speaking of trailer wiring

[Lochsa]

I am putting a receiver hitch on and got the drawtite wiring from etrailer for the 96. I think I followed the directions proberly. The attached picture shows the connecters I attached the wiring harness to. Only problem is, it didn't work. No lights on the trailer. The trailer's lights work fine, verified by my other rig. The cruiser's blinkers and brake lights worked fine when it was plugged in. The connector you see in the photo is pretty filthy, so this may be the problem. What should I try to clean it out with? There seems to be some grease in it, probably dielectric grease. Any suggestions on possible fix? Also, what is an appropriate place to ground? The instructions indicate drilling a hole into the frame, is this really necessary or is there an easier place you've used?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Brentbba]

That's the connector under the truck right? At least on the Hoppy brand converter, it plugged into the truck's wiring harness behind the PS brake light in the rear quarter panel, not this connector, and had one wire run over to the DS and just plugged in. Maybe Drawtite's is different.

 

[Lochsa]

This is the connector under the truck, so maybe I'm putting it in the wrong place. The instructions say nothing about the quarter panel, though. This is a link to the connector I'm using...

http://tinyurl.com/7wmns

Thanks for a speedy reply!

 

[Brentbba]

Hmmm,

Looks like I'd try the wiring harness behind the PS rear quarter panel. Can't really tell from the pic but does one of the molex connector wires have a much longer wire so it can run to the DS? Obviously the one with the 4-pin connector is to the trailer. There's a rubber grommet that runs thru to underneath the truck on each side if this one connects behind the quarter panel.

If all else fails, return this and purchase the Hoppy for your year's truck. It'll run you about $45, but is plug and play!

 

[elmariachi]

This is the connector under the truck, so maybe I'm putting it in the wrong place. The instructions say nothing about the quarter panel, though. This is a link to the connector I'm using...
Thanks for a speedy reply!

Yep, they all plug into the harness in the right rear as noted.

 

[Lochsa]

hmmmm. I'll have to take a look. But no, there isn't any longer molex connector. they are basically right next to one another. The connectors hook into the plugs in the picture just right, so i was pretty sure I was in the right place, but I'll have to check out the quarter panel connections. The connector you see in the background of the pic comes apart, and then each one connects to the harness via the molex connector.

 

[Brentbba]

hmmmm. I'll have to take a look. But no, there isn't any longer molex connector. they are basically right next to one another. The connectors hook into the plugs in the picture just right, so i was pretty sure I was in the right place, but I'll have to check out the quarter panel connections. The connector you see in the background of the pic comes apart, and then each one connects to the harness via the molex connector.

Yep - I'm familiar with that connection. Used it with the Kaymar wiring harness that came with the bumper I recently installed. Only thing I'm going on is how the factory converter and the aftermarket converters I've installed have hooked up. They use the connections behind the quarter panel and not the one you've got pictured.

 

[Beowulf]

Lochsa,

I believe the connector you pictured is the same one that the Slee license plate lights plug in when I installed their rear bumper. You want to tap into the brake lights using the connector behind the right panel in the cargo area.

FYI, there is a ground connection about 3' to the left side of the vehicle. Since your picture is facing rearward, it would be about 3' to the right in the picture. You'll see a few other factory ground wires connected to a bolt into the rear crossmember.

-B-

 

[Lochsa]

Well, after some searching, I came up with this thread

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=20858&highlight=trailer+wiring

that shows a picture of it hooked up, so I'm relatively certain that the connector I've got is in the right place. Does anyone have a clue as to why it wouldn't work, or what I might use to clean out the connector? Scottm are you out there?

 

[Lochsa]

Thanks for the ground info -B-. I'll look into trying to get the wiring hooked in via the quarter panel connection instead. Posted my last post while you were posting, I think...

 

[Lochsa]

I went out to the rig for lunch and pulled off the quarter panel. I think the picture here shows the connection you guys are talking about. Also this is a link to the kind of connector you are talking about

http://tinyurl.com/99ztf

I don't think the harness I have is going to work like that. The connectors you see toward the bottom of the page at that website don't look like the ones on my harness, which is supposed to be in the place where you are putting the wires to your kaymar bumpers. For whatever reason, mine doesn't seem to be working. I may have to return this harness and get the hoppy one or the one at etrailer. Anyway, just wanted to put some clarification into this for anyone who happens to come across this thread later on.

 

[e9999]

I remember reading something about there being 2 different systems...

 

[Lochsa]

A quick update for anyone who may be interested. Problem was an improper ground. I got it working this weekend with the connection in the first picture. Thanks to all who offered advice on this, especially about the factory grounding position from beowulf.

 

[scottm]

Sorry, I've been a bit distracted lately. I'm about to purchase that same harness from e-trailer again. It did connect there. Both my wife's and my (deceased) '97 80s had the same wire break just behind those connectors under the cargo floor, so watch that. I'll be able to tell you which wire when my harness gets here. For ground, I ran a self-drilling screw into some sheet metal near those connectors.

 

[Lochsa]

Not a problem. Thanks for the info regarding the broken wire. I'll be sure to watch out for it. Just glad I managed to get this all together and working.

 

[Beowulf]

... and my (deceased) '97 80s

Scott,
Not trying to hi-jack this (now waning) thread, but what's the story on the deceased '97?

-B-

 

[scottm]

I just installed my T-1 kit, now two wires are broken on the back of one factory connector. It's the 3-wire connector with stop, tail, back lights. It's only used for trailer light connecting, the other two connectors are connected together until used for trailer lights. The stop and tail wires have corroded off the connector, the backup wire is still holding. I see they filled the front of the connector with grease, but the back didn't hold up.