'96 Coleman Pop up--Please Help on lights

[Pame]

I'm lost!! The running lights and brake lights don't work on my pop-up. We've put a new connector on, cleaned the wires, tested voltage and still no lights. The wires all run into the frame and we can't find any info on where to trouble shoot the problem. I found mention of a short, a fuse problem, but where in the world do you check when everything is inside the blasted frame?

We have three towing vehicles and have hooked all (one was awhile ago and tried it today with 2 of the cars) up to the trailer, same result. Sometimes we may get a faint break and signal light, but when we turn the car lights on, even the faint lights are gone. All through the 'testing' there are no running lights.

We are at a loss as to how to follow the wires when they are inside the frame.

Please, does anyone have any idea where these wires go and how to check any possible problems? Thanks

[W8RLM]

First, I found this phone number on the Coleman website - 1-800-835-3278.

Perhaps, they can help you find the wiring diagrams for your trailer. Have the model number ready.

Second, since all the lights are out, and you've occasionally seen a glow, I'd suspect a bad ground. One of your pins on the connector is connected to ground. Try connecting that pin directly to ground and see if that brings on the lights. If that works, eastablish a new ground for the connector.

Good Luck

W8RLM - Bob

[Paul R. Haller]

I once had a Coleman pop up trailer with no lights. Bad ground. I ended up splicing into the ground wires by the hitch and putting a short length of wire soldered to the harness and then, a soldered lug which was screwed to the frame. Like you, I couldn't find where they had attached ground. Take a VOM and pull the bulbs out and check each wire at the lights back to the umbilical. Check resistance to ground and continuity to wires in the umbilical. You will find it eventually. Keep us posted.
-Paul R. Haller-

[Superslif]

On my 99' Coleman I had one rear light not go on. The end of the light bulb socket was all rusted up. I remember when I was tracing out my wiring under the trailer, there was a ground screwed into the frame near the rear cross member. You might had to run a jumper wire from your tow vehicle to each brake light or a side marker light just to make sure they both work.

[Lorna]

I had the same thing with my old Apache pop-up. From one trip to the next (month later) I lost my lights. Turned out it was the power taillight converter on the Jeep. It had fried. Has the same problem with the hot dog cart (& I had towed the cart when it was still a utility trailer). After going thru all the lights & the connections & wiring, we finally checked the taillight converter, Sure enough it had fried again. Both times it appears to have gotten wet inside. You might want to check yours...