Roof marker light quandry.

[Mike Leary]

Everything else works fine, except the center front. I'm getting this reading after replacing the bulbs. Don't pile on, the probe color on the ground is red because I don't have a black ground probe. Do I have a ground problem in the housing?

[jm2]

Mike, the problem is definitely that red probe....

what do you read when you swap your test leads?

seriously now, how do your voltage readings across the battery, and from + battery to ground compare with your readings at the marker lite? are they in the range of 13.2?

given that everything else works fine except the center front, test with the new bulbs out. if your voltage reading is OK, then there's a bad bulb.

if the voltage between the + lamp supply and the housing ground is that low, that looks like a bad ground,

however, if the voltage between the + lamp supply and another good ground anywhere else on the vehicle is that low, then I'd suspect that you have a bad connection on the supply side.

best,

[Minno]

Test a working light too, so you have a known good value for comparison.

Chris

[Mike Leary]

Thanks for the great suggestions, will clean all the fittings and test again. Would not even attempt this without the use of my orchard ladder, as it's the hardest place to reach on the coach. Wish I could travel with it without looking like some rig out of "The Grapes of Wrath."

[DaveFL]

Thanks for the picture of the orchard ladder, give me an idea on how to fix my ladder problem at home. I have a 10ft stepladder but in front of MH it is not stable to sterech from upper rungs to marker lights, mounting hinged diagonal or wide foot supports should do it.

[ScrapIrony-2]

I bit the bullet and paid about $200 for a telescoping ladder...$2.50 for a 'noodle' from wallyworld as a cushion for the ladder contact...it has served me well...old carpet and plywood allow me to work the top without my dainty figure dimpling the skin...m

[cmadmaxman]

Trying to keep all the bulbs working is why I put LED's on ours. One of the problems that we have on these, the steel screws and Vulcum sealer will keep you from a good ground. The light unit is grounded to the housing, and the housing needs to get ground from the skin. I replaced all the rusty steel screws with Stainless Steel and took all the housings off and re-sealed. With the LED's, problems gone!
With all that being said, my best guess would be you have a ground problem.

[crazeevw]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

Thanks for the great suggestions, will clean all the fittings and test again. Would not even attempt this without the use of my orchard ladder, as it's the hardest place to reach on the coach. Wish I could travel with it without looking like some rig out of "The Grapes of Wrath."

Mike,
Where in the world do you store your orchard ladder going down the road? I've about decided one of the telescoping ladders is the way to go, but now you've made me re-think....
Thanks, Derek

[ScrapIrony-2]

Originally Posted by crazeevw

Mike,
Where in the world do you store your orchard ladder going down the road? I've about decided one of the telescoping ladders is the way to go, but now you've made me re-think....
Thanks, Derek

I really think the telescoping ladder is a BIG plus...kinda pricey($200?), but I have had mine for about 4 years, and while it's a hassle to move front(nights) to back(days), it has been an invaluable tool for me(and others)...a foam 'noodle', cut and split, will provide the scratch protection, and the storage becomes mostly a pick-it-up-put-it-down problem for some of the older folks. Weighs about 40-45 pounds, and the most damage you can do to yourself is collapsing it on your fingers, straining your back, or falling off...all of these are avoidable with simple exercises in basic intelligence...if you need instructions, I have learned them all...sometimes twice...ok...ok...ALL of them at least twice...still, unless you have a roof rack and stairwell, the telescope is a serious consideration. I have had two short step stools for windshield cleaning...I'm not going to run over a third one...
BTW, noodles are really handy in many ways...cut and split them for your windshield wipers while parked for awhile...cut and split for the awning bars so you only get a bump, not a gash...decorate your awning tie downs and avoid those embarassing 'rope' burns...useful, cheap, and user-friendly...m

[Keyair]

Getting to that area over the windshield is tricky, and safety is important!


I have a folding telescoping ladder... this one...


Here is what I was doing...
And, I forgot to take a pic!
I unfolded it and extended it to the max... I put two thick movers blankets down... One on the header triple folded and one on the windshield under the ladder, and laid the ladder to follow the front slope of the screen... Nothing was touching the glass!
Then I wrapped a rope around the a lower rung and around the two front overiders, so the ladder could not slide out!
Hope that makes sense...
BE SAFE!

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by crazeevw

Mike,
Where in the world do you store your orchard ladder going down the road? I've about decided one of the telescoping ladders is the way to go, but now you've made me re-think....
Thanks, Derek

We don't travel with the orchard; I don't mind the clearcoat starting to fail or the dents (I've done by myself), but I draw the line on tacky.

[PeterH-350LE]

its refreshing to see that Airstream did make improvement over the years like adding the ground wire, instead of relying on the chassis ground. Or was it just the different fixture in fashion that year...? Either way those were bad designs, completely melted and falling apart when touching them.
May as well replace all 5 in the rear now, there is no changing bulbs on this set-up

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by PeterH-87MH

its refreshing to see that Airstream did make improvement over the years like adding the ground wire, instead of relying on the chassis ground. Or was it just the different fixture in fashion that year...? Either way those were bad designs, completely melted and falling apart when touching them.
May as well replace all 5 in the rear now, there is no changing bulbs on this set-up

Yup, your pics show a REAL ground wire! Wow, what a concept.

[masseyfarm]

This won't work if you need it while on the road, but I have a 6 to 9' plank with the ladders at home base which comes in very handy for work on the front of the Clipper. For those Classic with the slope back windshield you probably need the 8 to 13' to get close to the front marker lights.


I carry a 12' collapsable ladder that my old wool work socks tie onto for finish protection.

Dave

[cmadmaxman]

Now put LED's on there and you will take care of a lot of problems!

[cmadmaxman]

These should bolt right up. Or use the Trail Blazer units that are at Wally World, TSC or Auto supply stores. Use Stainless screws when replacing them.
M12 series Truck Clearance Marker Lights

[Mike Leary]

I like it! Thanks. Read my new thread to see why the markers are way down on the list.

[ScrapIrony-2]

A telescoping ladder, a little extra weight, and carpet/plywood, and common sense will get you over the top spots...or you can pay, and pay...the ladder is cheaper, the carpet can come out of the dumpster, and plywood is usually a construction site away...I might sound cheap, here, but...oh yeah...I AM cheap...but I'm on the road, most of the time...what's your excuse for parking it...???

[shelocta]

One thing that I consider necessary equipment to have with me all the time is a piece of wire with alligator clips on both ends. That way you can always clip onto a known good ground. The other thing I always have with me is a small butane soldering iron, much like the size used to work on circuit boards and in a pinch, particularly when I'm headed towards the inspection station and find out I have a marker light out, I've been known to solder the bottom of a bulb to the 12 V supply. This is particularly helpful on those sockets where they have a rubber O-ring that provides tension. I'm not saying that this is the right way to do it that it keeps things together till I can afford a LED conversion. Good luck with your electrical gremlins.
Bill

[perryg114]

I used some of these and they work fine. You have to machine a groove for the wire with a dremel tool but they are fully encapsulated in epoxie so they are still water proof.

2 Double BullsEye Red LED 2" x 4" Trailer Marker Lights | eBay

They have them in orange as well.

Perry