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tde318 · 10-07-2008, 05:54 PM

Ordered 7 new running lights, installed them all nicely... Vulkem in the holes, etc. Black to black, crimped the whites with a spade connector to the other terminal, hooked up to the TV and nothing.

Any ideas out there (before I have to ask my wife where I put the voltmeter)?

Thanks,

Todd

Diesel1 · 10-07-2008, 06:00 PM

Are they LEDs? If so the polerity may be reversed.

Excella CM · 10-07-2008, 06:36 PM

Did they work before? Running lights use the trailer skin for ground return. The light fixture must ground to the skin.

Lumatic · 10-07-2008, 06:44 PM

Start with stupid. In my case that is usually the problem. Like, you sure the TV connection is hot? Then umbilical, 7 way and down the line from there. If all the lights are out the problem should be close to the source of power. If you had a wiring problem downstream of the 7 way more likely only some of the running lights would be out. Of course, t could also be Mickey and his friends.

tde318 · 10-07-2008, 06:49 PM

Not LEDs, they were original.

They worked fine before. They each had a black and white wire coming from inside the trailer, nothing was visibly grounded to the skin. Therefore, I connected them black to black, white to the other side of the new light terminal, exactly how they were before. Should I try to go black to black, white to the set screws?

Thanks for the replies.

tde318 · 10-07-2008, 06:51 PM

The brake lights and turn signals are working.

Lumatic · 10-07-2008, 06:59 PM

A wiring diagram would help. Maybe some one reading this can send it to you. Black is hot White is ground. The skin should also be grounded. Check with a test light or use one of the marker lights black to black, white to trailer skin. Still no luck? Time to find the meter.

tde318 · 10-07-2008, 07:08 PM

I'm looking for it now, thanks for the help.

This place is great.

HowieE · 10-07-2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tde318

Not LEDs, they were original.
Should I try to go black to black, white to the set screws?

If they are ordinary lights the polarity will not have any effect so there is no reason to change the wiring.

As noted above start at the source, the TV connection, and proof each leg of the wiring.

There may be a fuse in the marker light circuit of the trailer that failed.

Mexray · 10-07-2008, 07:22 PM

...Hate to be obvious, but have you checked the fuse for the Tail/Marker light circuit...you mentioned that the Brake lights and Turn Signals were working, but no mention of the Tail lights- if they're not working, you have something 'shorted' to ground, most likely.

I've got the same problem after replacing all the marker lights with LED units - I've got a short to ground somewhere, but haven't found it yet...I also installed three new Fantastic Fans at the same time, so I might have my 'short' up in the roof somewhere...

All my markers also worked before I started...I wish I'd checked each light as I progressed, so if I made a 'short' I'd been able to fix it and move on...hindsight is great...but I'm still looking for mine, and all those new markers are also sealed up on ours!!! I just wonder if I pulled a 'hot' wire loose inside the skin while rewiring...if so it's going to be hard to find...till then, I'm only traveling during daylight!!!

Please post back here if you find the problem before I do, I'll do likewise...thanks.

bibbs · 10-07-2008, 07:32 PM

Is there a fuse in your TV for the running/tail lights? If it blew,theres a good chance one of the wires got pinched,and shohted it out.You might need to check some of the lights

Bibbs

bibbs · 10-07-2008, 07:38 PM

Oh yeah----are the bulbs good? try to wiggle them with the power on.

Bibbs

CanoeStream · 10-07-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mexray

...have you checked the fuse for the Tail/Marker light circuit...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bibbs

Is there a fuse in your TV for the running/tail lights?

I'll pursue this line of thought. I had the umbilical on my Argosy plugged into my truck. Decided I'd leave the truck lights on while changing out the dead bulbs. Blew a truck fuse first time. A call to the dealer put me in touch with one of their mechanics and his computer manual. From 800 miles away he steered me to three fuses and it worked out fairly easy. Your results may vary...

hampstead38 · 10-07-2008, 07:52 PM

The good news... if they were working before then you probably have power to the fixture. I have to replace all of my lights, but I've already found some wiring issues at the junction between the whip and the trailer wiring harness. On the positive side, all of the wiring will be replaced eventually. On the negative side... eventually seems like a long time some days.

63Silver · 10-07-2008, 08:48 PM

I had the same problem when replacing some bulbs, turned out to be a fuse on the TV. I had to pull each fuse until I found the one that was blown. I would not suggest having the trailer plugged in until finished with each light or until you are totally finished, less likely to blow the fuse.

63silver

overlander63 · 10-07-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bibbs

Oh yeah----are the bulbs good? try to wiggle them with the power on.

Bibbs

Even more obvious: Are there even bulbs in the new fixtures?
I'm pretty sure you would have noticed empty holes where bulbs should go, but you never know...

Lumatic · 10-07-2008, 09:56 PM

Some TVs have a separate electrical tow circuit for the lights on a trailer so having the tailights work on the TV does not necessarily mean you got juice to the trailer.

tde318 · 10-08-2008, 07:28 AM

Thanks again for all the ideas.

"CanoeStream", your 3 blown fuses where in the truck I assume, right?

Below should be a picture of the new light. The black lead was factory installed, it goes behind the light to the black out of the trailer. The white was put there by me, just like the originals. My thought was to disconnect the white and wrap it around the screws that hold the light to the trailer.

But I don't want to do that 7 times just yet. As suggested, I'll start with the TV and work my way back.

HowieE · 10-08-2008, 07:38 AM

Test the socket on the TV with a volt meter while the parking lights are on. If there was a blown fuse in the TV that happened since you installed the new lights on the trailer I would look for a short in your work on the trailer.

Some marker light fixtures do not have a clearance for the wiring in the back of the fixture. That and the fact that Airstream does not place the wire hole on center to the fixture can result in a pinched wire and thus a short when tightening down on the fixture.

To test for a short in the trailer wiring. Make up a wire with a 15 amp fuse in it long enough to get from the trailer battery to the umbilical. Put the wire on the trailer battery positive post and touch the marker light terminal in the umbilical. If the fuse blows you have a short in the marker light circuit.

If you find a short I would remove the fixtures one by one looking for a contact between a wire and the trailer body at the point of entry.

tde318 · 10-08-2008, 08:02 AM

Most excellent. Thanks for the step-by-step HowieE, very helpful.

As far as sealing, I was planning in applying Parabond to the top and sides covering the weep holes. Does that sound about right?

Thanks again.

Todd