Right Turn Signal And Brake Light Not Working On Trailer (Quick Fix)
You’re all set and ready to hit the road for a weekend getaway with your trailer in tow. But as you start your journey, you notice something strange—your trailer right turn signal and brake light aren’t working. You start wondering what could be causing this issue. If that’s you, this guide will help you find a solution to this problem.
Right turn signals and brake lights not working on trailers can be caused by a variety of issues such as a blown bulb, defective socket, bad fuse, faulty relay, wiring problems, a bad ground connection, bad connector, or issues with multifunction turn signal switch.
Our comprehensive article below will delve deeper into each of these culprits and how they contribute to your trailer turn signal/brake light malfunctioning. We will also share with you expert tips for diagnosing and resolving this problem.
Why Are Your Right Turn Signals And Brake Lights Not Working On The Trailer?
Here are the most common culprits behind your trailer turn signal and brake light malfunctioning:
Burned out bulb
One well-known culprit behind the turn signal and brake light on your turn signal malfunctioning is a bad bulb. In some trailers, the brake light and turn signal use the same dual filament bulb.
This bulb may have burned out over time or it may have been damaged due to corrosion or vibrations. When this happens, the turn signal and brake light will stop working until you replace the faulty bulb.
Bad socket
The bulb could be working but the socket holding it could be defective. For instance, it may be covered by corrosion, or the connectors may be damaged, preventing electrical current from reaching the bulb.
Faulty wiring
Issues with the wiring can also disrupt electric current flow between the trailer light and the towing car. The wiring harness could be damaged, frayed, worn, or have loose connections.
Look for exposed wires or wires damaged by rodents and other environmental factors that could cause short-circuiting and fix them as necessary.
Bad connection
If corrosion has set in the electrical connector between the trailer and your car, it would also interrupt the electrical signal flow and make the lights stop working.
As such, we advise you to inspect all your connectors for corrosion and clean them if necessary. Applying dielectric grease can also keep the connectors from being rusty again.
Faulty fuse or relay
Blown fuses related to these right turn signals and brake lights may also cause this problem. You should inspect the fuse related to trailer lighting in the fuse box in towing vehicle or trailer and replace it if blown.
Moreover, you’d want to check what may have caused the fuse to blow, e.g. damaged wiring, short-circuiting, etc., and fix it to prevent the new fuse from becoming blown as well.
The relays controlling the right turn signal and brake light circuit could also be causing this problem if they’re faulty.
Poor ground connection
All your trailer lights require a good ground connection for them to function properly. Check if the ground wire running from your trailer lights is securely connected to the trailer frame.
Moreover, you should ensure that the ground connection point is free from corrosion as it could disrupt the proper electric current flow.
Bad BCM (body control module)
Sometimes a bad body control module could be the reason behind your lights not working. For starters, the BCM acts as a communication hub between your trailer and the towing car.
It manages various vehicle electrical functions, including lighting. Thus, if it becomes faulty, it may also affect the right turn signal/brake light on your trailer.
Several car owners in this forum thread admit having this trailer light problem, only to find out a faulty BCM was the issue and had to be replaced.
How To Fix Right Turn Signal And Brake Light Not Working On Trailer
Follow this troubleshooting guide to help you find the underlying cause of your trailer turn signal/brake light issue malfunctioning:
Step 1. Inspect the bulb
The first place to look into is the easiest fix and the most common culprit—the bulb.
Get the right turn signal and brake light bulbs out and examine them for signs of damage or burned out (i.e., are the filaments inside broken?).
Some bulbs come with dual filaments for the two lights. In this case, you should check whether any of the filaments is broken and replace the bulb as necessary. Make sure you only replace your bulbs with the correct ones for your trailer.
If the bulbs look alright, you may want to swap them with those on the left side to confirm if indeed they’re working.
Step 2. Inspect the bulb socket
If they come on, inspect the right-hand socket for the bulb. Do they look discolored or corroded? Are their connectors in good shape? Fix any signs of corrosion and damage and see if the lights will start working again.
Step 3. Check the fuses
Next, you should inspect the fuses related to the wires carrying the right turn signal and brake light. Check if these fuses are blown and if necessary replace them with new ones.
Still at it, we advise you to check the relays under your towing car hood. There are usually right and left relays. If they’re faulty, replace them with new ones.
Step 4. Examine the wiring and connectors
When examining the wiring, you’ll first need to confirm whether power is coming from your car to the right turn signal and brake light.
First, inspect the trailer side and vehicle connectors for signs of damage and corrosion. If they look fine, use a circuit tester to check if there is power at the vehicle side connector.
