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Trailer wiring causing issues

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:22 am
by roadrash
I've been struggling (much more than I should) to get trailer lights running correctly. I've also received some help from Thilo (thank you very much sir)...

Here is what is known.... I'll try to use a clockface as a guide. and this is based off using a volt meter with the black tester in the 4-oclock possition and then running the red probe around to the various posts while activating various signals.

12-oclock Brake/left directional
2-oclock 24V always on even when ignition off (not used)
4-oclock Assuming ground
6-oclock Brake/Right directional
8-oclock nothing
10-oclock nothing
Center post Running lights.

I've matched all these up with the plug that Thilo made for me and attached the corisponding wires to the 4 prong trailer.

Popped breaker number #1 once as soon as I activated the driving lights on the Pinz,
Nothing on the trailer works

The trailer previously worked just fine with a Nissan Titan but i am thinking that I need to go back to square 1 and reverify that the trailer still functions on a non-pinz. I have also swapped out the original 12V bulbs for 24V

This is my second attempt at this since the first time I burnt/destroyed the flasher relay on the pinz...before realizing knowing that something was wrong with the original wiring.

Anyway, i have a couple ideas to back track this but wanted to see if anyone out there saw something in the above config that stood out. Is there a better way to verify Ground? other than tracing that from the connection on the back of the pinz?

My last resort is to completely rewire the trailer with a spare set of lights that are the same style (multiple bubles etc) that are on the pinz now but that will require some fabrication for mounting points. At the very least i could probably wire one of them up with short test sections to validate

Thanks
Dave

Re: Trailer wiring causing issues

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:32 am
by StuartL
I don't think it's going to help you but I post it here in case it's found by someone else doing a search later.

This is the UK trailer wiring for the 7-pin sockets common in the UK:

http://uk-trailer-parts.co.uk/7-pin-%E2 ... ng-diagram

Re: Trailer wiring causing issues

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 1:49 pm
by pcolette
If you don't have a schematic I'd be happy to email you a pdf file of one thats been cleaned up considerably for optimal viewing. Although it doesn't show the socket in a clock fashion it does identify the terminal numbers on the socket.

Re: Trailer wiring causing issues

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 3:45 pm
by David Dunn
BEFORE you go off and use any wiring diagram, determine what specs your truck was manufactured as. SWISS trucks with circuit breakers are not the same as the "standard" (or refered to as Austrian) versions with fuses !

Your layout is correct for a Swiss truck, but Austrian trucks do not combine the brake lead, it is separate lead, for individual bulbs ( 5 wire harness).

If your trailer has a typical flat4 connector, make sure that brown = tail lamp, yellow is left, green is right and white is ground.
and in a 5 wire connector, blue = brake lamps. These are the standard.

Off the top of my head, I do not remember which pin is for the brake lamp on the 12N connector ( as used on the Pinz), but I can check when I get back to my Pinz when I get home.

Re: Trailer wiring causing issues

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 2:53 am
by Jim LaGuardia
If you have TD tail lamps you will need 2 parts as the brake signal has been seperated from the turn signal circuit , a 24-12v trailer light converter and a signal recombiner, then you can use a flat 4 connector and 12v trailer lights.
SAV sells the trailer light voltage converter http://www.pinzgauer.com/showdetails.ph ... no=SAV2645
And most auto parts stores carry the signal recombiner(around $40).
Like this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Tail-lig ... ccessories

Re: Trailer wiring causing issues

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 8:57 am
by roadrash
Thank you all very much for the replies, they are helping... Slowly I'm discovering the "unique" wiring. I suspect someone in the past worked on this truck and fiddled with things as it doesnt appear to be following most of the standards. Will have to track down their changes and reasons and go from there. Appreciate all the replies

Re: Trailer wiring causing issues

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 9:32 pm
by Jim LaGuardia
Here is the basic wire layout for TD conversion , Tan is ground, green/black is rt turn, yellow/black is left turn, black is running lights, Orange wire is USUALLY used for brake lights, Pink is USUALLY back up lamps. So you only have 2 variables as some use pink for brakes and Orange for back up lamps.
You will find all the wires at the rear juncion block , use a test light to verify circuits and then splice/add in 24-12v trailer adapter and then signal converter(re combiner) as per installation instructions, you will then have a standard "Flat 4" 12v trailer wire plug. You may leave the factory trailer socket intact for 24v uses.