Trailer wiring on 2006 Tacoma

On Sun, 23 Apr 2006 23:07:19 GMT, Bruce L. Bergman
<blPYTHONbergman.DeleteThis@earthlink.invalid> wrote:


>
> Check the grounds on the trailer tail light assemblies to the steel
>trailer chassis, and the ground wire from the trailer tongue steel,
>through the trailer connector to the truck body is continuous and
>solid - make sure there's a good ground path the whole way.

>
> When there is a bad ground on a dual-filament lamp, you apply power
>to the stop lights and it can't go to ground, so it goes through the
>tail filament, to the other lamps, and finds it's way to ground.
>
> If the whole trailer isn't grounded right the same thing happens,
>but it's not isolated to one fixture - all the lights act screwy.
>
> --<< Bruce >>--

The grounds are connected to the steel chassis, but it is rusty. I'll
clean all that up and see if it helps. Could be part or all of the
problem.

Thanks
Jaminn aka Don Williams
 >> Stay informed about: Trailer wiring on 2006 Tacoma 

It sounds to me like you have a bad ground or no ground on the trailer.




"jaminn" <jaminn.TakeThisOut@remove.this.jaminn.org> wrote in message
news:rorn42h8786dk3hbk93l93h23kvs2iqkhv@4ax.com...
>I finally got my pop-up in shape and was ready to wire the harness. I
> very carefully followed the wiring diagram (I have the factory
> installed towing package, so the truck has the harness socket). But,
> something is screwy. As long as the truck lights are OFF, the trailer
> turn signals and brake lights seem to work. But if I turn the lights
> on, the brake lights don't seem to work, and the turn signals are
> acting strange. It's almost like there is not enough power, because
> it seems that if the lights are on, and I turn on the left signal, the
> right tail light will dim as the left signal flashes. Seems like I
> recall having to get a heavy duty flasher back in the day, but that
> was because the normal flasher would flash too fast when the trailer
> was hooked up. Am I missing something here? I know a little bit
> about wiring, but something isn't right.
> Jaminn aka Don Williams
 >> Stay informed about: Trailer wiring on 2006 Tacoma 

BACK UP A MINUTE
If you have the factory installed tow package, and it includes the flat
4-pin connector at the bumper, then you need a flat 4-pin connector on the
trailer.

The trailer uses the SAME lamps for turn signals and brake lights, and
another for running lights -- that is, the bulb has two filiments, the brake
and turn signal is one filiment, the running lights are the other. Your
truck has a filiment for brakes and another for running lights, and a
completely separate bulb for turn signals. You should be able to see the
conflict here, you have two different lighting systems and are wanting to
run them from the same control.

The truck MUST have a converter built in that is essentially a diode pack
that blocks voltage from flowing back from the trailer and into the truck,
causing lights to flash that should be on steady. Since you have the factory
installed Trailer Option, then you should already have the converter device,
and your troubles are centered in the trailer.

If you THINK you have the factory trailer option but you really do not, then
your lights will not work right until you get the proper converter and
install it. The one I installed was very easy, and I fit into the fender,
justj forward of the left tail light assembly. All of the wires connected
very easily, and only one wire has to go to the right side to pick up the
right turn signal. The converter has a flat 4-pin pigtail that you mount
near the hitch, I set mine so it comes out beside the license plate.





"jaminn" <jaminn DeleteThis @remove.this.jaminn.org> wrote in message
news:rorn42h8786dk3hbk93l93h23kvs2iqkhv@4ax.com...
>I finally got my pop-up in shape and was ready to wire the harness. I
> very carefully followed the wiring diagram (I have the factory
> installed towing package, so the truck has the harness socket). But,
> something is screwy. As long as the truck lights are OFF, the trailer
> turn signals and brake lights seem to work. But if I turn the lights
> on, the brake lights don't seem to work, and the turn signals are
> acting strange. It's almost like there is not enough power, because
> it seems that if the lights are on, and I turn on the left signal, the
> right tail light will dim as the left signal flashes. Seems like I
> recall having to get a heavy duty flasher back in the day, but that
> was because the normal flasher would flash too fast when the trailer
> was hooked up. Am I missing something here? I know a little bit
> about wiring, but something isn't right.
> Jaminn aka Don Williams
 >> Stay informed about: Trailer wiring on 2006 Tacoma 

On Sun, 23 Apr 2006 17:23:07 -0400, jaminn
<jaminn DeleteThis @remove.this.jaminn.org> wrote:

>I finally got my pop-up in shape and was ready to wire the harness.
><snip>
>Jaminn aka Don Williams

Problem solved. Thanks for all the input, by the way. This afternoon
I checked all the grounds, even took one loose that was on a rusty
part and cleaned it, drilled a new hole and re-attached it. Then, I
applied 12 volts to each wire to make sure all the bulbs worked pn the
trailer as they should. All were fine. Hooked up the cable from the
truck to the camper and the lights still didn't work. So, I got to
looking elsewhere. I noticed on the cover of the truck connector that
it showed the location of the wires. I noticed right away that the
ground on the cable connector wasn't where the ground was on the truck
connector. So, it appears that I was confused by the pin out provided
with the cable connector (it is a 7 pin, round connector). Once I
figured out where the ground was, the rest of the connectors just fell
into place. All work fine now. I'm ready for next month when I will
be pulling the camper 1000 miles from GA to TX.
Jaminn aka Don Williams
 >> Stay informed about: Trailer wiring on 2006 Tacoma