Tralier light problems

MPOP · 08-10-2005, 06:59 PM

I recently installed an after market tralier hitch and Draw-Tite 7 pin to 4 pin wire harness converter. I plugged in my tralier and got no lights. I did the research and found out about the relay that you need so I ordered up what the Nissan parts internet supplier called the tralier light relay. Still no lights. Is it safe to assume that I also need the other relay that they called the "tralier brake relay" even though I don't have tralier brakes? Or perhaps they mislabled the purpose of the relay on their web-site.

jumpy · 08-10-2005, 07:13 PM

I have two trailers...one with brakes 7 pin and the other takes a 4 pin. Both work fine with a 7-4 adapter. Also wired lights at rear of 7 pin trailer and they work fine from a switch mounted in the trailer. No nissan anything and no relay stuff req'd.

rjspitz · 08-10-2005, 08:41 PM

Yes, you need both relays.

mytitan · 08-10-2005, 09:25 PM

i had the same problem, i bought the factory hitch and it came w/ 2 relays, after i installed the relays they worked!!!

scr38 · 08-10-2005, 10:13 PM

You don't need both relays unless you need to have a 12 volt power source to your trailer, like for lights in a travel trailer. Brake lights, turn signal power and electric brake power from a brake controller are supplied to the trailer socket without the two relays. Tow relay 1, the small relay, supplies power for the trailer running lights. Relay 2, the larger one, supplies the 12 volt power for the trailer.

MagLeto · 08-10-2005, 10:19 PM

This may sound like something too simple to check, but... make sure the ground wire is attached to an exposed metal part of the trailer. My lights refused to work until I did this. The paint on the area I originally had it attached was too much of an insulator. My trailer came with a screw in just the right spot to be loosened and the ground wire wrapped around. That solved my problems.

rjspitz · 08-11-2005, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scr38

You don't need both relays unless you need to have a 12 volt power source to your trailer, like for lights in a travel trailer. Brake lights, turn signal power and electric brake power from a brake controller are supplied to the trailer socket without the two relays. Tow relay 1, the small relay, supplies power for the trailer running lights. Relay 2, the larger one, supplies the 12 volt power for the trailer.

That's a negative, Ghostrider.
The relays are required, unless you hardwire them with an aftermarket controller.

cttitan · 08-11-2005, 12:14 PM

Nope, you only need relay 1. See this thread.

Trailer Tow lights/wiring/relays

You shold have brake lights and turn signals in any case even without the relays. I would check the fuses and ground connection.

MPOP · 08-13-2005, 12:39 PM

Thanks for everyones input. I turns out that the ground wire was the culprit. So I now have working tralier lights with turn signals and brake lights using the one tralier light relay and attaching the ground wire to the tralier.

MagLeto · 08-13-2005, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPOP

Thanks for everyones input. I turns out that the ground wire was the culprit. So I now have working tralier lights with turn signals and brake lights using the one tralier light relay and attaching the ground wire to the tralier.

I'm glad that worked out for you. Happy towing...!