Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

I bought a boat/trailer last year. The first time I put the boat in the
water a fuse blew. My dealer said it was a lousy hitch installation and I
had to have him replace it. The hitch installer said everything was done
properly. I figured something shorted when it got wet, so the second time I
disconnected the electrical before putting it in the water. It was okay.

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and the
A/C went out, as did the speedometer...)

I presume something is shorted on the trailer. Any suggestions for
troubleshooting it?

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

"Ted" wrote in message
...
I bought a boat/trailer last year. The first time I put the boat in the
water a fuse blew. My dealer said it was a lousy hitch installation and I
had to have him replace it. The hitch installer said everything was done
properly. I figured something shorted when it got wet, so the second time
I disconnected the electrical before putting it in the water. It was okay.

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and the
A/C went out, as did the speedometer...)

I presume something is shorted on the trailer. Any suggestions for
troubleshooting it?

Something is miswired in your tow vehicle. The AC fuse shouldn't blow. The
trailer may also be miswired

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

"Ted" wrote in message
...

I may be wrong in thinking this way .... You were backing it into the water
so the only thing that would be on is the brake lights so I would focus on
that wiring first.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

"Ted" wrote in message
...


Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and the

92 deg. Are you in Florida? Been a while since I've
been on a boat, hint , hint.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 15:26:00 -0500, "Phil" wrote:


"Ted" wrote in message
...


Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and the

92 deg. Are you in Florida? Been a while since I've
been on a boat, hint , hint.

Phil, It's right close to 100F here, in Alexandria, VA.
--
John *H*

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

Phil wrote:

"Ted" wrote in message
...


Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and
the

92 deg. Are you in Florida? Been a while since I've
been on a boat, hint , hint.


If you want a nice boat ride, Phil, I'm heading out tomorrow morning.
It's going to be hot as hades here, but we can make it cooler. I'm on
Chesapeake Bay, on the western shore. If you are nearby, send me an email.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

Ted wrote:
I bought a boat/trailer last year. The first time I put the boat in the
water a fuse blew. My dealer said it was a lousy hitch installation and I
had to have him replace it. The hitch installer said everything was done
properly. I figured something shorted when it got wet, so the second time I
disconnected the electrical before putting it in the water. It was okay.

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and the
A/C went out, as did the speedometer...)

I presume something is shorted on the trailer. Any suggestions for
troubleshooting it?


ALSO...

Shade tree mechanics have been known to buy a complete wiring harness
and wire it willy-nilly to their vehicle. As long as the wiring on the
trailer matches what they have done on the tow vehicle every thing is
cool. But move the trailer to a correctly wired vehicle and expect
trouble. A good visual inspection my also help. Wires running
around/through frame members can easily be pinched through the insulation.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 14:31:19 -0400, "Ted" wrote:

I bought a boat/trailer last year. The first time I put the boat in the
water a fuse blew. My dealer said it was a lousy hitch installation and I
had to have him replace it. The hitch installer said everything was done
properly. I figured something shorted when it got wet, so the second time I
disconnected the electrical before putting it in the water. It was okay.

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and the
A/C went out, as did the speedometer...)

I presume something is shorted on the trailer. Any suggestions for
troubleshooting it?

It's wired incorrectly - they've picked up power from something they
shouldn't have.

What is the fuse labeled as?

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 14:31:19 -0400, "Ted" wrote:

I bought a boat/trailer last year. The first time I put the boat in the
water a fuse blew. My dealer said it was a lousy hitch installation and I
had to have him replace it. The hitch installer said everything was done
properly. I figured something shorted when it got wet, so the second time
I
disconnected the electrical before putting it in the water. It was okay.

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and the
A/C went out, as did the speedometer...)

I presume something is shorted on the trailer. Any suggestions for
troubleshooting it?

It's wired incorrectly - they've picked up power from something they
shouldn't have.

What is the fuse labeled as?

Console. It controls the speedometer, heater fan, and one window; at least
that is what stops working with the fuse blown. Hard to imagine why there
would be any wiring for those things back by the tail light.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

Ted wrote:
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 14:31:19 -0400, "Ted" wrote:

I bought a boat/trailer last year. The first time I put the boat in the
water a fuse blew. My dealer said it was a lousy hitch installation and I
had to have him replace it. The hitch installer said everything was done
properly. I figured something shorted when it got wet, so the second time
I
disconnected the electrical before putting it in the water. It was okay.

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and the
A/C went out, as did the speedometer...)

I presume something is shorted on the trailer. Any suggestions for
troubleshooting it?
It's wired incorrectly - they've picked up power from something they
shouldn't have.

What is the fuse labeled as?

Console. It controls the speedometer, heater fan, and one window; at least
that is what stops working with the fuse blown. Hard to imagine why there
would be any wiring for those things back by the tail light.


