Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-01-2004, 07:38 PM   #1
Herritt
 
Herritt's Avatar
 
1973 25' Tradewind
Victoria , BC
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 28
Images: 23
Unhappy brake/turn lights

Its seems I just lost my brake and turn sigal lights. All the marker lights at the top front and back work. Last year I was told my lights were very dim.

I know where the access panel for the harness plug is. ( on the inside under the fwd dinnete table.

Do any know where the wires run back to the tail lights. I have did a little reading on the fourm. Someone said it was in the belly pan. At the moment I have the last three feet of the belly pan down and no wiring to be seen.

Does anyone know where the wiring harness run on the '73 Trade wind. 25' ?

I have the service manual with the wiring dirgram but it doesn't give where the wiring run.


Herritt
Herritt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2004, 07:49 PM   #2
Retired Moderator
 
john hd's Avatar
 
1992 29' Excella
madison , Wisconsin
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,644
Images: 40
sockets?

before you tear into your wiring harness, take a look at the sockets in your tail lights.

you should confirm that you have voltage there first.

john
__________________
you call them ferrets, i call them weasels.
john hd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2004, 07:56 PM   #3
Herritt
 
Herritt's Avatar
 
1973 25' Tradewind
Victoria , BC
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 28
Images: 23
I will take these lights out and meter the sockets. I had them out last year because of the dim lights. I think there there was something weird at that time with the voltage. It seems as if the brake/turn light was getting it power on the marker segment of the light unit. Its one of there sealed light units with three pin concector. Should there be any resistance between the marker wire and the brake/turn wire or should it read open?
Herritt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2004, 09:20 PM   #4
Moderator Emeritus
 
overlander64's Avatar
 
1964 26' Overlander
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Anna , Illinois
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,708
Images: 194
Send a message via Yahoo to overlander64
brake/turn lights

Greetings Herritt!

Have you tried cleaning/replacing the connector sockets on your coach's umbilical cord? When I had problems with no brakes the problem was with corrossion on the terminals in the connectors - - new connectors on both the tow vehicle and trailer end cured the problem - - it was amazing the amount of corrossion that was present on both ends - - this was after less than six years after the previous replacement of the connectors.

Kevin
__________________
Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC #7864
AIR #827
1964 Overlander International
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
overlander64 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2004, 11:38 PM   #5
Herritt
 
Herritt's Avatar
 
1973 25' Tradewind
Victoria , BC
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 28
Images: 23
Thanks for the input, My first step will to clean all the contacts on both ends of the umbilical cord. The 7way connector on the truck and on the airstream. After that will be the check for voltage at the lights them self if that doesn't solve the problem. I will keep you posted on my progress.
Herritt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2004, 06:49 AM   #6
Rivet Master
 
TomW's Avatar
 
1967 26' Overlander
Huntsville , Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,018
Images: 4
Bad ground

Quote:
Originally posted by Herritt
I think there there was something weird at that time with the voltage. It seems as if the brake/turn light was getting it power on the marker segment of the light unit. Its one of there sealed light units with three pin concector. Should there be any resistance between the marker wire and the brake/turn wire or should it read open?
Hmm, sounds suspiciously like a bad ground. Most likely, the big ground between your Airstream (A/S), and the tow vehicle (T/V).

Your dual-element bulbs, i.e. the combination stop/turn/tail light bulbs, share a common ground. If the ground between the T/V & A/S is bad, and you turn on the taillights, the power goes through the higher resistance tail light filament first. With no ground (return path), it then proceeds through the stop light filament. Still in search of a ground, the power will back-track up the brake/turn signal wire until it finds the brakelights in the T/V. It will then pass through that filament, and finally find ground.

Since the brake/turn signal filament has less resistance than the tail light filament, you will probably see it glow even though you only turned on the tail lights.

But with so many resistances in the way, everything will be dim.

While I can't express things as well as my hero, markdoane, please feel to ask questions. Although, to me, it is fun to understand exactly what is wrong, you may find it easier to just thoroughly examine your ground connections. Start with the 7-pin connector - don't depend on the ground being established by the hitch.

Hope this helps,
Tom
TomW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2004, 05:55 PM   #7
1 Rivet Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 17
Unhappy

Back up lights would burn all the time if bulbs were not removed on my '76 overlander. Everything else normal. Help
rockcutter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2004, 06:10 PM   #8
Rivet Master
 
TomW's Avatar
 
1967 26' Overlander
Huntsville , Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,018
Images: 4
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockcutter
Back up lights would burn all the time if bulbs were not removed on my '76 overlander. Everything else normal. Help
I would start by seeing how your tow vehicle is wired. The seven pin wiring was not standardized years ago. In fact, I do not know if it is considered standardized today.

Off hand, it sounds like your backup lights are wired to the "charge line" from the tow vehicle. Sounds like you need to plan an hour or two with a volt-ohm-meter or test light & hopefully an assistant, and verify the trailer wiring is compatible with the tow vehicle.

Please reply or PM if you would like help in starting this task.

Tom
TomW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2004, 07:05 PM   #9
1 Rivet Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 17
backup lights

Thanks for reply. Mabey tackle this problem again next fall.
rockcutter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2004, 08:40 PM   #10
Moderator Emeritus
 
overlander64's Avatar
 
1964 26' Overlander
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Anna , Illinois
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,708
Images: 194
Send a message via Yahoo to overlander64
brake/turn lights

Greetings rockcutter!

Welcome to the Forums and the world of Vintage Airstream ownership!

Quote:
Back up lights would burn all the time if bulbs were not removed on my '76 overlander. Everything else normal. Help
This is very typical of a situation where you have a modern tow vehicle wired to the current standard and an Airstream or Argosy wired to the Airstream standard of the 1970s. I experienced similar difficulties with both my '64 Overlander and my '78 Minuet (in fact my Minuet paralleled yours).

You can find the current standart that your tow vehicle is likely wired to at:

Bargman Plug - Modern Wiring Standard

The standard that your 1976 Overlander was wired to can be found at:

1966-1981 Airstream Bargman Plug Wiring Standard

In what is likely your current circumstance (this was true with my Minuet), you have constant on backup lights but absolutely no charging of the coach's battery while underway; and I also suspect that the trailer brakes may not be matched up between the two plugs.

When I towed my Minuet for the first time, I had to install a new Bargman plug and wired it to the modern standard using the functions denoted in the modern wiring diagram cited above matching the function of the Airstream wires (colors do not necessarily match modern color coding) to the terminal applications on the modern wiring diagram (used a 12-volt garden tractor battery with alligator clips to test the function of each of the Airstream wires). It was a rather simple job that would have taken less than an hour had it not been early August with 90+ temperatures and 90%+ humidity.

Good luck with your umbilical wiring!

Kevin
__________________
Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC #7864
AIR #827
1964 Overlander International
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
overlander64 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2004, 07:49 PM   #11
1 Rivet Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 17
Thumbs up

Thanks Keven for valuable info. Copyed all wireing info & will work on this problem next winter. Until then, I must get there before dark. :
rockcutter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2004, 08:12 PM   #12
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
 
Inland RV Center, In's Avatar
 
Corona , California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
Images: 1
Twelve volt and 120 volt wiring, since 1969, is contained in the "multi-dome," which is the center ceiling panel.

It is easily removed.

However, most all wiring problems, especially 12 volts, are at the sockets or terminals.

Going into the "multi-dome" should be saved for a "last resort."

Andy
__________________
Andy Rogozinski
Inland RV Center
Corona, CA
Inland RV Center, In is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.