How do I wire flush mount trailer lights?

[BARILLMS]

I'm trying to wire up flush mount trailer lights. The oval kind, not LEDs.

The lights have 3 wires each. Red, black, white.

 

I got 5 wires to work with in the back of my Jeep: Blue, Brown, Black, Brown w/ stripe and Grey w/ stripe.

 

I tested all the wires with a test light.

The GREY striped wire is the ONLY WIRE that is doing anything.

It lights up for BOTH Brake light AND Left turn signal.

 

The right turn signal isn't lighting up any wire, and this confuses me.

 

I assuming the BLACK is a ground, it's a thicker wire.

I have no clue what the other 3 are for.

 

I'm totally lost.

Can anyone help me? I hate wiring...

[feerocknok]

FWIW, I've only been able to get my trailer lights to work for two functions. I have mine as Stop and Running lights, and a different set for blinkers. Don't know the wiring though.

I think the Chilton/Haynes manual has all the wiring diagrams if no one on here knows.

[CWLONGSHOT]

This can be a pain!! I have a couple questions first...

 

1) You say trailer lights, so you already have the plug on the vehicle and your just wiring the trailer...?

 

2) In the bulb, the stop element IS the turn signal element. As long as the vehicle dosen't have seperate turn signal lights.

 

If it DOES have seperate turn signal lights you are going to need a converter OR an additional set of lights for the trailer.

 

3) Marker lights usually run off ONE wire. it goes to one light then across to the other.

 

4) STOP lights run two seperate wires. Because of the signal's I mentioned before.

 

5) BLACK is NOT always ground like you expect. I have found many use WHITE for the ground. Thats also why the white wire is so short. You just terminate it near the tounge of the trailer.

 

there should have been a schematic for you in the packageing. I would suggest you head back to the retailer (Or do a search on the web)and get a copy of it.

 

CW

[feerocknok]

I may be mistaken, but I understood this as wiring these:

(in non-LED form)

to the back of the truck instead of taillights on the truck itself.

BARILLMS?

[deziped]

On 88 - 89 black is ground at tail lights.

[CWLONGSHOT]

I may be mistaken, but I understood this as wiring these:

(in non-LED form)

to the back of the truck instead of taillights on the truck itself.

BARILLMS?

 

Now you got me thinkin.....

 

the name of the post is "How do I wire flush mount trailer lights?" Key word TRAILER?!?!?!?

 

Anyhow, my answer is obviously for TRAILER LIGHTS, NOT Truck TAIL lights.

 

BARILLMS, please clarify.

 

CW

[BARILLMS]

Sorry, I'm using trailer lights for my rear tail lights on my MJ, because I bobbed the bed.

 

They are 3 way, stop, turn and tail lights from Tractor Supply.

They aren't LED, normal $9 lights.

 

I can't figure out what wires go where.

[LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW]

Your best bet is to get a trailer wiring harness. The Draw-Tite unit works very well.

 

I used this when I went to LED's on my XJ. It made the install very easy.

[bpm4x4]

On the pigtails that are on your "trailer lights" it goes like this:

Red--Stop/turn

Black--marker/tail light

white--ground

 

as far as what wire to hook it to, go to the weather pack plug (you did not cut that off too, did you??) with a test light and do one function at a time (left turn, right turn, marker light, and reverse lights (if you are going to run them). The other wire that is left should be the ground wire, but verify that too with your test light.

 

Have a piece of paper handy and write down what each color does.

 

If someone has a FSM they could tell you what each wire does, but that's not as fun.

[feerocknok]

I'll look at my manual tomorrow if you don't have one and get you the wire colors.

 

Any idea where your electrical gremlins at yet?