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Mclark3617 · 03-13-2012, 04:02 PM

Have a 1996 Fleetwood Tioga Montera, 29 foot class C. I have three clearance lights out, from the outside there are only studs sticking though, the positive and negative post. My question is, is there an easy way to remove the inside panel to get to the wiring so I can fix this problem?

crazycanuck · 03-20-2012, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mclark3617

Have a 1996 Fleetwood Tioga Montera, 29 foot class C. I have three clearance lights out, from the outside there are only studs sticking though, the positive and negative post. My question is, is there an easy way to remove the inside panel to get to the wiring so I can fix this problem?

i had same problem on my 1988 pa. had to buy new ones and grind off studs (pop rivets)under lens cover. not to hard a job.

carl crazycanuck

lyledavid · 03-20-2012, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazycanuck

i had same problem on my 1988 pa. had to buy new ones and grind off studs (pop rivets)under lens cover. not to hard a job.

carl crazycanuck

McLark and Carl
Grinding the pop rivet heads may be the answer but if you look at the end of the rivet there is a hole where the shank came out to mushroom the rivet on the inside,
I use a battery powered drill and a 3/8 inch bit and slowly drill the rivet head. It being aluminum in most instance drills easily. The end of the pop rivet comes off in the form if a washer and the stem of the rivet can be pushed in releasing the riveted object.
lyledavid

Mclark3617 · 03-20-2012, 11:10 PM

Thanks guys but I'm not sure we are talking about the same thing, cause even if I grind or drill out the stud, I have no way of retrieving the wire inside, the stud I'm talking about is coming out of the RV roof. And the wiring is inside, between the roof and ceiling. The only way I can see to get to the wiring is cut up my ceiling panel. I don't want to do that, the other way is to cut around the stud so the hole is big enough to retrieve the wires.

Wanabee FTer · 03-20-2012, 11:18 PM

Can you post a picture of your clearance light?

crazycanuck · 03-22-2012, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mclark3617

Have a 1996 Fleetwood Tioga Montera, 29 foot class C. I have three clearance lights out, from the outside there are only studs sticking though, the positive and negative post. My question is, is there an easy way to remove the inside panel to get to the wiring so I can fix this problem?

your wires from inside mh should come up into lights , cut them leaving as much as possible still showing ,you will need to attach them to the wires on the new lens.
if for some reason wires have gone below into roof they won't have gone far so you may have to carefully enlarge hole so you can fish it back out to attach it to new base

Mclark3617 · 03-22-2012, 08:23 PM

Again. I know this is unusual. The wires are attached to the studs inside the roof, the only thing sticking threw the roof are the studs, the studs serve a dual purpose, they mount the lights to the roof and also provide the negative and positive connections. With the lights off the roof, all you will see are two studs sticking out from the roof, and when working properly you will measure 12 v from one stud and ground from the other.

KIX · 03-22-2012, 08:40 PM

Mclark, Just so you know........I understand what you're saying but I really don't know how to help you other than this. Do you have 12v going into the clearance lights harness? Are you sure the problem is at the studs, on the inside of the roof cap?

Mclark3617 · 03-23-2012, 01:01 AM

My plan was to grind some bare metal on the studs and measure the voltage, if I get no voltage then that's we're I'm stuck cause I can't get to the wires between the roof and the ceiling

crazycanuck · 03-23-2012, 06:30 AM

are you only removing the lens and not the base?if so you have to remove the base as well to expose wires from roof. I had to add a jumper wire to new bases to complete contacts.

KIX · 03-23-2012, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mclark3617

My plan was to grind some bare metal on the studs and measure the voltage, if I get no voltage then that's we're I'm stuck cause I can't get to the wires between the roof and the ceiling

I really doubt that grinding away some of the stud would make a significant impact on voltage readings. On the other had, there has to be a method of access inside the coach. I don't really know your coach but perhaps through the upper front cabinets? I'm assuming the problem is in the front??
Did you find the 12v feed wires that go up to the roof and determine there actually is power on those wires. I know you said only 3 were not working which means that 2 are working and the assumption would be that those two work off the same wire harness as the 3 that are not working but motorhomes are not wired logically.
By the way which 3 are the 3 that do not work?

Mclark3617 · 03-23-2012, 03:56 PM

YesI did remove the base and all to expose the studs.
Well now there is only one working it's the second one in from the drivers side
I am talking about the front lights, correct, and there are no cabinets in the way, just a ceiling panel.
I will take a picture this weekend, weather permitting to help show this.

KIX · 03-23-2012, 07:06 PM

While the one is still working determine which stud is positive..........the positive one should be the same on the others as well. My guess is the problem is with the negative stud. You could check each set to determine if the problem s with positive or negative. Can you twist, even slightly, the stud that has no polarity and maybe re-establish a connection by twisting. it may buy you some time until you could run into a coach like yours and consult with that owner. It may save you from tearing stuff up.

dmiller10 · 04-26-2012, 03:41 PM

Hi, I have a fleetwood Tioga, and I have exactly the same problem. The clearance lights are held in place by Stud bolts which also provide the power to the lights. The wires are not accessable from the outside and once the bolts are loose they no longer make good contact. I am trying to replace my lights but cannot figure out how to remove the ceiling panel inside so I have access to the blind side of the stud. Have you had any success?