Lighting problem

[RHugg01]

I couldn't find another thread related to this so here goes. I purchased a set of flood lights form Quadratech to mount on my aftermarket bumper on my 2021 Gladiator. Since the wiring harness was included and was basically "plug and play" I installed it myself. The install went OK but the lights would not turn on. I checked every connection and fuse but no go. There is a small led on the switch that comes on when the switch is flipped to "on" but that is all.
Since the install took about 2 1/2 hours, manly due to the time to route the wiring under the hood and having to remove a lot of the center console. The unit for the ignition and window controls to get at the 12 volt outlet panel which also had to be removed and reinstall all of that. I figure at least 2 hours to uninstall everything now that I know how to do it. So, I really don't want to have to uninstall and return all this but I have not yet heard back from Quadratech on a solution.
Anyone know what I might check to solve this and turn on the lights?

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[sharpsicle]

When the switch is on, are you getting 12v at the lights themselves? If so, could be a problem with the lights. If not, I'd wonder if there's a break in the wiring somewhere.

Another easy thing to do would be to remove the lights and bench test them. Supply them directly with 12v power and ensure they turn on. That will eliminate them from the equation.

Then it's just a matter of getting the power to them, so you'll want to work your way back up the wire harness to see if there's a break or bad connection. Testing for 12v along the way. You can start at either end, but if I'm confident in the install I usually start at the accessory (light) side of the harness and work my way back to the source. Eventually you'll find the issue. If you're not confident of the install, I'd probably do the opposite and start where you connected the wiring to your source voltage and make sure it's all hooked up right as you go.

It's really just a matter of methodically ruling out things and stretches of wire until you find the problem. No magic trick unfortunately, just going over everything and verifying it bit by bit.

 

[Hootbro]

Do you understand electrical and basic DC theory? You are going to need a multimeter and understand were the power is not getting to the lights.

Could be wiring mistake, bad grounding, relay, switch or even a bad contact connection.

If electrical is not your thing, need to find somebody local to you that understand it and can help.

 

[RHugg01]

When the switch is on, are you getting 12v at the lights themselves? If so, could be a problem with the lights. If not, I'd wonder if there's a break in the wiring somewhere.

Another easy thing to do would be to remove the lights and bench test them. Supply them directly with 12v power and ensure they turn on. That will eliminate them from the equation.

Then it's just a matter of getting the power to them, so you'll want to work your way back up the wire harness to see if there's a break or bad connection. Testing for 12v along the way. You can start at either end, but if I'm confident in the install I usually start at the accessory (light) side of the harness and work my way back to the source. Eventually you'll find the issue. If you're not confident of the install, I'd probably do the opposite and start where you connected the wiring to your source voltage and make sure it's all hooked up right as you go.

It's really just a matter of methodically ruling out things and stretches of wire until you find the problem. No magic trick unfortunately, just going over everything and verifying it bit by bit.

The problem is I am not an electrician. I am pretty sure the lights themselves are OK as the chances of two lights being bad are slim. Also said testing you suggest would probably take quite a bit longer than just uninstalling it. I am also limited in my electrical knowledge to direct voltage testing and maybe splicing some wires. I am aware that I would be facing another install later but I would rather do that than find out it was a bad spot in the harness and be stuck doing it anyway. I guess I was wishfully thinking there might be another way.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Grab a battery from a drill, connect with scrap wires, and see if they turn on.

 

[RHugg01]

Grab a battery from a drill, connect with scrap wires, and see if they turn on.

OK I try that. Thanks

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Please ensure you review this a couple times- then, once you confirm all connections are ran exactly how the diagram shows- connect power…. Key note- ensure lights are grounded relatively close to the lights, and not ran back to to negative terminal or anything else crazy….

also!!! Diagram shows 15-20 amp fuse….. if these are LED lights they probably only use 2 amps, potentially less! Use the manufacturer’s recommended fuse size….

 

[RHugg01]

Please ensure you review this a couple times- then, once you confirm all connections are ran exactly how the diagram shows- connect power…. Key note- ensure lights are grounded relatively close to the lights, and not ran back to to negative terminal or anything else crazy….

also!!! Diagram shows 15-20 amp fuse….. if these are LED lights they probably only use 2 amps, potentially less! Use the manufacturer’s recommended fuse size….

Aside from the numbers on the relay wires ( which I have no idea what they mean) this is how the lights are wired. It has a 30 amp fuse on mine. The entire harness came pre wired as one larger unit with a small jump connection for the switch and just required connecting the positive and negative at the battery and unplugging the connectors to the 12 volt outlet inside the vehicle and plugging in a part of this harness so the switch could be connected which also has a fuse (5 amp). The harness plugged into connectors on the lights. Every connection was connector plugs which snapped together so no chance of not plugging in far enough, except the switch which has 3 wires, a "trigger wire and positive and negative with all clearly indicated each with their own slide on connectors.

 

[Caspien]

Iirc, the Quadratec lights come with the wiring harness, yeah?

Shorter plugs on the lights, that have a waterproof terminator?


If so, you may want to check those plugs on the ends... Reseat them, realizing the ridged areas actually push all the way into the plugs. I remember someone on one of the forums discovered that, a few years ago, there was an issue pushing the connectors in, and they had to REALLY push theirs in hard, to get it to seat properly.



~ Casp

 

[RHugg01]

Iirc, the Quadratec lights come with the wiring harness, yeah?

Shorter plugs on the lights, that have a waterproof terminator?


If so, you may want to check those plugs on the ends... Reseat them, realizing the ridged areas actually push all the way into the plugs. I remember someone on one of the forums discovered that, a few years ago, there was an issue pushing the connectors in, and they had to REALLY push theirs in hard, to get it to seat properly.



~ Casp

Yes they are waterproof connectors and they had to be pushed all the way in as they snapped in when seated.

 

[RHugg01]

one additional note: the type of connector was called a "Deutsch connector"

 

[RHugg01]

I couldn't find another thread related to this so here goes. I purchased a set of flood lights form Quadratech to mount on my aftermarket bumper on my 2021 Gladiator. Since the wiring harness was included and was basically "plug and play" I installed it myself. The install went OK but the lights would not turn on. I checked every connection and fuse but no go. There is a small led on the switch that comes on when the switch is flipped to "on" but that is all.
Since the install took about 2 1/2 hours, manly due to the time to route the wiring under the hood and having to remove a lot of the center console. The unit for the ignition and window controls to get at the 12 volt outlet panel which also had to be removed and reinstall all of that. I figure at least 2 hours to uninstall everything now that I know how to do it. So, I really don't want to have to uninstall and return all this but I have not yet heard back from Quadratech on a solution.
Anyone know what I might check to solve this and turn on the lights?

Well now I feel like an idiot. I went out to check things one last time and probably uninstall the lights and wiring harness and as part of it I had to unmount the relay where I had attached it to an available bolt on the firewall. That spot was fairly cramped and so, although I had checked the connector for the wires going into the relay I did not see what was happening to the wires themselves at the top as I could not check them without taking the whole thing down. It turns out that two wires were loose, including the positive connection. The fix was easy then. I just pushed the wires back onto the connections and PRESTO, LET THERE BE LIGHTS.
Thanks everyone for their suggestions and getting me to check one last time.

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