light around the "R" on the dash is lso illuminated.

The install seemed straight forward and I don't see how I could have messed it up. I wonder if the haoppy converter might be faulty. I got the kit from NAPA for what it's worth. Anyone have an idea. My next step is to just recheck the connections, but I was hoping someone might know what's up/

 

[MoJ]

IIRC, the directions have you run a wire under the metal sill plate at the rear of the cargo area. I'd carefully inspect that part of the wiring (as well as any other potential pinch points) for any damage to the wire insulation. I think I added a little electical tape to the wire in a few places to prevent abrasion. If that didn't reveal anything exhange it.

 

[landtank]

First thing to do is remove the converter so to rule out any vehicle problems. I've installed this same kit and haven't had any issues except when running my rear bumper lights in conjunction with the trailer. More on that soon.

 

[MonsterDood]

There is a single wire that runs under the carpet to the DS tail light wires. That wire does go over a couple of edges at bottom of the trim panels, and I will check that too. If that wire is grounding though, it seems like the light wouldn't turn on at all rather than be on all the time... I'm assuming it is a power line not a ground line. If it is a ground wire, then it would make complete sense... When I turn the lights on power goes to the tail light and the wire would complete the ground leaving the turn signal on...

Anyone know if that wire is ground or power for sure?

 

[Rich]

I think a proper install would be to run the wire that crosses the rear of the truck underneath the body and enclosed in split loom tubing.

I was horrified that the stock Land Cruiser trailer wiring on my '97 had a single wire running underneath the carpet without protection. It looked to me like it was just waiting for a heavy object to be dropped on the floor, cutting through the insulation and shorting it out. I rerouted it underneath the body, enclosing it in split loom tubing.

 

[MonsterDood]

Update: All wires were good, no pinches and no broken insulation. When I remove the left side connectors, everything works fine. It seems that the converter is putting voltage out to the blinker when the tail light is on. I believe it is supposed to work the other way around, the left blinker voltage is supposed to go to the converter which then sends the voltage to the left signal wire on the trailer.

Does this sound right?

I'm thinking the converter is bad based on a couple of other posts with a turn signal staying on and other miscellaneous "crossing" problems. I removed the harness completely and everything is normal except my left brake light is now out, possibly it shorted or something during the troubleshooting or just due to a defective converter.

This was a that turned into a

 

[landtank]

I think there has been at least 1 case where the filament for a bulb brake and was resting on the base of the bulb creating problems. You might change out that bulb and try a the hoppy unit again as it works both the brake light and directional to gether for the trailer and that bad bulb might be the cause for your problems.

 

[MonsterDood]

The left bulb did have the filament resting kinda funny and maybe that helped to cause a problem, but after replacing it, the left blinker still stays on with the taillights and if the tailights are off, they flash with the blinker. Everything else works okay and if I disconnect just the DS harness to the left signal, then everything works okay (except the 4 wires to a trailer has the left turn signal on too) so I think the converter is bad. I'm going to try and get a replacement and see if that fixes it....

 

[Brentbba]

Having had both the OEM converter and a cheap U-haul converter go bad (current Hoppy is working fine), it certainly sounds like a bad converter. The harness kit can only be plugged in one way so I doubt it's a connection set up issue. Since you already have the harness, see if you can just purchase the converter.

 

[MonsterDood]

FIXED and FINISHED
So I got a new converter from NAPA, plugged it in and everything is good now. The first one had two problems, two wires were crossed up on the left signal harness and the converter was sending voltage out on the yellow wire to this miswired harness when the lights were on. This made the reverse lights come on when I turned the headlights on or when I hit the brakes among other wierd things....

Luckily the NAPA guy accidently ordered two trailer harness kits, so he had a replacement ready to go for me. He gave me the new kit no questions asked so that was cool of them.

So problem solved and I can tow some motorcycles now!