Electrical issues with clearance lights

[1987_345]

I noticed on our last trip that the dash guage lights came on as soon as I turned on the ignition. Upon much looking around I've am left with the following dilemma. There is a relay in the glove compartment fuse block marked "ACC LPS". If it is plugged in, the dash guage lights come on when the key gets turned. If I pull out the relay, problem solved except, that when I then pull out the headlight switch everything works like it should except the upper clearance lights on the exterior of the coach don't come on. The lower tail lights and parking lights work fine. I had considered that if the relay in question supplied power to the upper clearance lights only I might be able to bypass the fuse block and wire them in directly to the tail light circuit. WHen I put the tester on the fuse block prongs to determine what was load and what was power I found that one side became energized when I pulled out the head light switch, but the other side became energised when the ignition was turned on!! Any ideas?

[1987_345]

Is there anybody out there that can tell me if it is normal that the exterior clearance lights and dash guage lights come on when the ignition is turned on?

[DKB_SATX]

It sounds like a normal setup for a relay... you have line power, trigger power and output. Line power (ignition) would be on whenever the key is on, and the trigger (turning on the headlights) should close the relay to send power to the "accessory lamps." If that's the way it's wired, though, you wouldn't have clearance lights when you turn on the headlights unless the key's on. I don't know if that's "right" or not.

Does the relay work properly when tested? Or is it passing line power to output all the time because it's stuck closed?

[1987_345]

I'm not sure. How would I test it?

[345bill]

Originally Posted by 1987_345

Is there anybody out there that can tell me if it is normal that the exterior clearance lights and dash guage lights come on when the ignition is turned on?

It wouldn't be normal on my 1990 345. My clearance & dash lights only come on when I pull the headlight switch on, regardless of what position the ignition switch is in.

Have your lights always worked that way? If not maybe your headlight switch is shorting internally. If you haven't already try unplugging your headlight switch then turn key on and see what that does. Wont cost ya anything to find out, though it's not the easiest thing to get too.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by 1987_345

I'm not sure. How would I test it?

Auto Repair & Mechanics : How to Test a Car Relay - YouTube

[John H.]

turn the ignition key on. then turn the light knob switch clockwise, and counterclockwise.

see if that makes a difference.

do you have a clearance Light , blinker switch on the dash ? does it work. ?

[1987_345]

Yes when I turn the light knob back and forth it does make a difference in the intensity of the dash lights but has no effect on the clearance lights. Yes Sir I do have the clearance ICC Blink. Also as I'm checking it tonight I can't make the clearance lights come on no matter what I do. Should be easier to trace this way anyhow.. Thank-you John for your reply. I'll post my findings.

[1987_345]

HOT DIGGITY!! When tracing the clearance lights, I found that where the factory spliced in to the headlight circuit, they used one of those squeeze type crimp splicers and it had become loose and unreliable. I correct that and everything works fine. I have no idea how that effected the ignition switch turning on the dash lights. But anyhow everything works and by the way, the large fuse I had spoken about earlier is now left out. Go figure

[345bill]

No doubt it gets confusing when electrical circuits 'bleed' and affect other circuits, be it a bad connection or even bad grounds. Glad to hear you corrected this one.

[ScrapIrony-2]

Electric on a 345 is a frequent, yet often, simple problem...a voltmeter should be a basic piece of the tool arsenal...get a good one, don't forget to turn it off(), and keep it handy...I also carry a small ac charger I can plug into the gen circuit, which has to be started by the glove box kick switch or a manual jumper cable...this allows me to start the engine to charge the chassis battery...amazing what you can teach yourself on the side of the road in a driving rain!!!m

[1987_345]

I know that's right!! Thank-you so much for your posts. I also have a complete owners manual and original sales brochure if you guys would like a copy...

[John H.]

Originally Posted by 1987_345

HOT DIGGITY!! When tracing the clearance lights, I found that where the factory spliced in to the headlight circuit, they used one of those squeeze type crimp splicers and it had become loose and unreliable. I correct that and everything works fine. I have no idea how that effected the ignition switch turning on the dash lights. But anyhow everything works and by the way, the large fuse I had spoken about earlier is now left out. Go figure

Great news 1987

so where does it splice in at ?
thank you
John

[1987_345]

Sorry John, I posted to the email and it didn't go through. If you lay on the drivers floorboard and reach up with your arm to find the ICC blink switch, you can feel the two wires that connect to it. Ine of them goes to the upper clearance lights and the other drops down toward you and splices into the headlight circuit. Good Luck