Topic Sponsor
2004 - 2008 Ford F150 General discussion on the 2004 - 2008 Ford F150 truck.

Tow light not working?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-19-2009, 11:29 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Thunderslide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by SD F150
I was rude?



You didn't annoy me, I was just trying to be clear on what light was working by typing RED!

Thanks for all the advice, so yes, it is the yellow marker lights on the trailer.
It could be the ground to the light as well. a test light should make quicker work of finding the problem.

kind of Ironic but I can read red but I am mostly color blind.

Last edited by Thunderslide; 11-19-2009 at 11:46 AM.
Old 11-19-2009, 11:58 AM
  #12  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
SD F150's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

To confuse this situation more, the yellow marker lights on a trailer only have one wire that come out of them. As stated, they tap into the wiring to the red tail lights, which in my case are working fine. Guess there is a glitch in the wiring somewhere. Gotta take a look.
Old 11-19-2009, 12:00 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
ford4wd08's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Alcoa, Tennessee
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 46 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by SD F150
To confuse this situation more, the yellow marker lights on a trailer only have one wire that come out of them. As stated, they tap into the wiring to the red tail lights, which in my case are working fine. Guess there is a glitch in the wiring somewhere. Gotta take a look.
that mean the yellow lights ground themselves threw the mount on the trailer, like a screw into the trialer or something....
Old 11-19-2009, 12:08 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Thunderslide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by SD F150
To confuse this situation more, the yellow marker lights on a trailer only have one wire that come out of them. As stated, they tap into the wiring to the red tail lights, which in my case are working fine. Guess there is a glitch in the wiring somewhere. Gotta take a look.
That just means that they are relying on the mounting screw to make a ground. If you don't have one get a 12v test light from a parts house or hardware store. I would bet money you have power to the light but a bad ground. Did you change the housing or just the bulb? I don't know how much you know so don't take this personally. for the light to work the power must pass through the bulb and back to the trailer. The result of this action is to make the light glow because of resistance, just like a toaster glows orange. the light is brighter because it is in a vacuum and that makes it not fail. so if the power gets to the bulb but not back to the trailer the light will not glow because the electricity it not passing through the bulb it exactly what happens when you turn a switch off. you "open" the circuit.
Old 11-19-2009, 12:21 PM
  #15  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
SD F150's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by Thunderslide
That just means that they are relying on the mounting screw to make a ground.
I am not offended, I came here for help. I don't know much, just general stuff. The more I think about it, it must be the screw as a ground. I have always had trouble with that system in other lights, where there was not a dedicated ground wire. I'll check it, thanks.
Old 11-20-2009, 11:29 AM
  #16  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
SD F150's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

This is confusing....

Back of the marker light, there is no place to screw this thing onto the trailer.



It is held on by this guard, which just goes over the light, but it does not provide ground.



I emailed the company with part #, and got this response.

Pop the cover off of the Light. You will see it under there.


Back to the drawing board!
Old 11-20-2009, 11:59 AM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
Thunderslide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

pop the yellow lens off and provide picture. with the picture you showed... Bad ground without question!!!!
Old 11-20-2009, 05:52 PM
  #18  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
SD F150's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Ok to complete this thread, and show how little I know....

Here is the cover popped off, you can see on the right, there is the ground, and this is where you mount to the trailer frame.



I assumed the guard held the light on....

Thanks for everyone's replies, this is the first time I have had to install marker lights, now I know where to look!



Quick Reply: Tow light not working?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:01 PM.