OEM trailer wiring harness malfunction

[UtahPete]

I don't see any other thread that answers my question, so here goes.

I have the 2014RT with OEM dealer-installed trailer harness. It has worked fine until recently. Now I have no left turn signal / brake light although the other lights work fine and there is no problem with the bike lights. It's just the circuit from the bike to the trailer for the left turn / brake light has stopped working.

Has anyone got a clue where I should start trying to trouble-shoot this? Thanks.

 

[trikermutha]

Maybe trailer controller under the left saddle bag or behind the underside cover.

 

[trikermutha]

Do you know how to access it?

Been awhile but you have to remove some covers. Follow the trailer wire back to your Spyder and its around that area or behind a cover/panel

Or behind the left tail light. My memory is not the best.

If I get a better answer I will let you know

 

[pegasus1300]

First question do the turn signals on the Spyder work? Yes then it sounds like a broken wire close to the plug. UnPlug the trailer and test the the left turn prong on the plug. Does it have power? No then problem is from plug back on to Spyder. Yes problem from plug on to trailer. Fuse on Spyder?Bulb on Trailer? Go from there. Simple stuff first.

 

[UtahPete]

First question do the turn signals on the Spyder work? Yes then it sounds like a broken wire close to the plug. UnPlug the trailer and test the the left turn prong on the plug. Does it have power? No then problem is from plug back on to Spyder. Yes problem from plug on to trailer. Fuse on Spyder?Bulb on Trailer? Go from there. Simple stuff first.

Thanks. Spyder lights work fine. No output from the trailer harness plug on the Spyder for that circuit. It's definitely in the harness, not the Spyder lighting circuit.

 

[pegasus1300]

So put power into the trailer left turn wire and make sure it isn't the trailer wire. If it is the wire going into the Spyder,I removed the panel on the left side that goes around the left compartment.You are trying to access the front and top area around the left compartment. Your power take off plug is in that area if I remember right. There should be a screw towards the back so you will have to raise the seat. Then unplug the harness and check for continuity between prongs for left turn signal. Or it mabe easier to just bypass that wire if that is what's bad.You can visually follow the harness back to where it plugs in the bike electrics? Are you in Washington or Park City? Sorry I suck at long distance trouble shooting.

 

[cptjam]

Harness

Take the back panel off. Remove the screws on fender, swing down. Remove left taillight, check connections. Follow harness under seat, check connections there. Then let me know. Joe

 

[UtahPete]

So put power into the trailer left turn wire and make sure it isn't the trailer wire. If it is the wire going into the Spyder,I removed the panel on the left side that goes around the left compartment.You are trying to access the front and top area around the left compartment. Your power take off plug is in that area if I remember right. There should be a screw towards the back so you will have to raise the seat. Then unplug the harness and check for continuity between prongs for left turn signal. Or it mabe easier to just bypass that wire if that is what's bad.You can visually follow the harness back to where it plugs in the bike electrics? Are you in Washington or Park City? Sorry I suck at long distance trouble shooting.

It's not in the trailer wiring because both my trailers have the same issue.

I'm in Hurricane at this point. If I can't figure it out I'll take it to my dealer in Kamas when we relocate up there in a couple months. Should be covered under warranty. Would just like to get it fixed before then as we have a couple of long-distance trips planned.

 

[trikermutha]

The module is under the left saddle bag lower cover.

The video shows how to remove the cover.


https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...BCFB34E9CAF4FDE4467EBCFB34E9CAF4&&FORM=VRDGAR

 

[Easy Rider]

Yes then it sounds like a broken wire close to the plug. Simple stuff first.

Regardless of the vehicle involved, about 90% of the trailer light problems are due to bad connections and most of those are right INSIDE the connectors or a broken wire, that often on the back of one side of the connectors too.

Most of the rest of the problems are burnt out bulbs or a bad connection inside the bulb socket.

First you need a voltmeter.

