Toad umbilical cord electrical question

[Mogulite]

I recently discovered that my tail lights on my toad do not light up when I turn on the headlights in my motorhome.

Both the motorhome and the toad have the same male connection. Five pins in a circle with one pin in the middle.

My question is: how do I narrow it down to being a wiring problem with one or the other? Anyone know which pin would be the taillight pin? And how would I test it to determine where my problem is?

Thanks

[suicidetuna]

They are usually a wiring standard. Google should tell you the pin order and what circuit they are for. I had the same issue work a 7 pin connector.

[Finance]

Make sure the pins and mating sockets are clean and tight. Over time they get dirty and corroded and a bit loose. I clean them with contact cleaner or brake cleaner then lube with WD 40. You can gently spread the pins in your photo with a small screwdriver to tighten their fit in the mating sockets. Careful not to overdo it on that.

[nutcker]

If you rotate your picture 90 degrees clockwise (right) putting the notch at the top, then the largest pin, the right side upper is a ground, the left hand upper is the brake control, the bottom two are turn signals and the very top one is tail lights sometimes called marker lights, center one is aux used to charge battery sometimes.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...48460171587818

[AKIQPilot]

Maybe this will help.



Remember. If you use an umbilical cord with male plugs on each end and have a female plug in on the toad the toad will not be wired exactly like the female plug on the coach. It will be a mirror image of the coach.

[affreeman]

Originally Posted by Mogulite

I recently discovered that my tail lights on my toad do not light up when I turn on the headlights in my motorhome.

If you put the flashers on do the taillights on the toad flash? If so, I think that puts the problem on the motorhome side.

[Mogulite]

Thanks AKIQPilot & nutcher for the description and diagram. That helps. Now, I suppose I can get an electrical tester, turn on the motorhome lights and see if I get a reading from the top pin. Is that correct? If I do, then my toad was wired incorrectly?

Thanks again

[redcolorado]

Originally Posted by Mogulite

Thanks AKIQPilot & nutcher for the description and diagram. That helps. Now, I suppose I can get an electrical tester, turn on the motorhome lights and see if I get a reading from the top pin. Is that correct? If I do, then my toad was wired incorrectly?

Thanks again

Correct. A multi meter is a good investment. When you check for corrosion check the back of the connectors. I check them yearly after I found corrosion in the back of mine preventing my aux brake system from working.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by Mogulite

I recently discovered that my tail lights on my toad do not light up when I turn on the headlights in my motorhome.

Both the motorhome and the toad have the same male connection. Five pins in a circle with one pin in the middle.

My question is: how do I narrow it down to being a wiring problem with one or the other? Anyone know which pin would be the taillight pin? And how would I test it to determine where my problem is?

Thanks

Mogulite,
While yours don't look too bad, one thing I may suggest in this kind of situation is one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/d/Trailer-Con...r+cleaning+kit

It's a tad on the spendy side but, I ordered this kit sometime early last year and have used it a zillion times already on all my various trailer connections, motorhome, truck, Jeep, motorcycle, boat trailer and more. It's a great kit to help maintenance all those pins without destroying them. Now, once you've determined what the pin-out is, us old dudes sometimes make a drawing so we can REMEMBER what each one was/is.

Next, I don't know if this has been covered or not but, sometimes, those little split pins have tendency to "shrink" in diameter due to that split. And, when that happens, they loose contact with their partners in the opposite plug. So, all that's needed is a small screwdriver to "pry" the gap apart just a small amount. That will help make all the contacts better. A small Q-tip with some dielectric grease will help prevent future corrosion.
Scott

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by Mogulite

Thanks AKIQPilot & nutcher for the description and diagram. That helps. Now, I suppose I can get an electrical tester, turn on the motorhome lights and see if I get a reading from the top pin. Is that correct? If I do, then my toad was wired incorrectly?

Thanks again

Mogulite,
From what it appears, you're not all that familiar with an electrical tester. Also known as a VOM or, Volt Ohm Meter, also known as a "Multi-Meter". So, when you go looking for one, that terminology might help. Lowes, Home Depot, some auto parts stores, Amazon, eBay are just a few places that sell them. And, for what ever it's worth, DO NOT get one at Harbor Freight! If you're gonna get one, get a DECENT one, not a cheap piece of junk, just because it's CHEAP. You also don't need a top of the line one either.

I've got 3-4 of them, one in each vehicle, motorcycle, the boat etc. Ya never know when things can go hay-wire electrically.

Now, as for using it, one thing is VERY, VERY important. The black lead will always need to be clipped/attached/touching etc., a KNOWN, GOOD GROUND! That is, when working on that trailer plug, either find a good, clean bolt head or clean a piece of the frame, something, to create a good ground that, that black lead can attach to. If your ground is bad, you'll NEVER get any honest/accurate readings/answers to your investigation. And when that happens, you're chasing your tail.

So, take your time, make sure your ground is good, make sure the meter is set on the appropriate setting i.e. 12V "DC" (the meters are capable of both AC and DC testing. Good luck.
Scott

[cwit]

For what you want to do just buy a 3or 4 dollar test light. If the light comes on you have power.

[Dennis4809]

Check the fuses that protect the toad plug in. Most chassis will have fuses for L Turn, R Turn, Tail lights. These have nothing to do with the lights on the MH, just for the 4, 6, or 7 pin plug.