Community Forums

timmor · 06-20-2016, 07:41 AM

I have a 2011 Silverado and the trailer running light circuit is not working. The problem is in the under hood fuse block and Chevy wants $850+ just for the replacement part.

My thought for repairing it is to run a relay off of one of the truck tail lights and use the 12V from the trailer hitch as the power source. I'll fuse the running light circuit @ 15 amps with an inline fuse.

Does anyone see a problem with this or have an alternate / better solution? Thanks for your help!

Skip426 · 06-20-2016, 09:16 AM

Welcome to iRV2.

The under hood , Power Distribution Center , PDC , is a great idea ; until something goes wrong , with it's packed and stacked circuit boards ;

.

Personally , I'd be inclined to find the trailer lighting wire at the PDC and do your fusing and relay as close to the PDC as possible . Less chance of corrosion issues under the hood compared to under the back of the truck.

timmor · 06-20-2016, 07:25 PM

Thanks Skip426 BUT there are so many freaking wires & harnesses there that I don't know where to start

I agree with the corrosion issue so I thought I'd keep it behind the tail light assembly (not perfect but drier than behind the bumper).

timmor · 06-21-2016, 01:08 PM

When this problem initially occurred I took the truck to Chevy and they verified that the problem was in the under hood fuse block.

So today I rechecked the trailer plug for 12v to the running / tail lights Nothing. I hooked a relay to the left truck tail light and tested the relay, Working. I put an inline 15A fuse in and spliced it into the 12V 40 Amp hot line that goes to the trailer, Working. Put the 12V to one side of the relay and turned the lights on and it was Working. I cut the wire from the trailer running lights behind the plug and connected it to the relay, NOTHING ?????

I took the trailer plug apart and found a bent pin inside the rear connector of the plug !!! This was factory installed and has never been apart before. It had to be that way from the factory and it must have been bent just enough that it made contact for a few year then stopped working.

DAMN !

Anyway, I have running lights on the trailer now, the hard way.

tuffr2 · 06-21-2016, 01:24 PM

Maybe check into junk yard for the $850 part. Just an idea that I would entertain.

After I triple checked all fuses. I mean pull them and check to verify none are bad. The running light fuse must be easy to burn out as I burned one out on my 2011 F-150. Had to wait until day light before I hit the road.