Now go ahead and identify the cable supplying power to the right trailer lights. A circuit tester will also come in handy for this test.
If no power is detected at the connector on your car, then you have issues with your towing car wiring. In this case, you could be having a blown fuse (this is epically true if you’re using a factory tow package).
However, if you’re using an aftermarket wiring harness, the issue could be a shorting wire.
Therefore, you should check the fuse box for a blown fuse if you have a factory tow package. Otherwise, if you’re using an aftermarket wiring harness, you’ll need to examine the wiring harness and connection points for short.
However, if the connector on your car has power, then the issue is your trailer wiring. In this case, we advise you to inspect your trailer wiring from the connector all the way to the taillight assembly.
Look out for damaged sections of the wiring that could be getting into contact with the trailer and creating a short. If you find any damaged wires (whether pinched, cut, exposed, torn, etc.), replace them to solve the lighting issue.
Step 5. Inspect the ground connection
If you can’t find any fault in your wiring, then you’ll need to inspect the ground connections. Ensure your ground point is secure and free from rust or paint. These elements can prevent the light from being properly grounded.
Where necessary, clean any dirt, paint, or corrosion on your ground connection. A sandpaper or wire brush can help. Tighten the wiring if it appears loose and replace any damaged wires.
Check the video below on how to clean corroded vehicle side and trailer side connectors:
Video:
TIP: If you still can’t find a solution after doing the diagnosis above, then you should consult your mechanic or dealer for further diagnosis and professional assistance. Your car might be having a complex electrical issue, e.g. a faulty body control module that requires expert diagnosis.
Why Is Your Right Side Turn Signal Not Working On The Trailer?
If the right turn signal is not working on your trailer, several potential culprits could be behind this issue.
These include a burned-out bulb, a defective socket for the turn signal, a blown bulb for the right turn signal, wiring issues, and a bad ground connection.
You should also check the wiring and harness between the trailer and your towing car. Ensure the connectors are free of damage and corrosion and are securely plugged in.
If the towing vehicle’s right turn signal is working but the one for the trailer is not, then the issue lies in the trailer wiring and components.
Why Is The Right Brake Light On Your Trailer Not Working?
Sometimes, only the brake light on the right side of your trailer fails to come on. If this happens, you should start by checking whether the brake light bulb is blown.
If the bulb is okay, inspect its fuse for signs of damage or corrosion.
Next, check if the fuses related to the right brake lights are blown and replace them. You should check the wiring from the brake light socket to your trailer wiring harness for damage or short.
Other potential causes behind this issue include bad ground connection and poor connectors.
The electrical connection between your towing car and the trailer could be loose or corroded, thus interrupting proper current flow. Inspect it and clean or secure it as necessary.
Can You Drive With A Right Turn Signal And Brake Light Not Working On A Trailer?
It’s not safe to drive with your trailer’s right turn signal and brake light not working. These two lights are crucial for communicating your intentions with other drivers on the road.
If they’re not functioning, they can significantly reduce your visibility. This can increase the risk of accidents, especially when changing lanes, making turns, or even slowing down or coming to a stop.
With that said, we advise you to have all the right turn signals and brake lights on your trailer in proper working condition before you start your journey.
If the right turn signal brake light isn’t working on your car, follow the troubleshooting tips we discussed earlier to help you fix this problem and ensure your safety on the road.
If you’re experiencing issues with the right turn signal and brake light on your trailer, it’s important to address the problem to ensure safe and reliable operation. For troubleshooting tips and solutions, you can refer to our article on turn signal and brake light not working on one side. This resource provides valuable insights into diagnosing and resolving the specific issue with the right turn signal and brake light. Additionally, if you’re facing a situation where one brake light is not working despite having a good bulb, our article on one brake light not working but bulb is good may offer helpful guidance in troubleshooting and fixing the problem.FAQs:
Your trailer turn signal and brake light not working on one side could be caused by a variety of issues such as burned-out bulbs, bad sockets, grounding issues, wiring problems, or bad connectors. Proper diagnosis is key to uncovering the exact cause of this problem in your trailer.
Potential causes behind only one turn signal working on your trailer include a burned-out bulb, bad socket, blown fuse, poor ground connection, or bad wiring for the turn signal circuit on the faulty side.
Conclusion
When faced with the issue of the right turn signal and brake light not working on your trailer, the key culprits to consider include a burned-out bulb, defective socket, wiring issues, bad fuse/relay, and poor ground connections.
Follow our troubleshooting guide above to help you find out which of these culprits is making your turn signal and brake light not work and fix them. We advise you to fix this issue promptly for the sake of your safety.