I had a 1973 Buick Century for about 10 years. It seemed like every
electical problem I had with the car, was resolved by fixing something
in the trunk. Headlights, dashlights, it did not seem to matter.

Don't automatically rule out wires in the trunk because it is illogical.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

On Jun 7, 3:40*pm, HK wrote:
Phil wrote:

"Ted" wrote in message
...

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. *Argh. (92 and
the

* * * * * * * * * *92 deg. *Are you in Florida? *Been a while since I've
been on a boat, hint , hint.

If you want a nice boat ride, Phil, I'm heading out tomorrow morning.
It's going to be hot as hades here, but we can make it cooler. I'm on
Chesapeake Bay, on the western shore. If you are nearby, send me an email.

Phil: Be very, very careful with this individual. It would be time
well spent to do a search of his past newsgroup posts. Acceptance of
an invitation from him could be dangerous.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

camacdonaldiii wrote:
On Jun 7, 3:40 pm, HK wrote:
Phil wrote:

"Ted" wrote in message
...
Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and
the
92 deg. Are you in Florida? Been a while since I've
been on a boat, hint , hint.
If you want a nice boat ride, Phil, I'm heading out tomorrow morning.
It's going to be hot as hades here, but we can make it cooler. I'm on
Chesapeake Bay, on the western shore. If you are nearby, send me an email.

Phil: Be very, very careful with this individual. It would be time
well spent to do a search of his past newsgroup posts. Acceptance of
an invitation from him could be dangerous.



Ahh..."cam" Another rec.boats retardo...

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

"Ted" wrote in message
...

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 14:31:19 -0400, "Ted" wrote:

I bought a boat/trailer last year. The first time I put the boat in the
water a fuse blew. My dealer said it was a lousy hitch installation and
I
had to have him replace it. The hitch installer said everything was done
properly. I figured something shorted when it got wet, so the second
time I
disconnected the electrical before putting it in the water. It was okay.

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and
the
A/C went out, as did the speedometer...)

I presume something is shorted on the trailer. Any suggestions for
troubleshooting it?

It's wired incorrectly - they've picked up power from something they
shouldn't have.

What is the fuse labeled as?

Console. It controls the speedometer, heater fan, and one window; at
least that is what stops working with the fuse blown. Hard to imagine why
there would be any wiring for those things back by the tail light.


Some trailer wiring setups wire to the tail lights to get switching signals
only. That way power isn't drawn from the tail lights to power the trailer
lights. Power for the trailer lights is drawn from the battery or some other
convenient location under the hood. There should be a box somewhere in the
trunk with wires going to the tail lights another harness going to the
trailer wiring plug, and a wire going to the engine compartment to draw
power. If the fuse only blows when the trailer is hooked up then you have a
combination of problems. If your taillights work when the fuse is blown,
that pretty much proves that there is some sort of tail light controller in
use.
Some of the possibilities are-
1.Power lead to the trailer light controller hooked to the wrong source
under the dash.
2. Trailer controller defective
3. Trailer controller miswired or wire shorted to ground
4. Trailer wiring miswired or shorted to ground

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

"camacdonaldiii" wrote in message
...
On Jun 7, 3:40 pm, HK wrote:
Phil wrote:

"Ted" wrote in message
...

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and
the

92 deg. Are you in Florida? Been a while since I've
been on a boat, hint , hint.

If you want a nice boat ride, Phil, I'm heading out tomorrow morning.
It's going to be hot as hades here, but we can make it cooler. I'm on
Chesapeake Bay, on the western shore. If you are nearby, send me an email.

Phil: Be very, very careful with this individual. It would be time
well spent to do a search of his past newsgroup posts. Acceptance of
an invitation from him could be dangerous.

Krause must be pretty hard up for companionship to be offering boat rides to
complete strangers.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 19:57:36 -0400, "Ted" wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 14:31:19 -0400, "Ted" wrote:

I bought a boat/trailer last year. The first time I put the boat in the
water a fuse blew. My dealer said it was a lousy hitch installation and I
had to have him replace it. The hitch installer said everything was done
properly. I figured something shorted when it got wet, so the second time
I
disconnected the electrical before putting it in the water. It was okay.

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and the
A/C went out, as did the speedometer...)

I presume something is shorted on the trailer. Any suggestions for
troubleshooting it?

It's wired incorrectly - they've picked up power from something they
shouldn't have.

What is the fuse labeled as?

Console. It controls the speedometer, heater fan, and one window; at least
that is what stops working with the fuse blown. Hard to imagine why there
would be any wiring for those things back by the tail light.

Interesting.

It might be a ground loop meaning that you may have more current at
one point than at another.

