Exterior light testing/repair

[keithgregg]

Well it's spring time and I'm trying to get my Airstream Safari roadworthy.
I am having some issues with exterior lighting and I would appreciate some advice.

I am testing using a 12v battery to my 7 pin connector.

So far I can't get:
- reverse lights working (Ground and center pin)
- right turn signal/running light working (ground and left pin)
- yellow marker lights on top front sides working (are these running lights or turn signals or what?)

I am low budget so I can't really afford to throw parts at it without knowing exactly what is wrong first. Any advice that I can get is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[HowieE]

looking at the face of the umbilical cord plug the pins are as follows. One o'clock is marker lights , three o'clock is left turn signal, five o'clock is ground, seven o'clock is trailer brakes, nine o'clock is right turn signal, and eleven o'clock is trailer battery.

You can take a jumper wire from the trailer battery, pin at eleven o'clock and jump it to each function as a test. DO NOT place the jumper between the eleven o'clock pin (battery( and the five o'clock pin (ground). That will melt the wire faster than you can drop it.

[keithgregg]

Thanks Howie.
I should have mentioned that I have already located a 7 pin wiring diagram and I am testing the circuits.

I appreciate the tip on the not shorting out the battery. I didn't think of that.
I don't have a battery installed right now because it has been sitting all winter but that will come in handy in the future.

I managed to get the reverse lights working with a little cleaning of the center pin. I should probably get a new 7 pin cord soon.

I also managed to test out the circuits to the right tail light and both running and brakes work fine. The culprit is a rusty spring loaded socket that is causing a bad connection. Both sides are pretty bad and won't press in or spring back up. I sprayed in some PB Blaster and I'm hoping they will free up soon.

I also noticed that my brake light bulbs are different. I have a 2057 in one side and an 1157 in the other. I know the difference but what is correct for a 1970 Safari?

I still haven't figured out the yellow side markers though. I can't get them to light up my test light no matter what. Does anybody know if they light up with the running lights?

[HowieE]

The parking lights at the rear and the marker lights are all on the same circuit. If some light and others don't you will have to test each fixture. Test feed to trailer body and it that works the socket is most likely bad.

This will answer the 1157 question.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/...-bulbs.216241/

[keithgregg]

Ah that helps a lot.
I think I will go with the 1157s for the extra running light brightness.

Thanks for correcting my terminology. So the red lights on the side at the rear are parking lights and the yellow lights on the side at the front are marker lights.
It's weird that both markers are down. I will have to do some more testing to see if I can figure out the issue.

Thanks again!

[HowieE]

1157 are 2 filament bulbs and will not work in the marker light fixtures.

[keithgregg]

Lmao! I am aware of that. It's not even remotely the same socket or bulb.
I was referring to the brake/tail lights and the link you sent me to the discussion on tacomaworld.com.

Thanks again.

[keithgregg]

Well I have replaced the two amber side marker lights.
It was a quick bike ride to the local trailer supply store to get the parts.
Then I drilled new holes for the power wire to poke through.
Backed them with some butyl tape I had lying around and screwed them in.
They work perfect and they are bright and shiny.
Cost me less than $15
Thanks for the help HowieE!

Now I'm hoping that I don't have to shell out for new taillights.
PB Blaster don't fail me now!