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Topic ClosedTrailer lights plug

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Pete Brayton View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Trailer lights plug
    Posted: 10 Aug 2020 at 11:19am
There is a guy who advertises remote rv repairs on my local Craigslist. You might check your local listings to see if someone does that.
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EchoGale View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2020 at 11:54am
Thanks...I've found two places to try now.
Julie
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2020 at 2:08pm
Originally posted by EchoGale

Thanks for all the help.
The plastic covering on the plug is worn away exposing the metal of the plug. The cord itself is fine.

My tow vehicle is a 2016 BMW X3 with a factory tow package. There is no separate brake controller device. The computer knows when the trailer is plugged in. I bought this used from a non-BMW dealership so they couldn't tell me much about it.  What I know is from the BMW forum.

You likely do not have a brake controller. Etrailer sells brake controllers that say they are for the BMW X3. If etrailer sells them, then it is likely that one is not included. Every brake controller I have seen has had some form of manual control. If you don't have one, then please get it checked out and get one installed. You would not be towing legally in many states without one. You really do need the trailer brakes to help you stop. That is a lot of additional weight back there.
StephenH
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EchoGale View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2020 at 2:35pm
I will look unto this further. 
Julie
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2020 at 3:11pm
Another reason to go to a repair shop, the brake controller issue concerns me. You need a brake controller.
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2020 at 3:15pm
+1. Brake controllers are a must. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2020 at 3:28pm
I will. 

But I can't believe I don't have brakes. I've towed over 8k miles at this point. Up and down mountains (albeit Eastern ones), small windey roads and bumper to bumper on the NJ turnpike. I am careful about speed but I've never felt trouble stopping. Moreover, when I first got the trailer the emergency brake release had corroded and broke loose, and the brakes engaged.

But I don't mess around with safety stuff. :)
Julie
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2020 at 3:31pm
Originally posted by podwerkz

Originally posted by offgrid


Podwerks, you are right that you have to be careful when wiring up a connector. But, as long as you don't get the ground connection screwed up nothing bad will happen. 


Wrong.

The ground connection shorting to some other wire IS a bad thing that could happen. Fuses can blow, lights wont work...maybe even a scorched wiring harness or a blown computer. This is what I was referring to. 

Also, if things are not wired correctly, 12 volts from the brake light circuit, for example, might be applied directly to the brake magnets..full power to the brakes with no 'modulation'..just locked up trailer wheels the first time the brake pedal is touched.

Or, the brake circuit might end up powering the AUX connection to the trailer battery...oops...I bet the vehicle ECM wont like that...not at all, especially if the polarity got reversed.

Or, the trailer turn signals could end up reversed...maybe even cause an accident when you 'zig' and the other vehicles in that intersection expect you to 'zag'.

All I'm saying is....it HAS to be done correctly, or, NOT AT ALL. Guessing about the wire positions during replacement, and hoping it is OK, is NOT AN OPTION.
 

s
Nope, not wrong. That's why I said you have to get the ground right, so the polarity is not reversed. Nothing bad means no arcs and sparks, not that you don't have to go through and be sure everything is connected right. Of course you do. Trial an error is sometimes necessary and can be done safely as long as you get the polarity right to start with, which can be verified with a multimeter. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2020 at 3:33pm
I have faith in you. Just get it checked, we all know when our brakes are working or not working, so asking concerned me. Plus I've never seen a controller that doesn't have a manual mode, I could be in left field, but better safe than sorry.
Mike Carter
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2020 at 3:34pm
absolutely. :)
Julie
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