Quick ground help

[alkyholic]

Urgent wiring help

I think I figured out why my trailer wiring isn't working, bad ground. The lights for the license plate don't work either. Anyone know off the top of their head where this ground is so I don't have to tear down half my truck trying to find it? 96 explorer, if that helps. Thanks

 

[shadetree]

License plate lights ground to the bumper thru the bulb housing. They often lose this ground due to dirt and rust.

The exception, depending on the kind of bumper you have, is if the license plate lights are mounted in a plastic housing, there will be two wires going to the light sockets one of which will be the ground wire. This wire will usually go to the frame somewhere.shady

 

[alkyholic]

Ok, I'm stuck here. I checked the fuse, it's good. Brake lights are on the same fuse and they work. I tried hooking up one lead on my tester to the frame and the other to the various plugs for the trailer wiring with the brakes pressed down and got nothing. I checked the entire harness going from the fusebox all the way back to the plug and it all looks fine. What else could cause my trailer wiring to not work?

 

[martin]

My 91 has relays and seperate fuses for the trailer wiring. they are located behind the trim panel at the left rear of the vehicle.

 

[alkyholic]

I saw those, but didn't think they were for the trailer, I guess I'll go test them. Thanks

 

[alkyholic]

Checked all the relays, they check out fine. Any other possible ideas? I need to get this working today, I have to tow a trailer for most of the day tomorrow.