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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / April 2007

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Wiring diagram for FORD F150 trailer lights from truck

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scottdunl@gmail.com - 15 Apr 2007 00:00 GMT
I'm not sure what the out puts are on the F150 lights for a 4 pin. I
can't get the running lights to work. I can get the turn signals and
brakes to work with the headlights on. Again, no running lights.
Please help.
samstone@aol.com - 15 Apr 2007 00:39 GMT
>I'm not sure what the out puts are on the F150 lights for a 4 pin. I
>can't get the running lights to work. I can get the turn signals and
>brakes to work with the headlights on. Again, no running lights.
>Please help.

you have three of the four already - so a volt meter or a 12v test lamp
would indicate them for you
you have a ground - the left turn/stop - the right turn/stop and the running lights
samstone@aol.com - 15 Apr 2007 00:46 GMT
>I'm not sure what the out puts are on the F150 lights for a 4 pin. I
>can't get the running lights to work. I can get the turn signals and
>brakes to work with the headlights on. Again, no running lights.
>Please help.

http://www.offroaders.com/tech/trailer_wiring-diagram.htm
scottdunl@gmail.com - 15 Apr 2007 01:34 GMT
On Apr 14, 7:46 pm, samst...@aol.com wrote:

> >I'm not sure what the out puts are on the F150 lights for a 4 pin. I
> >can't get the running lights to work. I can get the turn signals and
> >brakes to work with the headlights on. Again, no running lights.
> >Please help.
>
> http://www.offroaders.com/tech/trailer_wiring-diagram.htm

Thanks for the quick response. I have never used a forum like this and
it paid off. Thanks again!!!
scottdunl@gmail.com - 15 Apr 2007 06:56 GMT
On Apr 14, 8:34 pm, scottd...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Apr 14, 7:46 pm, samst...@aol.com wrote:
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Thanks for the quick response. I have never used a forum like this and
> it paid off. Thanks again!!!

Ok I lied, that didnt work at all. Any other help?
Spdloader - 15 Apr 2007 07:12 GMT
> On Apr 14, 8:34 pm, scottd...@gmail.com wrote:
>> On Apr 14, 7:46 pm, samst...@aol.com wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Ok I lied, that didnt work at all. Any other help?

Get a test light from an auto parts store.
Turn on just the running/park lights on your truck.
Ground your test light, then probe the wire harness at either rear light,
done easiest with the taillight assembly out.
When your test light lights up, you've found your running lights for your
trailer.
Connect it to the Brown wire on your trailer kit.
If you need further you can email me direct using my knick below, then
@excite.com

Spdloader
samstone@aol.com - 15 Apr 2007 10:38 GMT
>On Apr 14, 8:34 pm, scottd...@gmail.com wrote:
>> On Apr 14, 7:46 pm, samst...@aol.com wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
>Ok I lied, that didnt work at all. Any other help?
What do you mean by "that"?
Are both elements in both trailer  bulbs OK?  
lugnut - 15 Apr 2007 15:35 GMT
>I'm not sure what the out puts are on the F150 lights for a 4 pin. I
>can't get the running lights to work. I can get the turn signals and
>brakes to work with the headlights on. Again, no running lights.
>Please help.

The best way to do the job is with an adapter that simply
plugs into the harbess below the tailgate and is already
wired correctly.  Takes about 2 minutes for complete job.
Almost any store that sells anything related to trailers,
boats or auto parts should have the adapter.  Then you won't
have a sliced and diced harness to cause further problems
later down the road.

Lugnut
Jeff Strickland - 15 Apr 2007 17:48 GMT
The wire harness for a 4-pin connector is included with the connector.

WHT - Ground
BRN - Lights
GRN -- Right turn and stop
RED - Left turn and stop

> I'm not sure what the out puts are on the F150 lights for a 4 pin. I
> can't get the running lights to work. I can get the turn signals and
> brakes to work with the headlights on. Again, no running lights.
> Please help.
Jeff Strickland - 15 Apr 2007 21:00 GMT
> The wire harness for a 4-pin connector is included with the connector.
>
> WHT - Ground
> BRN - Lights
> GRN -- Right turn and stop
> RED - Left turn and stop

The RED wire is really YEL.

The trailer wires are WHT, BRN, GRN, & YEL.
Steve Barker - 16 Apr 2007 02:51 GMT
And just for informational purposes, I have always remembered the right and
left this way.

Green has 5 letters, RIGHT has 5 letters

PORT has 4 letters, LEFT has 4 letters.

