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AnotherMike · 09-16-2018, 11:14 PM

I'm resurrecting a 1986 Fleetwood Southwind 32 foot on a Chevrolet P30 chassis.

This has been a one-man project up to now, and it's taken a couple of months to sort out the various problems... and to get the engine going and tuned up.

So i borrowed a friend to be an escort vehicle in case the MH died part-way there (first time on the road in over 10 years)... we fired it up, and started driving it out of the storage lot...

...and my friend called me on the ham radio and said "Did you know that you have no stoplights?"

A bit of testing revealed that I had no turn signals or headlights or taillights either... and the battery voltmeter was reading low...

Bottom line: no headlights, no taillights, no stoplights, no turn signals, no alternator charging...

Does this set of symptoms suggest anything? Has someone fought this battle before?

Does anybody have a wiring diagram of a 1985 or 1986 P30? Mine was built in October of 85 and the MH was first sold in 1986... I'm not finding one...

And as long as I'm asking questions of the electrical folks, there are four Bosch relays in a row under the front hood on the drivers side.
Does anybody know what they operate? The left one follows the ignition switch, and I've not figured out the other three...

And does anybody know the pinout of the terminal strip that is mounted vertically to the right of the four relays?

Thanks in advance...

Mike Morris

Soppy · 09-17-2018, 07:54 AM

You might be able to get a service manual on ebay . That will cover the chassis wiring , but a lot of wiring is added / changed by the coach manufacturer . Most times diagrams are not available.

Just start by tracing the large wire from the alternator to the battery and cleaning the connections. Also check the wires on the battery terminal the starter solenoid . There should be a couple of fuseable links on them which could be the problem.

AnotherMike · 09-17-2018, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soppy

You might be able to get a service manual on ebay . That will cover the chassis wiring , but a lot of wiring is added / changed by the coach manufacturer . Most times diagrams are not available.

Just start by tracing the large wire from the alternator to the battery and cleaning the connections. Also check the wires on the battery terminal the starter solenoid . There should be a couple of fuseable links on them which could be the problem.

Any idea where the fusible links are located?

AnotherMike · 09-17-2018, 03:22 PM

An update:
I called the local Chevrolet dealer and asked about wiring diagrams...

They pointed me to the local Chevrolet truck dealer... I called and asked about wiring diagrams...

They pointed me to the local Buick/GMC dealer... I called and asked about wiring diagrams...

They pointed me to Workhorse... I called and asked about wiring diagrams...

They have nothing older then 1999... pointed me to the local Chevrolet dealer.

Reminds me of the "Lather, Rinse, Repeat" joke in computer programming.

So I called an auto mechanic friend... he suggested ebay...

I found this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-GMC-Ch...t/161745699192

It's on it's way...

Mike

Soppy · 09-17-2018, 05:58 PM

The fusible links should be on the starter solenoid.
Get a voltmeter and measure the voltage on the alternator and the fuse block on the fuses marked bat. You may also have a junction block where the various wires with constant battery voltage are connected. The wiring diagram will be a great help.
While you're at it , check the ground connections. I had a few electrical problems on my coach , so I removed and cleaned every connection I could find and all the problems disappeared .

winniman · 09-17-2018, 06:46 PM

How did you start it. Did you have to boost it, or did you put a good battery in it. Just wondering, on an older alternator, it would have an exciter circuit I believe. Did you check for output power at the alternator. Did you check for 12 volt at the exciter wire on the alternator.

AnotherMike · 01-26-2019, 04:33 PM

An update:

The dead taillights and headlights were due to a bad headlight switch. The local auto parts store had one in stock.

The turn signal fuse was blown.

The dead alternator was due to a dead regulator. At some point in time (maybe Fleetwood did it?) the original alternator was replaced with a 130 amp unit that uses a Ford(!) regulator. Yes, it's a GM alternator.

D Gardiner · 01-26-2019, 05:21 PM

Glad you found the electrical problems.

Enjoy your coach.

Bob_C · 01-26-2019, 05:44 PM

Chevy used to have a diagram on wiring in a Ford starter solenoid to aid in starting a Chev with a warm motor, like after pulling in for gas on a hot day.....with that solenoid, one would mount it away from the heat of the exhaust manifold.....

saddlesore · 02-01-2019, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

Chevy used to have a diagram on wiring in a Ford starter solenoid to aid in starting a Chev with a warm motor, like after pulling in for gas on a hot day.....with that solenoid, one would mount it away from the heat of the exhaust manifold.....

Yup, our Thor/Four Winds/Infinity P-30/32 chassis used the Ford solenoid....

With the P-30/32 chassis be aware that the wiring loom inside the left frame rail as it passes the exhaust manifold has a bad habit of frayed/broken tie straps, allowing the loom to move too close to the manifold, then melting the wires..

You need to re-secure (with some kind of heat shielding..)

AnotherMike · 02-01-2019, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saddlesore

Yup, our Thor/Four Winds/Infinity P-30/32 chassis used the Ford solenoid....

With the P-30/32 chassis be aware that the wiring loom inside the left frame rail as it passes the exhaust manifold has a bad habit of frayed/broken tie straps, allowing the loom to move too close to the manifold, then melting the wires..

You need to re-secure (with some kind of heat shielding..)

Thank you for that tip, the next time I'm underneath I'll check that.

For what it's worth the 2-way radio industry has stainless steel tie-wraps that are used to secure antenna cables (some of which are 1 5/8 inch or even larger in diameter) to the radio tower legs. They aren't cheap, but are available. I get them from Talley Corp. in Santa Fe Springs California.

saddlesore · 02-01-2019, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnotherMike

Thank you for that tip, the next time I'm underneath I'll check that.

For what it's worth the 2-way radio industry has stainless steel tie-wraps that are used to secure antenna cables (some of which are 1 5/8 inch or even larger in diameter) to the radio tower legs. They aren't cheap, but are available. I get them from Talley Corp. in Santa Fe Springs California.

As for SS tie wraps. I just went to a Speed Shop and got a roll of manifold/header pipe wrap and it came with a package of SS wraps... kilt two birds with a single purchase.