I am trying to hook up my tow lights on my 1979 argosy to my 2000 Ford F150 with the 7-pin connector. I have looked at the diagrams and nothing matches. I don’t know if the problem is with my truck, the argosy the connectors or what. At first I thought everything worked except the left turn signal, which would flash both right and left lights. After looking further it appears that some lights are brighter than others indicating that some were brake lights while the other side was running lights or taillights.
I checked my truck to see what was going on at that connector and discovered it was a Hoppy 7-pin connector with a 4 pin flat connector built onto the left side all made together. This Hoppy connector is plugged into what I suppose is Ford factory wiring. I checked the 7 pins coming out of the Hoppy and found 12 volt working well but did discover that when I turned on my left turn signal that 2 of the 7 pins would flash indicating that this may be my problem? ( I suppose one of these may have been for the 4 pin side connector?)
Here are my questions?
Has anyone else checked a 7-pin connector and got 2 poles sending out the same signal at the same time?
I think 2 pins giving out voltage at the same time is a bad thing, what you think?
Should I go get another 7-pin connector and put it on my truck and try it?
It there another way to do this wiring, like hook up one wire at a time starting with a turn signal and then the other signal and then tail lights etc?
Thanks,
mtnman
Take a look at this page for the seven pin connector. http://www.marksrv.com/wiring.htm
Don't look at the four pin connector next to it on your truck, you will not be useing that one. I would check each pin at the connector as you turn on the lights, signals etc.
If your Ford has turn signals that are seperate from your brake lights, you have a harness adapter, to change the seperate brake and turn signals into a common wire for use with a trailer. This is usually mounted between two connectors at the rear of the truck, and the wires for the 7 pin connector come out of it, and go to the connector. If you have one, and it is bad, you will get this kind of behavior. I had an adapter on a Ranger that did some really goofy things to the trailer (and truck) lights. If in doubt, change it out. It is not that expensive, and it is available from most auto parts stores.
__________________
Terry You repair things with tools. You fix things with a hammer.
AIR#2611
The F150 has the factory tow package which I assume means it came from the factory with this connector on it, other than the Hoppy connector which I know is after market.
mtnman
MtnMan, I just went thru this with my 1998 F150 and 1973 Overlander. Here's the way I went about it.
1--I printed out the 7-Pin diagram that Janet refered to from the Airstram website.
2--Look INSIDE the trailer (probably under the couch) for the wires. The COLORS should match the diagram, but they may be upside down from the drawing.
3--Next I went outside the trailer and matched the 7 pin connector on the front of trailer to the correct COLOR from the inside (does that make sense?). I had to make a drawing of each step to keep it all straight.
4--Then I went to the connector on the truck. The cover on the truck connector tells me where each light is wired (not by color, but by function: Left turn, right turn and so on).
5--Off to NAPA to buy an umbilical chord that has one end that can be wired in any order. The other end matched the COLOR of the wires on the front of the trialer.
6--I simply (yeah, right!) wired the truck end of the cable to match the function of the trailer end.
I have this drawn out on paper, but my scanner is busted right now. It's usually easier for me see to see it on paper. Hope this helps. Once you get a few of the lights to work, then you may have to trouble shoot why some lights aren't working. A multi-meter is really helpful here. But that's a whole 'nuther story. Many times that is a ground issue, sometimes bad bulbs, sometimes bad sockets or wires. If you really think the connector is bad, try a junk yard for an OEM.
Good luck. Ask more questions if you get stuck somewhere.
Jim
Jim
__________________ Great news! The drug companies are now using graphics in their ED drug ads (not kidding). I guess not everybody fully understands what ED is and how to cope, eh?
Jim,
I think I understand, I beleive you are saying you used an adapter between your truck and the camper like a pig tail? I can do that, I have had the 7-pin camper plug apart but, I still question having 2 pins on my truck 7-pin connector showing 12 volt ticks when the left turn signal is on? I just dont think thats right? (I thought the trailer plug would be an easy thing, boy was I wrong!?!)
mtnman
You need to insure that the truck connection is correct first. Then worry about the trailer.
If you’re living in Collettsville, why don’t you call a U-Haul, or a trailer hitch install store in Lenoir or Hickory and use their plug in tester. (maybe a parts house closer has one to sell – borrow) Insure that your 7 way on the truck is correct, then match up the wires to the trailer.
You have the diagrams and color codes now. All you need is the patience.
The others are sooooo right about the improper ground. It will throw you every time!
__________________ NORM #3305
"... there is nothing you can't fix yourself ...