First thing I would do is find where the ground is connected and make
dead certain that it's a solid ground point. Your installed may have
connected the ground to a point that would produce a floating ground
rather than a direct chassis connection. If the ground is connected
anywhere other than directly to the chassis, I would change that
first. Do the same for the trailer - make absoutely sure the ground
for the trailer lights is solidly connected to the trailer.

Second, obtain a test light (looks like an ice pick with a wire, light
in the handle and an aligator clip) - cheap enough - four/five bucks
at NAPA. With your lights off and the clip connected to the point
where the ground is connected, check your turn and brake light
connections - you should be any light in the test light. If you do,
you have something internal in the car wrong - most likely a corroded
connector. If you don't find anything wrong, do the same with the
lights turned on - there should be no bleed over from right to left.
If there is, you probably need to have an isolator installed to
prevent problems.

What kind of car is it?

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

On Jun 7, 3:16*pm, "Phil" wrote:
"Ted" wrote in message

...

*I may be wrong in thinking this way .... You were backing it into the water
so the only thing that would be on is the brake lights so I would focus on
that wiring first.

Or you have a leak in a receptical and it caused a wire to short to
ground when the water hit it. It's happened many times. You may still
have water in behind the lense. If so, with it jossling around it can
still short out hwen you hit the brakes. before I installed a new wire
kit on my small trailer, I'd hit the bakes and it would take out the
fuse to the rear lights on the car, the radio and cigarette lighter
(both on the same fuse) and also the cruise control and horn (also
both on the same fuse.)

amazing things can happen to cause a ripple effect.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

On Jun 7, 9:12*pm, camacdonaldiii wrote:
On Jun 7, 3:40*pm, HK wrote:

Phil wrote:

"Ted" wrote in message
...

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. *Argh. (92 and
the

* * * * * * * * * *92 deg. *Are you in Florida? *Been a while since I've
been on a boat, hint , hint.

If you want a nice boat ride, Phil, I'm heading out tomorrow morning.
It's going to be hot as hades here, but we can make it cooler. I'm on
Chesapeake Bay, on the western shore. If you are nearby, send me an email.

Phil: *Be very, very careful with this individual. *It would be time
well spent to do a search of his past newsgroup posts. *Acceptance of
an invitation from him could be dangerous.

Eh, I dont' know. If Harry invited me, and I could schedule it, I'd be
happy to hit the water with him...

No kidding!

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

Jim wrote:

"camacdonaldiii" wrote in message
...
On Jun 7, 3:40 pm, HK wrote:
Phil wrote:

"Ted" wrote in message
...

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and
the

92 deg. Are you in Florida? Been a while since I've
been on a boat, hint , hint.

If you want a nice boat ride, Phil, I'm heading out tomorrow morning.
It's going to be hot as hades here, but we can make it cooler. I'm on
Chesapeake Bay, on the western shore. If you are nearby, send me an
email.

Phil: Be very, very careful with this individual. It would be time
well spent to do a search of his past newsgroup posts. Acceptance of
an invitation from him could be dangerous.

Krause must be pretty hard up for companionship to be offering boat
rides to complete strangers.


Not at all. You're a complete stranger, and I wouldn't take you out. I
happen to have room tomorrow for another guy.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

Tim wrote:
On Jun 7, 9:12 pm, camacdonaldiii wrote:
On Jun 7, 3:40 pm, HK wrote:

Phil wrote:
"Ted" wrote in message
...
Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and
the
92 deg. Are you in Florida? Been a while since I've
been on a boat, hint , hint.
If you want a nice boat ride, Phil, I'm heading out tomorrow morning.
It's going to be hot as hades here, but we can make it cooler. I'm on
Chesapeake Bay, on the western shore. If you are nearby, send me an email.
Phil: Be very, very careful with this individual. It would be time
well spent to do a search of his past newsgroup posts. Acceptance of
an invitation from him could be dangerous.

Eh, I dont' know. If Harry invited me, and I could schedule it, I'd be
happy to hit the water with him...

No kidding!


Likewise. I don't even know who this Cama guy is, by the way. Not that I
care...just another newsgroup ass.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

On Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:20:37 -0400, HK wrote:

Ahh..."cam" Another rec.boats retardo...

One of the ****-for-brains google groupers....
Please see:
http://improve-usenet.org/

google -- "Do no evil?"

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 19:45:50 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:


Eh, I dont' know. If Harry invited me, and I could schedule it, I'd be
happy to hit the water with him...

No kidding!

