by eamarquardt » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:17 am
My Ford van required a $100 (approximately) kit made by Hoppy to allow me to connect a trailer. The issue, as I believe it, is that the sophisticated computer set up (more sophistcated that the computers on the Apollo spacecraft) has power to the bulbs at all times. The ground is applied to turn the lightbulb/led on and off. This way the if the computer senses a lack of voltage on the "ground" side of the bulb it knows that a bulb is burned out. I had a warning light on my dash which didn't show up on the OBD2 readout. It looked like a circle with lines radiatiing from it. Turned out one of the taillights had burned out. Replaced the bulb and the light went out, so I figure it works the way decribed above. If you tried to tap into the wires just like you used to do on older vehicles, the bulb on the trailer would be lit all the time (I guess) and from what I've heard you might damage the electronics of the vehicle you've tapped into.
There you have it, the "world according to Gus".
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Gus
The opinions in this post are my own. My comments are directed to those that might like an alternative approach to those already espoused.There is the right way,the wrong way,the USMC way, your way, my way, and the highway.
"I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it." Klaatu-"The Day the Earth Stood Still"
"You can't handle the truth!"-Jack Nicholson "A Few Good Men"
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. The Marines don't have that problem"-Ronald Reagan