2007 Dodge RAM electrical short - truck is off

[JCarden]

My 2007 Dodge RAM truck has right side running lights on while truck is turned off. I think there is a short in my 7 pin trailer plug. When I measure voltage on the trailer pin for running lights while truck is off I get 11.25 Volts. When I measure the trailer pin for constant battery voltage while truck is off I get 12.5 volts. Not sure if this is normal or not? Please advise. Thanks!

 

[Badger 13]

I'm not sure about the voltage, but I would pull apart the 7 pin connection on the backside of the bumper and test it there. Those have been know to get corroded, and cause issues.

 

[JCarden]

Thx Badger. Are there any good how too videos showing how to take apart these connectors. Also it appears to be a temperature dependent short because when it’s a warm day the running lights do not stay on when truck is off. Praying I don’t have to replace TIPM….

 

[csuder99]

If the truck has the factory tow package wiring the right side parking light wiring is not present there. Next time the problem happens pull fuse 16 in the TIPM and if the lights go out then unfortunately it's the TIPM.
If the wiring was put in later it could be the trailer running lights are just tapped into the right side parking/running lights. In that case the 7pin deserves a close look.

 

[JCarden]

I pulled the right side parking light fuse and lights went off momentarily and then came back on again while key was not in ignition. Then put that fuse back in and pulled the trailer plug fuse and the right side running lights went off and stayed off which tells me I have a short across the 7 pin connector constant battery power pin and the parking light pin on this trailer connector. Also, when measuring these two trailer pins with the trailer fuse put back in I am measuring voltage on both pins when the truck is off so that confirms the right side parking lights are getting battery power from the short across those 2 pins.