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Open Roads Forum  >  Dinghy Towing

 > How to test wires for towing.

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areeves

Northern AZ

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Joined: 02/23/2004

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Posted: 05/24/08 11:34am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I had my Bounder and Jeep Liberty setup for towing the jeep.
The local dealer when he placed the plug on the liberty it was on the front where there is the plastic is and just screwed the plug housing into the plastic. I mentioned that it look flimsy,but he said it was fine.

Fast forward to a few months later. We are driving the jeep one day when I here this strange sound like I ran over something. I did, the plug fell off the front of the car and I ran it over. now I have these wires dangling from the front of my jeep.

I don't know if the dealer used a common wiring pattern or not, so how can i use a voltmeter to test what is wired to the back on my MH and how do I test what is wired to the front of my jeep? I tried to figure out what was what on the MH side with a volt meter, but I must have it wrong because when I turn on the left turn signal and try to find which wire is live they all say they volts in the plugs. so I'm not sure what I did wrong. its a 7 pin round connector to what use to be a 7 pin connector on my jeep.

magicbus

LBI, NJ

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Posted: 05/24/08 01:16pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

To start - there is a standard and this should help: Towing wire guide. Generally things are standard. I'm not sure why you are getting voltage on all pins with the turn signal on - might be the way you are measuring. For "buzzing out" the toad I would simply wire a temporary line to the toad's pos on the battery and connect it to each wire and see what lights up on the toad. You shouldn't need a ground to do this but will need to locate the ground in the harness to get it on the correct pin. It's not that hard - follow the diagram and concentrate on one wire at a time.

Dave


Life doesn't come with a safety fence around it... enjoy it anyway.


No_Limits

San Juan Bautista, CA

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Posted: 05/25/08 09:03am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

A simple test light should work. Sometimes a VOM is not quick enough to read a pulsing signal like a turn signal.
Try this:
Turn the key to position 2 on the Jeep. Turn on the lights. Take a test light and attach the clip to ground, and look for the 12v at the plug end on the Jeep. Make a diagram on paper and mark your results. Turn off the lights and repeat for the left and right signals.
Do the very same thing on the MH side. From there is should be a pretty simple thing to pair up the appropriate wires.


Rick and Julia...Living Life Without Limits...
2005 Dolphin 5367
2007 Jeep Wrangler Toad.
www.livesafeandhealthy.net


MRUSA

Boca Raton, FL

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Posted: 05/26/08 04:55am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I don't think you can read the lights on the Jeep that way. If you have diodes in the circuit, the current will only run run in one direction, from the MH to the Jeep. If, on the other hand, your setup uses separate light bulbs in the taillight assembly, there will be no voltage present on the Jeep light circuit until both vehicles are electrically connected.


Marc, Boca Raton FL
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No_Limits

San Juan Bautista, CA

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Posted: 05/26/08 08:41am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Correct, sorry. I don't have diodes on my setup. I went with a harness for the JK from Cooltech.

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