Signature

Steve Barker

>> The wire harness for a 4-pin connector is included with the connector.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> The trailer wires are WHT, BRN, GRN, & YEL.
samstone@aol.com - 16 Apr 2007 09:57 GMT
>Green has 5 letters, RIGHT has 5 letters

Brown  and White also have five letters.
>PORT has 4 letters, LEFT has 4 letters.
What has port got to do with anything?
We're not lighting a boat.

>>> WHT - Ground
>>> BRN - Lights
>>> GRN -- Right turn and stop
Steve Barker - 16 Apr 2007 14:14 GMT
brown and white were never the confusing part.

I just thought I'd throw that in about the port thing.

Signature

Steve Barker

>>Green has 5 letters, RIGHT has 5 letters
>>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>>>> BRN - Lights
>>>> GRN -- Right turn and stop
Whitelightning - 17 Apr 2007 00:28 GMT
>>Green has 5 letters, RIGHT has 5 letters
>>
> Brown  and White also have five letters.
>>PORT has 4 letters, LEFT has 4 letters.
> What has port got to do with anything?
> We're not lighting a boat.

PORT wine is red ;-)

Whitelightning
Jeff Strickland - 16 Apr 2007 16:25 GMT
One can abbreviate wire colors with 3 letters and not have any danger of
confusing one color with another.

Brown and white also have 5 letters.
Yellow has 6 letters, and defines the brake and turn indicator wire for the
left side of a trailer.

I am having trouble understanding what your point is.

> And just for informational purposes, I have always remembered the right
> and left this way.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>>
>> The trailer wires are WHT, BRN, GRN, & YEL.
Steve Barker - 16 Apr 2007 20:46 GMT
You're having trouble understanding.  Let's just leave it at that.  I can't
make it much simpler.

Signature

Steve Barker

> I am having trouble understanding what your point is.
Jeff Strickland - 16 Apr 2007 23:09 GMT
You offered no new information that is 1.) corrrect, or 2.) applicable.

Thanks for playing though.

> You're having trouble understanding.  Let's just leave it at that.  I
> can't make it much simpler.
>
>> I am having trouble understanding what your point is.
Steve Barker - 17 Apr 2007 04:18 GMT
Look you dumass bastard.  I merely made a comment as to an easy way to
remember which is which between the green and yellow on trailer light
wiring.

So f.ck off.

Signature

Steve Barker

> You offered no new information that is 1.) corrrect, or 2.) applicable.
>
> Thanks for playing though.
Jeff Strickland - 18 Apr 2007 03:25 GMT
Except, your easy way to remember is WRONG. GRN is right, YEL is left.

I see no need for profanity.

And, it's dumbass bastard, dumbass.

> Look you dumass bastard.  I merely made a comment as to an easy way to
> remember which is which between the green and yellow on trailer light
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>>
>> Thanks for playing though.
Steve Barker - 18 Apr 2007 03:39 GMT
that's what I said about 18 messages ago.  green has 5 letters, right has 5
letters.  a good way to remember.  I never once said it wrong.

Signature

Steve Barker

> Except, your easy way to remember is WRONG. GRN is right, YEL is left.
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>>>
>>> Thanks for playing though.
Jeff Strickland - 18 Apr 2007 16:30 GMT
Okay ...

But YELLOW goes to the left side, and you gave another color in your
easy-to-remember method.

I agree you gave the right color to remember the right side, but you gave
the wrong color to remember the left side. I gave you the actual color for
the left side, and you got nasty.

> that's what I said about 18 messages ago.  green has 5 letters, right has
> 5 letters.  a good way to remember.  I never once said it wrong.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for playing though.
Steve Barker - 19 Apr 2007 02:51 GMT
No I didn't.  I threw in that PORT was left.  If you ever noticed, PORT is
not a color.  It is a marine term for the left side of the boat.  It was
supposed to be humorous.  Apparently you didn't get it.  I just threw that
in because it is a good way to remember PORT from STARBOARD.  Port has 4
letters, Left has four letters.  Has nothing to do with trailer lights,
granted, but was put out there anyway.

Bye.

Signature

Steve Barker

Jeff Strickland - 19 Apr 2007 19:42 GMT
> No I didn't.  I threw in that PORT was left.  If you ever noticed, PORT is
> not a color.  It is a marine term for the left side of the boat.  It was
> supposed to be humorous.  Apparently you didn't get it.

