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trailer relays


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mazdawade 
Member - Posts: 5
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Location: United States
Posted: March 14, 2009 at 3:29 PM / IP Logged  

I have a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder with tow package.  I have recently lost power to my left turn singal.  I have checked the ground  and power to the wiring harness and have narrowed the possible problem down to the relays under the hood located in a box right behind the battery.  There is one Blue and one Brown relay.  I'm not sure which one does what.  All other functions on the trailer lighting work, right turn signal, running lights, etc.  But the left signal and hazard does not work.  My question is if it is one of the relay's which one needs to be replaced, the blue or brown, or does someone have another idea as to what could be wrong with the wiring?  Thanks.

i am an idiot 
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Joined: September 21, 2006
Location: Louisiana, United States
Posted: March 14, 2009 at 4:55 PM / IP Logged  
Does the bulb on the truck function as it should?   Have you checked the bulb on the trailer?
mazdawade 
Member - Posts: 5
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Joined: August 30, 2007
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Posted: March 14, 2009 at 6:00 PM / IP Logged  
Yes the truck works fine.  Hooked it up to another truck and the trailer works perfectly.
howie ll 
Pot Metal - Posts: 16,466
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Posted: March 14, 2009 at 6:01 PM / IP Logged  
Got to be the trailer bulb or wiring.
Chris Luongo 
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Posted: March 14, 2009 at 7:34 PM / IP Logged  
I was looking at those relays (trying to help a Nissan tech resolve a problem) on a 2008 Frontier, so I know the relays you're talking about.
A few things that might point you in the right direction, to at least get started troubleshooting:
1. The remaining relay that still works (right turn signal, correct?) should have an audible click when turning on and off.
Hold a screwdriver (or even a car key) in your hand, and touch the relays one by one with the turn signal on. You'll quickly be able to figure out which relay is left and which is right.
2. Look at the "relays" section here at the top-left of this site, and try to get familiar with how relays work.
The relay should have two small terminals, and two big ones.
Do you have a test light or multimeter, and the knowledge to use it, to test for power and ground? You'll need that.
Anyway, it should go like this:
--One big terminal: constant power
--other big terminal: goes out from the relay, to power up the light bulbs.
--One small terminal: constant power
--other small terminal: ground when turn signal switch is on
Once you test all four of those, you'll at least know if the signal from the switch, is making its way out there under the hood to the relay.
3. Even though the two relays are different colors, do they appear to be the same thing? Maybe you can switch them around to try to figure out if one relay is bad or not.
howie ll 
Pot Metal - Posts: 16,466
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Posted: March 14, 2009 at 7:44 PM / IP Logged  
Sorry I misread your earlier post, effectively the fault is between relays and trailer connector. Have you tried another trailer or testing at the connector?
mazdawade 
Member - Posts: 5
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Joined: August 30, 2007
Location: United States
Posted: March 14, 2009 at 8:47 PM / IP Logged  
I have used a test light on the relay terminals and seem to have the correct power to the terminal.  I have two other similar relays which I believe I could switch just to see if it is indeed the relay, that is a good idea and will try it in the morning.  I have used my neighbors trailer, which I know is working properly and have the same problem when I hook up to it and likewise my trailer works perfectly when he hooks up to use it, so I know the problem is somewhere under my hood.  I tested the wiring harness all the way back to where it has been tapped into the vehicle wiring and have no power to the left signal through the trailer wiring, but have the correct power to the left turn signal on the truck.  I am thinking at this point it has to be a faulty relay or the entire thing needs to be rewired which I have a hard time believing is the problem.  I will listen for the turn signal "clicks."  Do you know if I have to purchase new relays directly through the dealer or if my local auto parts store can get them, if that is the problem?  Thanks for the help so far, I appreciate it.
howie ll 
Pot Metal - Posts: 16,466
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Posted: March 15, 2009 at 5:35 AM / IP Logged  
I still think the problem is from where your trailer loom splits from the main vehicle loom then to the trailer socket on the back of your vehicle.  Check /test forward from that trailer socket.
Chris Luongo 
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Posted: March 15, 2009 at 11:58 AM / IP Logged  
I remembered something else now.
So, remember I said I was helping a Nissan tech troubleshoot an electrical problem on a 2008 Frontier?
Well, we were looking on the computer at all the TSBs (technical service bulletins) and we found a bulletin about some kind of problem with the trailer wiring, along with instructions on how to test it.
It was only for the 2005 Frontier, not the 2008 we were working on, so we didn't pay to much attention to it.........but I remember it involved testing some of the trailer wires behind the back bumper.
Seeing as your Pathfinder is pretty much a Frontier with a passenger compartment instead of a pickup bed, maybe it's the same thing?
So anyway, see if you can get a dealer (or maybe online) to look up any TSBs for your car.
Chris Luongo 
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Posted: March 15, 2009 at 12:04 PM / IP Logged  
Look here:
http://www.allworldauto.com/tsbs/NHTSA__NISSAN_PATHFINDER_technical_service_bulletin_67688.html
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