One Tail Light & Two Running Lights Are Out

[Jayco96]

While redoing our '96 Jayco Eagle 10, I installed a new tail light on the driver side (identical to original). All the exterior lights worked fine when we bought the PUP a couple of months ago and towed it home but the driver side tail light needed to be replaced (because the license plate bracket was busted).

We're taking the grandkids to Fort Wilderness on Wednesday and when I plugged the trailer into our TV (a 2012 Suburban with a 7-pin receptor) today, all the lights worked except the new tail light and the two side running lights (on the same side).

Initially I matched the wire connections on the new light to those on the old but after checking the wiring color list in the 1996 Jayco owners manual, I noticed that the green tail light wire on the light was connected to the yellow trailer wire which, according to the manual, is for back up lights - which I don't have. According to the manual, the green wire on the light should have been connected to the red trailer wire.

I changed the green/yellow to green/red but the three lights are still out. When I took off the light to switch check the connections and switch the wires, all the other, working lights went out - I assume because the ground wire in the light was removed. After reattaching the light (and the ground wire), all the other lights went back on.

If I can't get this sorted out before Wednesday, I suppose I'm going to have to get a set of those temporary towing lights. Any thoughts on what I might have done and what I need to do?

BTW: The PUP has a 4-pin plug so I'm using a 4 to 7 pin adapter. I've tried two different adapters with no change.

[Paintinfool3]

I would find a good ground and use a 12 volt test light to figure out which wires are hot and when. If it is hot when the running lights are on then you know which one is for running lights. if when turn signals are on then it is the turn signal. the ground should be white wire sounds more like a ground problem to me ... it could be trying to find ground through the hot wires and that can cause all kinds of weird things

[NVGun40]

Actually, sounds like you have a simple grounding issue in some of the lights. I would go back to the original wiring you had set up for the new tail light, then clean your ground connections. Also clean out your plug ins.

[Jayco96]

I'm only working half a day today so I'm going to buy a 12 volt test light and check the ground connections when I get home. Thanks for the help!