Community Forums

Fostfreez · 01-26-2014, 04:53 PM

Today's problem while driving toad lights quit working. When we stopped I checked for power at the plug at the rear of the coach and there was none. Where's the best place to start looking for the problem on an Alpine Coach? They were working fine when I hooked up but somewhere along the way they all just quit. I use mag lights on the toad so I plugged them into the back of the toad and they work perfect. The wires the rear of the MH look great at the plug but when tested with test light I got nothing at any terminal.

Thanks,

John Foster

trackman · 01-26-2014, 05:15 PM

Check at the plug ends first for power. I believe your pigtail runs off chassis wiring.

gatorv · 01-26-2014, 06:23 PM

If nothing works then you most likely have a have a ground problem. Test with a different ground.

Old Scout · 01-26-2014, 06:29 PM

Model and year of your Alpine? Assume coach taillight are working? Newer coaches sometimes have after-market relays to boost amps to toad lights. Most Alpines also required signal light converters to change separate signal lights [amber] to combined red signal and stop lights on the toad--this module could also be a problem???????
PS--poor ground contact between coach and toad can also be an issue......

EngineerMike · 01-27-2014, 12:11 AM

If you have a 2004 or later Alpine, and are using the OEM 7 pin trailer plug, try shutting off your chassis disconnect switch, wait 30 seconds, turn it back on & retry the trailer plug. Key has to be ON iirc to get trailer plug signals, else you read ground at all pins (fuzzy recollection, don't sue me if its not true). The chassis switch cycling will reboot the Vansco VMM's in the battery compartment & @ front firewall that take brake/turn/running light signal inputs & output the trailer plug signal.

Old Scout · 01-27-2014, 08:33 AM

Curious--if coach tail lights are functioning but trailer plug is not, is it still a Vansco issue. I have heard the axiom for newer Alpines: "when in doubt, reset Vansco", but wasnt sure if the coach tail lights and the trailer plug were on separate [Vansco]runs?????

EngineerMike · 01-27-2014, 09:14 AM

Separate Vansco outputs to tail lights & to trailer plug.

EngineerMike · 01-27-2014, 03:32 PM

The Vansco outputs are mostly auto-resetting-breakered at 6A. So the taillight circuit plus the trailer lights could easily overwhelm just one output.
There are extra outputs on the rear Vansco, even after the trailer plug so it was an easy way to breaker it.

Algoma · 01-27-2014, 03:36 PM

Would be nice to get feedback on what year coach John has. It's not in the profile.

Fostfreez · 01-27-2014, 03:45 PM

Thanks for all of the responses. All of the coach tail lights do work. Today I retested my little test light at the battery then followed Mike's instructions regarding all power shut down for 30 sec. Plus. Then turned power back on turned ignition switch one click to the right, turned the headlights on and tested all 6 terminals (I have 6 point round plug) and got nothing. I then noticed for the first time that there is a 2"X4" module glued to the inside of the rear cap near the trailer plug that is wired out of and back into the wires that connect to the plug. The decal/label on it is mostly destroyed. The only words visable were "trailer green wire and yellow". Could this module be fried and causing the problem? Is it necessary for lights only? I am still on the road in Arizona after the DRR (unofficial) and would like to fix myself if possible without finding a shop. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
John Foster
'04 34' Alpine Coach

Algoma · 01-27-2014, 03:57 PM

OK, so I don't have a vansco but I do have that module. On mine it is wired between the 7 pin socket and a separate 6 pin socket. It is necessary to allow the separate turn and brake signals that the coach has to operate a combined brake and turn bulb that most US cars have. As Mike implied yours should have the 7 pin as standard and it seems someone has changed it to a 6 pin. You will need to get a meter on the input side of that module.

Old Scout · 01-28-2014, 07:44 AM

OK--guess you didnt read my input regarding the module--as a non-vansco owner, I am feeling a bit left out here......[smile]

Algoma · 01-28-2014, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Scout

OK--guess you didnt read my input regarding the module--as a non-vansco owner, I am feeling a bit left out here......[smile]

If Mike is correct there should not be a module on a vansco equipped coach as there are separate outputs for the socket and the coach lights. But he noted there is normally a 7 pin socket on these coaches but this coach has a 6 pin. I was just adding the info that I have both a 7 and a 6 pin on mine and I assumed someone had added that module to mine when they added the 6 pin socket. As you have the module and I assume the original 7 pin socket only I must be wrong about that. But I do agree with you that if all the pins on that socket are dead it is likely a bad ground on that module.

Fostfreez · 01-28-2014, 10:37 AM

Old Scout, I apologize for not recognizing the info you gave about the module in your response. Being someone that knows nothing about electrics it went right over my head. Is it possible to bypass the module? Is there a simple fix I could do to get lights for toad mag lights? Does the module need to be replaced? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

John Foster
'04 34' FDDS
'03 Jeep Liberty toad