Maintenance & Restoration

GerthT · 12-01-2012, 05:54 AM

I've been pulling our Casita for almost 6 months with no issues. Had 7 pin receptacle installed on our 97 Montero when we bought the the trailer. Always plug in and go. Last night I got home from work late....packed....hooked up, ready to head out for weekend of camping....no lights whatsoever on the trailer (no issues on TV). I understand from reading other posts that there are no fuses in the trailer. Once it gets light this morning I'm going to see if I can find the fuses....

If I'm unsuccessful....what's next step? Is this the kind of thing u-haul would be able to troubleshoot/fix? Or as simple as going by auto zone? It's Saturday...not many service places open.....

Arghhhh.....

.

Steve Hammel · 12-01-2012, 06:06 AM

You might have some corrosion in your 7 pin connector. Pick up a can of contact cleaner, spray both ends liberally and try it again.

mary and bob · 12-01-2012, 06:28 AM

Sometimes just by connecting & disconnecting the plug several times will get you a good connection. The female parts of a plug can be cleaned with a 22 cal. Rifle cleaning brush.

Donna D. · 12-01-2012, 06:30 AM

Contact cleaner should be in everyone's travel tool box. Not having lights doesn't just happen at home. Tom, even though you have lights on the TV, check all the fuses.

GerthT · 12-01-2012, 09:04 AM

Tried the contact cleaner...no luck. Found where the guy who installed my trailer wiring hooked into the battery and found 20A fuse. Pulled it out and tested it. Tested fine. Put it back in, then started looking for ground on the trailer. See where the wire goes into the front of the camper, but not sure where that goes.

Anyway, just for the heck of it, I turned on the TV lights....voila! They work! I did notice the front curbside marker light is not illuminating. Weird. Not sure what happened?

Anyway, we're going to head out....I'll do some more research after we get to the campsite. I have my computer and Arizona Eileen's CD..... may try to change that bulb out (if I can figure out how to get the light cover off).

Thanks for all the feedback, my virtual friends! Happy camping!

Donna D. · 12-01-2012, 09:12 AM

Safe travels Tom!

Kevin A · 12-01-2012, 12:06 PM

Ah, the continuing mysteries of the light gremlins.

Thomas G. · 12-01-2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin A

Ah, the continuing mysteries of the light gremlins.

My money is on a bad ground. OP may have jiggled the coupler enough to get a better ground to TV.

Jared J · 12-01-2012, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

My money is on a bad ground. OP may have jiggled the coupler enough to get a better ground to TV.

Yep. In that case, I have a 30' wire with alligator clips on it. I go from the tv battery to the trailer ground past the connector. Quick way to isolate half the system.