... if you're handy ...
... with a check book! ..."
Jim,
I think I understand, I beleive you are saying you used an adapter between your truck and the camper like a pig tail? I can do that, I have had the 7-pin camper plug apart but, I still question having 2 pins on my truck 7-pin connector showing 12 volt ticks when the left turn signal is on? I just dont think thats right? (I thought the trailer plug would be an easy thing, boy was I wrong!?!)
mtnman
Yea, I guess I kinda missed part of your question, sorry. Norm and Terry are correct, make sure the truck is working properly first, then move back to the trailer.
The cable that I bought at NAPA has a "fixed" end that is prewired. That end has the same type fitting that is on the front of the trailer. The other end is indeed a "pigtail" that came with a couple of different sized fittings. This is the truck end. You choose the fitting that fits your truck and wire the 7 wires to match the Hoppy (or OEM plug, etc.)
Jim
__________________ Great news! The drug companies are now using graphics in their ED drug ads (not kidding). I guess not everybody fully understands what ED is and how to cope, eh?
Check that the truck is working properly on all positions. Do you have separate brake and turn functions on the Ford's taillights? If you have a separate bulb for each of these functions then you need a tail light converter module installed just upstream of your Hoppy. This will convert the 3-way tail light functions on the Ford to the 2-way operation of the AS. If Ford includes one with the tow package then you it might not be working properly and may need to be replaced.
I recently spent 2 hours diagnosing a similar problem on a 2006 Dodge Ram and it finally turned out to be a bad converter.
Do you have separate brake and turn functions on the Ford's taillights? If you have a separate bulb for each of these functions then you need a tail light converter module installed just upstream of your Hoppy. This will convert the 3-way tail light functions on the Ford to the 2-way operation of the AS.
I will check this tomorrow and see. Can I check them without taking off the lens, anyone know?
Some possibilities of the root of your problems...
I had some trailer light "issues" when I picked up the '78 Sovereign in Ohio. The PO had "redone" the umbilical line - in so doing he over-tightened the wire hold down assembly on the trailer end (at a point where there was no outer insulation) and subsequently shorted out at least three of the 7 wires - I spent the better part of the morning sitting outside in the rain and the mist and the fog while parked at a Wal-Mart store attempting to figure THAT one out.
I didn't really know what was going on until I disassembled the plug at the trailer end of the umbilical and saw the exposed wiring.
You might try doing a pin to pin continuity check on the umbilical with the line disconnected from both the trailer and the TV. There should be an infinite resistance on any of the pin to pin contacts (on one end, of course)...this would also be a good time to check for a "0" resistance reading from matched pin to matched pin on the trailer plug to TV plug. Pull back the coverings on the plugs and check for corrosion.
Good luck - please post how you finally solve your gremlin -
__________________
Dennis
"Suck it up, spend the bucks, do it right the first time."
I am trying to hook up my tow lights on my 1979 argosy to my 2000 Ford F150 with the 7-pin connector. I have looked at the diagrams and nothing matches. I don’t know if the problem is with my truck, the argosy the connectors or what. At first I thought everything worked except the left turn signal, which would flash both right and left lights. After looking further it appears that some lights are brighter than others indicating that some were brake lights while the other side was running lights or taillights.
I checked my truck to see what was going on at that connector and discovered it was a Hoppy 7-pin connector with a 4 pin flat connector built onto the left side all made together. This Hoppy connector is plugged into what I suppose is Ford factory wiring. I checked the 7 pins coming out of the Hoppy and found 12 volt working well but did discover that when I turned on my left turn signal that 2 of the 7 pins would flash indicating that this may be my problem? ( I suppose one of these may have been for the 4 pin side connector?)
Here are my questions?
Has anyone else checked a 7-pin connector and got 2 poles sending out the same signal at the same time?
I think 2 pins giving out voltage at the same time is a bad thing, what you think?
Should I go get another 7-pin connector and put it on my truck and try it?
It there another way to do this wiring, like hook up one wire at a time starting with a turn signal and then the other signal and then tail lights etc?
Thanks,
mtnman
I strongly suspect that the problem may be with the trailer end of the connector as in all probability your late model truck has the current industry standard wiring schematic for its 7-pin connector. Your Argosy Minuet likely has the same non-standard wiring schematic that my '78 Minuet had when I first purchased it (had to wire up a new trailer connector before I could tow it home). The schematic that Argosy utilized on the Minuets can be found in the link below:
Quick Links
Linear Mode
