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Old 08-06-2010, 06:32 AM   #1
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Weird lights

I have a 1975 Argosy 20 footer that I am currently in the process of refurbishing. When hooked to the tow vehicle, none of the running lights work. Yesterday, my buddy and I were inside repalacing some water lines.
We had hooked up to shore power so we could run a fan. The Univolt was running and charging the junk battery that is currently in the trailer. Last night I went out to unplug the shore power and ALL of my running lights are on! I am not hooked to the truck either. I unplugged the shore power and the lights stayed on until the battery went dead. I am baffled as to where these two systems might cross. I don't have any schematics to work off of. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
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Old 08-06-2010, 09:13 AM   #2
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One thing that is important is the ground. if there is a poor ground the power will look for a path for ground. it will go thruogh lights and any thing that is in the same system and find a path to ground. I've seen stranger things happen in the 20 years that I worked in an automotive electrical shop. Clean every ground connection that you can find and you will probably get your clearance lights working
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Old 08-06-2010, 10:57 AM   #3
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Open the trailer plug in for the truck and see if there is anything corroded or connecting the top terminals as the lights and power are beside each other. Any connection will put the lights on till the battery goes dead.
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Old 08-07-2010, 07:42 AM   #4
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ground wire

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shacksman View Post
Open the trailer plug in for the truck and see if there is anything corroded or connecting the top terminals as the lights and power are beside each other. Any connection will put the lights on till the battery goes dead.
I saw this very thing one time. There was corrosion on the ground in the plug and was corroded to the point that it in two. The running and STT lights stayed on.

Where ever your problem, it does sound like a bad ground.
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Old 08-07-2010, 08:38 AM   #5
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My running light problem was different. Mine are fed off a green wire at the 7 way plug and testing with a multi-meter showed a dead short. I replaced all the marker light fixtures and installed new bulbs in all the rear lights and it all worked. My 7 way plug was messed up by the PO and my break away switch was there but bypassed. I just re-wired everything at the 7 way entrance and now it all works. I did order a AS service manual when I first bought the trailer. Best $60 I spent so far.

The 7-way tester is the best $25 I've spent so far.

Gary
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Old 08-12-2010, 08:11 PM   #6
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Thanks for all the input. Today I finally got back to the trailer. First thing I did was change the 7-way connector. After changing that out I hooked the cord to the truck and voila!! the running lights worked. Hooked to shore power and all is as it should be.

Thanks again,
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