Ditto. When I first started posting here and had some boating
questions Shortwave made some kind of offer to help me out - can't
remember the details. But I thought it was generous, and also
indicated his love of boating. I've seen Harry make similar offers
more than once. Not related to this recent offer, but for fishermen
it makes a lot of sense to split gas costs and have some mates along
instead of going solo. More boat time.
Not too much different than car pooling - but more fun!
Hey, you didn't catch much of that rain that hit Indiana, did you?
There are about 40 counties there which suddenly became a big lake.
Weird weather I say. Never used to give tornados much thought up
here, but I'm more tuned to it now.
Over the years I've noticed Lake Michigan seems to repel a lot of
heavy weather coming from the west and south, which is nearly always
where it comes from except in winter. Seems the lake sets up some
kind of pressure area. Might be wrong about that, but we don't get
much violent weather along the SW part of the Lake, like tornados or
12 inch downpours.

--Vic

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

Phil: *Be very, very careful with this individual. *It would be time
well spent to do a search of his past newsgroup posts. *Acceptance of
an invitation from him could be dangerous.

A true SOCK PUPPET REPLY.....I'd tell them to be more concious of the
lying little cocksucker LOOGY.....

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

to be offering boat rides to complete strangers.

Better that than to be a sock puppet for a cocksucker.......

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

On Jun 7, 11:00*pm, Vic Smith wrote:

Hey, you didn't catch much of that rain that hit Indiana, did you?
There are about 40 counties there which suddenly became a big lake.
Weird weather I say. *Never used to give tornados much thought up
here, but I'm more tuned to it now.


Vic, it rained and rained plenty, but just noth of me about 10 mi,
after the winds passed, they got anywhere from 5-7 in. worth of rain
and that went up to about mattoon. That's about a 40 mi. wide swath. A
lot of roads are still closed due to flooding.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

"Jim" wrote in message
...


Phil: Be very, very careful with this individual. It would be time
well spent to do a search of his past newsgroup posts. Acceptance of
an invitation from him could be dangerous.

Krause must be pretty hard up for companionship to be offering boat rides
to complete strangers.


Well...you don't get much stranger than JohnnyH and Harry did invite him out
once.
Is that what you mean?

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

Any suggestions for troubleshooting it?

Re-wire the Trailer.

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

On Jun 7, 10:12*pm, camacdonaldiii wrote:
On Jun 7, 3:40*pm, HK wrote:

Phil wrote:

"Ted" wrote in message
...

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. *Argh. (92 and
the

* * * * * * * * * *92 deg. *Are you in Florida? *Been a while since I've
been on a boat, hint , hint.

If you want a nice boat ride, Phil, I'm heading out tomorrow morning.
It's going to be hot as hades here, but we can make it cooler. I'm on
Chesapeake Bay, on the western shore. If you are nearby, send me an email.

Phil: *Be very, very careful with this individual. *It would be time
well spent to do a search of his past newsgroup posts. *Acceptance of
an invitation from him could be dangerous.

Man, you aren't kidding there! He's wished most here bodily injury or
death!

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

On Jun 7, 10:28*pm, "Jim" wrote:
"camacdonaldiii" wrote in message

...
On Jun 7, 3:40 pm, HK wrote:

Phil wrote:

"Ted" wrote in message
...

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and
the

92 deg. Are you in Florida? Been a while since I've
been on a boat, hint , hint.

If you want a nice boat ride, Phil, I'm heading out tomorrow morning.
It's going to be hot as hades here, but we can make it cooler. I'm on
Chesapeake Bay, on the western shore. If you are nearby, send me an email.

Phil: *Be very, very careful with this individual. *It would be time
well spent to do a search of his past newsgroup posts. *Acceptance of
an invitation from him could be dangerous.

Krause must be pretty hard up for companionship to be offering boat rides to
complete strangers.

You think he's offering a ride on his 36' Zimmerman like lobster boat?

Trailering shorts a fuse; how to trouble shoot?
 

C'mon Loog... talking about him garners the same response as talking to him.
Remember your oath! :-

--Mike

wrote in message
...
On Jun 7, 10:28 pm, "Jim" wrote:
"camacdonaldiii" wrote in message

...
On Jun 7, 3:40 pm, HK wrote:

Phil wrote:

"Ted" wrote in message
...

Yesterday it blew the fuse before getting to the water. Argh. (92 and
the

92 deg. Are you in Florida? Been a while since I've
been on a boat, hint , hint.

If you want a nice boat ride, Phil, I'm heading out tomorrow morning.
It's going to be hot as hades here, but we can make it cooler. I'm on
Chesapeake Bay, on the western shore. If you are nearby, send me an
email.

Phil: Be very, very careful with this individual. It would be time
well spent to do a search of his past newsgroup posts. Acceptance of
an invitation from him could be dangerous.

Krause must be pretty hard up for companionship to be offering boat rides
to
complete strangers.

You think he's offering a ride on his 36' Zimmerman like lobster boat?