 

[trikermutha]

If it is the module that is bad this is the part that comes with the bike Minus the BRP connectors.

http://www.hopkinstowingsolutions.c...nectors/power-taillight-converters/46255.html

Maybe able to pick it up local and transfer the connectors to the new module

 

[UtahPete]

Take the back panel off. Remove the screws on fender, swing down. Remove left taillight, check connections. Follow harness under seat, check connections there. Then let me know. Joe

Well, I removed the rear panel and lowered the fender. Removed the left taillight. The cable from the trailer lighting harness disappears under the seat somewhere. There are no connections in the harness at this point. Not sure where the harness goes to once it's under the seat panel.


Before I pull off mirrors, headlight and panels unnecessarily, is there anywhere else the dealer might have likely mounted the relay module for the harness?

Is it possible it's between the inner and outer saddlebag liner at the bottom where the harness cable is routed? I sure hope not; that looks like a lot of work getting the saddlebag off.

 

[Easy Rider]

Please tell me that you are NOT doing all of that without first checking the connector pins and it's wiring for voltage and grounds.

 

[trikermutha]

Well, I removed the rear panel and lowered the fender. Removed the left taillight. The cable from the trailer lighting harness disappears under the seat somewhere. There are no connections in the harness at this point. Not sure where the harness goes to once it's under the seat panel.
View attachment 159399

Before I pull off mirrors, headlight and panels unnecessarily, is there anywhere else the dealer might have likely mounted the relay module for the harness?

Is it possible it's between the inner and outer saddlebag liner at the bottom where the harness cable is routed? I sure hope not; that looks like a lot of work getting the saddlebag off.

Check those posi tap connections too. They just unscrew.

They used Posi tapes. Pull the cover off from under the seat the wires and or module then would have to be in that area if not under the saddle bag. That is not a factory module that was used. Makes me wonder what you have.

 

[MR. H1956]

Spyder accessories.com in Canada has a video on how to install plug and play trailer harnesses on spyders. It very informative on how to get to the wiring harness on a spyder RT look on YouTube for it.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

The module is under the left saddle bag lower cover.

The video shows how to remove the cover.


https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...BCFB34E9CAF4FDE4467EBCFB34E9CAF4&&FORM=VRDGAR

You sure? Originally the trailer module was under the saddlebag but since 2013 or '14 when they changed to the 4 square plug the module is under the access panel under the passenger seat.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Utah, check the output at the plug on the trailer side of the module. It's a short harness coming out of the module. If you don't see power there then the module is kaput.

 

[trikermutha]

You sure? Originally the trailer module was under the saddlebag but since 2013 or '14 when they changed to the 4 square plug the module is under the access panel under the passenger seat.

I am guessing since my module was in that area and I have a 2014 RT. I cant see it to much farther back than the left saddle bag area or the left tail light area. Unless they are using a aftermarket relay setup??:dontknow:

After seeing the Posi taps it looks aftermarket setup as BRP was all plug and play

 

[billybovine]

Well, I removed the rear panel and lowered the fender. Removed the left taillight. The cable from the trailer lighting harness disappears under the seat somewhere. There are no connections in the harness at this point. Not sure where the harness goes to once it's under the seat panel.
View attachment 159399

Before I pull off mirrors, headlight and panels unnecessarily, is there anywhere else the dealer might have likely mounted the relay module for the harness?

Is it possible it's between the inner and outer saddlebag liner at the bottom where the harness cable is routed? I sure hope not; that looks like a lot of work getting the saddlebag off.

That is not the wiring for an OE trailer harness. Likely for a high mount tail light or other accessory. OE trailer harness is plug and play. No positaps involved. What you are looking for is the box that looks exactly like what trikermutha linked to in post #12.

 

[UtahPete]

You sure? Originally the trailer module was under the saddlebag but since 2013 or '14 when they changed to the 4 square plug the module is under the access panel under the passenger seat.

Ah, that's the info I was looking for. Thanks. Now I just need to figure out how to remove that panel...