Trailer Tail Lights Out

[raydog9379]

Have a weird situation here. My trailer tail lights and marker lights seem to work for about 1-2 minutes after hooking up and then stop working. Almost as if they get shorted out or something. Then a day or so later when hooking back up they'll work again for a minute or 2. The turn signals, hazards, and brake lights work fine, so 95% of the time I'm ok as I rarely pull the boat at night (though did the other night when I noticed they went out on my way to the storage unit).

I've tested them using a tester to see if it's my trailer or the 4 pin hookup on the car, and it's definitely the car. Which in my case makes me feel better since that's under warranty, and trying to rewire my boat trailer would be a pain.

Curious if anyone else has had this issue? I know there is the TSB around the other issue with trailer brake lights and the cruise control. This isn't related to that issue that I know of at this point since I'm not using cruise.

 

[jw_tx21]

Have a weird situation here. My trailer tail lights and marker lights seem to work for about 1-2 minutes after hooking up and then stop working. Almost as if they get shorted out or something. Then a day or so later when hooking back up they'll work again for a minute or 2. The turn signals, hazards, and brake lights work fine, so 95% of the time I'm ok as I rarely pull the boat at night (though did the other night when I noticed they went out on my way to the storage unit).

I've tested them using a tester to see if it's my trailer or the 4 pin hookup on the car, and it's definitely the car. Which in my case makes me feel better since that's under warranty, and trying to rewire my boat trailer would be a pain.

Curious if anyone else has had this issue? I know there is the TSB around the other issue with trailer brake lights and the cruise control. This isn't related to that issue that I know of at this point since I'm not using cruise.

Another user posted about this same problem (maybe?). Issue was that the circuit was overloaded. The Telluride's harness is only rated for a certain amperage. His solution was to replace incandescent bulbs in trailer with LEDs. He also had too many running lights.

It sounds like there could be too many lights on the trailer for Kia's OEM harness. Just a thought. I could find that discussion if needed.

Update: here's the discussion with input from our very own expert @NCTelly

Trailer wiring - running lights don't work

Here's an interesting one...I have a Kia telluride sx and had the oem hitch and wiring harness installed from new. I finally got around to trying it with an enclosed 6x10 trailer and ran into an issue. 1) when I connect the 4 pin connectors and turn on the headlights, the trailer lights (approx...

tellurideforum.org

 

[raydog9379]

Another user posted about this same problem (maybe?). Issue was that the circuit was overloaded. The Telluride's harness is only rated for a certain amperage. His solution was to replace incandescent bulbs in trailer with LEDs. He also had too many running lights.

It sounds like there could be too many lights on the trailer for Kia's OEM harness. Just a thought. I could find that discussion if needed.

Update: here's the discussion with input from our very own expert @NCTelly

Trailer wiring - running lights don't work

Here's an interesting one...I have a Kia telluride sx and had the oem hitch and wiring harness installed from new. I finally got around to trying it with an enclosed 6x10 trailer and ran into an issue. 1) when I connect the 4 pin connectors and turn on the headlights, the trailer lights (approx...

tellurideforum.org

Thanks, maybe I'll try that next time I grab the trailer. It's odd because I have 3 marker lights on each side, so we're talking 6-12 markers (1-2 bulbs in each...will have to look) + 2 tail lights. Plus it used to work fine, but now doesn't last more than a couple minutes. Not like the 20-40 the other guy was referencing in his post. It's a bone stock trailer on a 16.8 foot Bayliner...nothing complicated that shouldn't have been tested out by Kia in the first place to handle load wise if that ends up being the issue.

I guess on the positive side, it doesn't shut off the turn signals or brakes. So daytime is no issue.

 

[jw_tx21]

Thanks, maybe I'll try that next time I grab the trailer. It's odd because I have 3 marker lights on each side, so we're talking 6-12 markers (1-2 bulbs in each...will have to look) + 2 tail lights. Plus it used to work fine, but now doesn't last more than a couple minutes. Not like the 20-40 the other guy was referencing in his post. It's a bone stock trailer on a 16.8 foot Bayliner...nothing complicated that shouldn't have been tested out by Kia in the first place to handle load wise if that ends up being the issue.

I guess on the positive side, it doesn't shut off the turn signals or brakes. So daytime is no issue.

Yeah, of it used to work, I'd get an ammeter and see what kind of current draw is happening when they are plugged in and on for a few minutes. That may indicate the issue - or perhaps there is a short somewhere.