Storage bay lights

[GBerner]

I have a 2004 Monaco Cayman 36 PDD. I have been able to fix almost all that I have found not working but the storage bay lights are baffleing me. I have voltage at the switch by the passengers seat but none of the lights will come on. Is there an inline fuse or some other source that I am not finding? I do not have a scematic of the coach wiring so this gets hard.

[Diplomat Don]

GBerner....The easiest place to start is the fuse panel in the outside bay under the driver's window. The panel cover may indicate what fuse is for those lights. Often Monaco may add something like the lights to another fuse and not indicate that. For that reason, I often just use a little fuse checker and check all of the fuses.

Here's a silly question...are the lights physically switched to the on position in each of the bays. The previous owner may have left the master switch on and turned the lights on and off as necessary in each bay.

One of my projects will be to eventually put door switches on each bay so that I can leave the master switch on and just open the bay door and have the light come on.

[srx-6]

Do the lights have a switch on them? On my Camelot you have to turn on the switch by the passenger seat then each light in the bay has a switch.

[GBerner]

I have a door switch on some of the bays, like the water compartment. I have tried the light switchs in each bay both with the inside switch on and off. I have checked all the fuses under the drivers side since I have had some other issues to solve. I do not find any with a label showing they are for the storage bay lights. I pulled the switch out by the passenger seat and checked the switch for 12v and have it good and strong. When I turn off the switch I don't have 12v. All logical so far but when I go into the storage bays I cannot get any of them to light. Could there be a relay that the switch inside turns on to power up the bay lights?

[Diplomat Don]

GBerner....In my first post I suggested you test all of the fuses. Often Monaco includes something like the lights on another fuse and it's not labeled. There is also a set of fuses near your breakers at the rear of the coach. You might want to check them.

[mahon1993]

Was the switch left on at one time and all the lamps burned out?? Those lamps can get pretty hot when left on.
I would do some volt checks at the light.
Greg

[GBerner]

I checked the fuses under the drivers side and found a fuse that was the feed for the storage lights. I checked the voltage there and had full voltage. It is the feed because I did not get any different in the voltage reading with the switch on or off. I checked for voltage at each of several of the compartments including the water bay that has a door switch. No voltage found with the switch on or off. I checked the light bulbs and they are all good bulbs. This has me stumped. If I had a ground in the feed to the bays the fuse would blow, I think. I can turn off the voltage leaving the switch and turn it back on again but I don't get it at the lights. Sure would be nice to have a wiring diaghram.

[mahon1993]

You might have a broken wire somewhere. I don't know how your wiring is run for the bay lights, but mine just runs through the storage bays along the top in back looping from one bay to the next. Is one of those wires broken? Did one get snaged on something when you pulled it out of the bay? I would start at the first bay next to the fuse box and work my way back looking for physical damage.
Greg

[ShapeShifter]

Do you have a second storage compartment light switch? I have the one by the front door, and another inside the wet bay (which has an automatic pin switch, just like yours.)

If you have that second switch, and it is bad or has a bad connection, that might explain the issue?

[mahon1993]

Yes, I agree with ShapeShifter. There is usually a three way switch arrangement. If either switch is bad the lights won't work. Any mouse problems?? They like wire insulation.
Greg

[idenphones]

I was going to suggest that you look at the collection of PDF files in this part of the forum but I just checked and they are off line right now as they are being reorganized.

Having said that, if you check at any of the lights with a volt meter, you should see 12 volts or so right at the light bulb socket when the light is turned on and the master light switch is on.

Don't test by using a chassis ground as some of those rascals make and break the ground instead of the plus or power lead. Connect your meter to the light bulb socket and check from there.

If you don't get a reading, try a jumper wire from the light bulb socket to chassis ground. If that works, you are now looking for a bad ground.