Installing new LED marker lights on 1975 Argosy

[VintageFan]

I got new LED marker lights from VTS and connected them all with no problem but can not figure out where the ground goes. The cap that the front lights attach to is fiberglass so they won't be attaching to any metal. Anyone got any ideas? Thanks!

[VintageFan]

Me too. I found out that the end caps are fiberglass in our Argosy. Ours is a 1975 too. I got the new LEDs to work in the front because the PO had a ground hooked to a screw that holds the front window down. Can't ground to fiberglass. Now I can't get the back ones to work. The old ones worked so I am not sure what is going on.


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[Phoenix]

Just curious, didn't the old lighting fixtures have two wires running to them (positive & negative)? You should be able to reuse those wires.

If you are using LEDs, you may have them wired backwards (LEDs won't light, if you have the wires reversed). You might try reversing the wires...

Also, some older SOBs (Some Other Brand) trailers use the trailer ball as the ground return for running lights. Not sure if this applies to your Airstream. However, it wouldn't hurt to make sure that you have your hitch is hooked up, especially if your other running lights don't work either.

Alternately, you can temporarily hardwire a jumper wire from the frame of your tow vehicle to the tongue of your Airstream. For testing purposes, a battery jumper cable would work, or a short wire with alligator clips.

One last thing to check: Verify that the LED running lights that you are installing still work by applying 12 volts directly to the leads. In troubleshooting (and perhaps wiring them backwards), they may have been damaged and won't work anymore.

[VintageFan]

The new LEDs have one wire with the ground built into the screw. The front ones all work so it makes me think the ground or something for the back ones is the issue. I really don't want to remove the rear panel if I don't have to.

[VintageFan]

Ok mystery solved! There was one screw missing in the right rear light. Put that in, connected the wires and all the lights worked! Oh yeah, and that was after I reversed the middle three too. Their grounds were on the opposite side so the fixtures are upside down. I don't care, they work! Lol


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