Apparently not. Maybe it was humor challenged.
samstone@aol.com - 18 Apr 2007 04:01 GMT
>Except, your easy way to remember is WRONG. GRN is right, YEL is left.
>
>I see no need for profanity.
>
>And, it's dumbass bastard, dumbass.
http://www.offroaders.com/tech/trailer_wiring-diagram.htm
shows green as the running lights tho there is one of those on the right, right?
and i know nothing of wine be it port or starboard

>> Look you dumass bastard.  I merely made a comment as to an easy way to
>> remember which is which between the green and yellow on trailer light
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>>>
>>> Thanks for playing though.
samstone@aol.com - 18 Apr 2007 17:04 GMT
>http://www.offroaders.com/tech/trailer_wiring-diagram.htm
>shows green as the running lights tho there is one of those on the right, right?
>and i know nothing of wine be it port or starboard
Here's a bit of info.
http://www.etrailer.com/faq/wiring.aspx
at the bottom of that site there is a read out from factory wirings
on different manufactures. ( what color wires ford uses on the
left/ right/ running lights)

Also there seems to be no convention set for the trailers wiring
other than white being the ground.  Yellow seems every time to be left,
but the green and brown switched from running to right on different sites.
The flat four pin connector on this  etrailer site doesn't even try to suggest
what is what .
So I guess the best way would be to inspect the trailer bulbs wiring and see
how that manufacturer wired it.
Steve Barker - 19 Apr 2007 02:53 GMT
Anyone using green for running/tail  or brown for a turnsignal/brake is just
flat doing it wrong.  Sure some trailer manufacturers do it that way, but
that doesn't change the standard.

Signature

Steve Barker

>>http://www.offroaders.com/tech/trailer_wiring-diagram.htm
>>shows green as the running lights tho there is one of those on the right,
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> see
> how that manufacturer wired it.
Jeff Strickland - 15 Apr 2007 20:59 GMT
You have a wiring problem in the trailer associated with improper grounding.
You described exactly the problem of a poor ground. The trailer's stop and
turn lights are getting a ground WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON through the running
light circuit in the truck. If the lights are turned off, then the brake and
turn indicators stop working too. (Actually, as I write that, it occurs to
me that symptoms should be exactly opposite -- the brake and turn indicators
work when the lights are off, then stop working when the lights are on.)

You have a grounding problem in the trailer or you have the wrong light
bulbs in the trailer. Odds favor a bad ground over the wrong bulbs. Your
bulbs should have two filiments in each, and the number stamped on the base
should be 1157.

On the trailer wiring harness (connector), WHT is ground. BRN is running
lights, GRN is right side turn and stop, YEL is left side turn and stop. A
common problem is that some guys bring the white wire into the trailer, but
do not select a suitable grounding method. You must put a good terminal on
the end of the wire, then use good star washers to poke through the paint
and press into the metal. (Paint is an insulator.) You should really scrape
the paint away from the grounding terminal to make a quality connection
point. Once you have your system working, then you can come back and paint
over the connection to preclude rust. It's a good idea to cover the
grounding point with tape before painting, then remove the tape to establish
the ground point. This is actually better than painting over a ground
connection.

Then, you have to ensure that the tail light housings are grounded well to
the trailer itself. This is a huge problem with trailer lights, they ground
through the mounting screws to the trailer itself, but the mounting points
are not qualified to provide the needed ground circuit. You might be
required to hardwire a ground from the housing (lamp base) to the trailer
frame. You _could_ bring the white wire from the connector all of the way to
the lights, but usually the white wire terminates on the tongue and the lamp
housings are then grounded to the frame of the trailer. If you wire this
way, then you will have GRN and BRN to the right side, and YEL and BRN to
the left side

CORRECTION TO AN EARLIER POST
I might have said that there is a RED wire to serve the stop and turn
indicator on the left side, this is an error, the actual wire color for that
circuit is YEL.

Trailer wiring is standardized, and a 4-pin wiring harness (by far the most
common) has WHT, BRN, GRN, & YEL. The arrangement of the wires in the tow
vehicle is important because because one might tow a different trailer some
day, and one would want any trailer to easily connect without having to
rewire something everytime the trailer changes.

Most trucks already have a 4-wire plug on them, whether or not they have a
trailer tow package on them. I don't recall that you mentioned which year
your F150 is, but I have a '95 Bronco that has a trailer connector, and my
previous '95 Bronco also had one -- they are both 6- or 7-pin designs, and
could be the result of a tow package. I've been shopping for F150s in the
past two or three years, and I noticed all of them on the lot that I was
looking at had trailer connectors on the truck.

When you buy a flat 4-pin connector from WalMart, or anyplace else, the
arrangement of the wires will always be the same, and any trailer will also
be the arranged the same way. The idea is that you should be able to hook up
any trailer and drive away, and the lights should work. Surely one would not
want to hook up to a trailer and have it start blowing fuses in the tow
vehicle, and this requires you to wire your connector the same way everybody
else wires them.

> I'm not sure what the out puts are on the F150 lights for a 4 pin. I
> can't get the running lights to work. I can get the turn signals and
> brakes to work with the headlights on. Again, no running lights.
> Please help.
 
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