Lost taillight wire

psytab · July 10

My passenger taillight on 2020 320SBD has had a variable number and location of lights that worked. When only the three bottom ones worked yesterday, I tried to rewire it. The connection to the white wire was probably the problem because it separated from its connector as I wrestled the wires out of the hole which I had to enlarge. The other end of that wire is inside the trailer.

Any suggestions on how I can access it to retrieve it?

psytab · July 10

Bayliss · July 10

@psytab, I do not recall specifically, but I believe that you can gain access to the tail light wires by removing the triangular-shaped panel (2 screws) depicted below, which is located at the rear interior of the trailer. I am pretty sure they are accessible in that area without having to remove the rear storage cabinet. The second photo shows that area, and the side marker/running light for the right-rear passenger area are clearly visible, but the tail light wires are not visible, so you may have to try and reach up in that area and see if you can grab the wire(s). Maybe look with a mirror first? Unfortunately, getting the wire back through the hole may be a problem, but you could fish a line from the outside into that compartment and tape it to the wires to pull them back out. nuCamp leaves very little slack in their wiring, so that is a problem too. If all else fails, you will need to remove the rear cabinetry. I can provide links for info on how to do that, if necessary.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/4d/wgsfh65iro0z.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/74/gpdj70p4dlkg.jpg

psytab · July 10

Thank you. I thought I saw them when I treated the radiators for corrosion. When I looked again last spring when taillight first started acting up, I didn’t see them. I have a fiberoptic camera that works with iPhone coming tomorrow. I’ll check that area first.

Freespirit · July 11

@psytab, we have a 2020 TAB 320 U and had to replace our passenger side brake light due to only about 6 lights working. In my case, I removed the cabinets in the back. That exposed a white insulating material which I lifted up and the wires were behind.

Bayliss · July 11

@psytab, here's a photo (by @AnOldUR) of that area with the cabinet removed, showing what @Freespirit described. It shows the rear taillight wiring at each end, plus the license plate light wiring in the center.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/tl/5amysyy3y48l.jpg

MuttonChops · July 11

This has been FUN to read . . . .
Nothing more frustrating when doing a project than to see the wire disappear

Know @psytab will resolve . . . . but since I've been there more than once . . .

psytab · July 11

Thank you! I wondered about lifting up that white “sheet.” @Freespirit.

psytab · July 11

And thank you @Bayliss for all the pics.

psytab · July 11

@Bayliss Paul Thomas reached out and reminded me that you are the one who figured out snd shared how to remove the back cubbies. That info has been so helpful! Thank you!!
Now that I’m working in that area again, I see I didn’t need to cut and lift that white sheet. When I pulled on some wires, I recognized them from pulling them the other way😂

Bayliss · July 11

Perfect, @psytab. Were you able to deal with the wiring issue without having to remove the rear cabinet? Do you have any helpful photos to share?

psytab · 2:00AM

@Bayliss amI had to remove cabinet. Wiring was apparently only part of the problem. Multimeter shows power. Going to ask a question about replacing taillights. Thanks again for the assistance!

Freespirit · 7:13PM

@psytab, here are a few things I learned after replacing my taillight FWIW:
1) If you have access to all the taillight wires at the rear tailight and they are all in working condition as mine were, I should have just cut the non working taillight wires at the rear of the taillight leaving plenty of wire to splice the new taillight into. If I had done that I would not have had to renovate the back shelf, job done.

2) Since I was not thinking clearly and did not do 1 I made an easy task much harder than it needed to be by removing the rear cabined, moving the white sheet, and undoing the taillight connections at the blue splice connector in my picture. This resulted in another problem for me and that was when I connected the blue splice connector I did not completely splice into the wire which resulted in two days of troubleshooting until I went back and firmly squeezed the connection completing the circuit.

Good luck!

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