Cadillac SRX light problem

[lrose44]

I am still trying to get my 2010 Cadillac SRX set up to tow.
Base plate is installed by my auto body shop...They also installed the Blue Ox lighting kit with diodes. The problem is no lights work. There is Power through the blue cord to the car but no lights work. When you put different direct power to the car plug... lights work..turn signal and brake lights work.
Plug in the power cord to the RV and we get nothing.
Blue Ox said we need a wiring adapter as the SRX is grounding the wires that go to the lights.
In my research on the forums, no one mentions this.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

[BFlinn181]

I suggest you use a long jumper wire from the umbilical cord from the RV to test the lights at various points. I'm not clear on the idea, "Blue Ox said we need a wiring adapter as the SRX is grounding the wires that go to the lights." If you installed a plug at the front of the SRX to accept the umbilical from the RV, I don't understand where or how things are getting grounded to stop the signal. Where did the wiring from the bumper plug get connected into the SRX? If the wires were tied into the fuse panel or wiring at the front, there might be issues. I prefer to run the wires directly to the tail lights and bypass all possible conflicts, then install the diodes to prevent feedback to the car's lighting circuits. With turn indicators on mirrors, cruise control on brake light circuits, etc., it gets complicated to wire at the front of the harness.

[lrose44]

Thanks for the reply.
Auto body guy wired from front of car...the plug.... To the back lights...installed diodes about 6 in before lights,brakes,turn signals using Blue Ox lighting kit. Something is not adding up
I guess I need to start over... Make sure there is power back to lights...
Auto body guy and Blue Ox not communicating very well.
Blue Ox said I need to put a 5wire to 4wire converter on the Rv.
Haven't heard of anyone else needing a converter.
Don't understand if everything works properly from the 7 pin plug from the rig to the car plug why not one thing lights up on the back of the car.
Going to start from scratch Monday and do over myself.

[BFlinn181]

Most of the time a converter is needed if the RV and the toad have incompatible lights. If your RV has a separate light for turn and brake, and your toad has the same, no converter is needed. If one of the vehicles uses a two filament bulb, where the brighter one is double duty brake and turn, then a converter is needed.

[lrose44]

That was my question for the forum...
I never heard of anyone needing a converter for their SRX

[jstdreamin]

My 2015 Srx/ blue OX setup is working fine. No converter needed.

[BFlinn181]

Gentlemen, I said, "Most of the time a converter is needed if the RV and the toad have incompatible lights." I should have underlined and bold-faced the IF. If both the RV and the towed have separate brake and turn signals, no converter needed. If one has combined brake/blinker on the bright element, then a converter is needed or the blinker won't signal turns.

[paz]

Originally Posted by lrose44

...Blue Ox said we need a wiring adapter as the SRX is grounding the wires that go to the lights...

The wires that come from the MH to the lights of the SRX are hot when the lights are on. If the SRX were grounding them, there would be a short, so this explanation doesn't make sense to me.

Did the body shop run a ground wire from the MH to the SRX? Power for the lights when you're towing the SRX is coming from the MH, so there must be a ground connection to the MH as well. You can't trust metal to metal contact through the tow bar to complete the circuit.

Are the diodes installed correctly? Diodes prevent current from flowing backwards from the toad to the MH. If installed incorrectly, they can prevent current from flowing from the MH to the toad. There should be 2 connections on each diode for current in (one from the SRX and one from the MH) and one out to the lights.

[lrose44]

Well....
Found the problem....
It was the ground.
Had to run a ground wire from the battery back to the tail lights...
There was a good ground at the back of the car.....but lights still did not work.
Ran a ground from the battery and they lit right up.
Thanks everyone for your imput.