Running Lights Not Working

[mara]

Airstream and towing newbie here... just took out our brand new 22 Airstream International and the running lights are not turning on. The brake lights and signals are working, fuses are ok and truck lights are on. We are driving a rented 2018 Ford F-150 XLT. Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks in advance!

[JJTX]

Turn your headlights on your F150 to _ON_ and dont try to use the AUTO mode of headlights. ( turn the dial to ON )

No dice? check the fuse. again.


Where the arrow button is, the trailer running lights dont work. You need the one to the left with the headlight indicator. aka ON.

Forget the text in the image. Thats auto mode.

[mara]

Thanks JJTX. The lights are not on auto and fuse is ok. However, I tested the pins from the trailer adapter on the truck with 12V test light and 2 of them do not light up. I'm guessing that something is wrong in that area and I will try to take the truck somewhere in the morning to get it looked at...

[JJTX]

Originally Posted by mara

Thanks JJTX. The lights are not on auto and fuse is ok. However, I tested the pins from the trailer adapter on the truck with 12V test light and 2 of them do not light up. I'm guessing that something is wrong in that area and I will try to take the truck somewhere in the morning to get it looked at...

Thats odd for sure. Remember that all those pins have separate fuses too.

[Wazbro]

Some vehicles have separate fuses for the trailer lights and vehicle lights.

[GCinSC2]

MARA,

7 way connector. I would not expect to see 12VDC at the following if engine is running and testing 7 way with test light or DVM.

Ground.
REV. Requires TV in REV to power it.
Brake.
Charge line may or may not be powered due to the TV's "system" needing to see a load or other active conditions.

Leaves L, R and running lights should cooperate with testing to known good ground.

Lot's of troubleshooting tips available, but use the cover of the 7 way they are usually marked and pin down what should work vs shouldn't work w/o conditions, like in REV.

Gary

[Seagate04]

I have a 2008 Ford F-250 and had the same problem a couple of years ago. Check the fuse panel under the hood. There is also a fuse there that protects the 7-way plug.

[Mikey62]

Do you have the rear hatch option?

Had this same problem on our 2021 International 27FB and it turned out to be the rear hatch. There are some contacts at the top of the door that make a connection for the license plate light and when the door is close the contact point missed the pad to make the connection and were shorting out on the door frame. You can confirm this by opening the rear hatch and see if the running lights work with the hatch open.

[mara]

Thank you all for your replies. It did turn out to be a separate fuse actually. There are multiple and we did not check carefully enough. It was also of the wrong amperage, that’s probably why it blew (the truck is a rental).

Like I said, newbies We are learning though and enjoying our trip now! Thanks again.

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by mara

Thank you all for your replies. It did turn out to be a separate fuse actually. There are multiple and we did not check carefully enough. It was also of the wrong amperage, that’s probably why it blew (the truck is a rental).

Like I said, newbies We are learning though and enjoying our trip now! Thanks again.

Glad you got it working and thanks for letting us know.

[Ky76Argosy]

Good idea to clean 7way pins as part of you readiness plan.

[egraham]

I have the opposite problem.Just had the plug that connects to TV replaced and now running lights are on all the time.

[GCinSC2]

Originally Posted by egraham

I have the opposite problem.Just had the plug that connects to TV replaced and now running lights are on all the time.

Might be interesting to check all functions but one possible is that the running lights are now connected to the charge line or a stray wire is powering the running lights. Assuming TV is the same and the planets haven't changed alignment.