Community Forums

MSGulfCoast · 01-10-2014, 09:49 AM

I need some advice from the experts here before I make a mess of this. First of all the facts: 1998 Dynasty Duke 38' with no slides; no power to the front or rear cab clearance lights; have good ground at lights; side running/marker lights work fine even though I had to run new ground to the two reds ones at rear of coach as they only had ~3VDC. I've pulled all the grounds from the block in the engine compartment, clipped the ends and reterminated just to be sure they are good. I've got the wiring diagrams for what they are worth on 8.5" x 11" paper which are all but useless at that scale. I can't make heads nor tails of them!

Questions:
1) Should these lights be powered via the same circuit as the side clearance lights which are working?
2) Do the top cab lights (both front & rear) have a connection to the ICC switch? I know this switch flashes the inner headlights but what else?
3) Are there other ground bars beside the engine, outside firewall by genny and under the dash? If so where?

I'm contemplating running new positive power to the lights but that's a real PITA to get up there so any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

This whole thing is part of a project to replace all these lights with Bargman 59 series LED lights which draw much less power. With the shaky alternators on these coaches (at least that's what I've deducted from all the problems) I'm trying to reduce the load and with 17 of these lights total that adds up to quite a few watts. BTW - I found the complete exact replacements for less than $6 each online if anyone is interested I can post the vendor or PM you with the info.

Thanks in advance for any help,
Jeff

Dutch Star Don · 01-10-2014, 05:10 PM

I just checked my lights. My coach is newer, but my side marker lights come on with the ICC switch. I would try and find where the power feed for the lights comes down the "A" pillar. Maybe visible with the generator slid out and look up inside the corners.

DonL · 01-10-2014, 08:08 PM

I would appreciate it if you would post the vendor of those replacement lights.

Thanks
Don

DonL · 01-10-2014, 08:55 PM

I am looking at a 1997 Monaco Windsor drawing labeled "Front Run Plate". It shows a 15 amp fuse for clearance lights and a 20 amp fuse for running lights. I don't know where that "Run Plate" is located. I think it is the same as what Spartan calls "Front Panel" which I am still hunting on our recently purchased 96 Holiday Rambler. Hope this is of some help to you.

Don

MSGulfCoast · 01-11-2014, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diplomat Don

I just checked my lights. My coach is newer, but my side marker lights come on with the ICC switch. I would try and find where the power feed for the lights comes down the "A" pillar. Maybe visible with the generator slid out and look up inside the corners.

Thanks Don - Interesting - never thought about the side markers blinking also! We're getting a middle filler of a rain here right now so I don't feel like wading out to check but I will definitely do so when it quits.

Thinking I might put a diode in if I run a new power lead up so if/when the existing power goes live again I won't have to go back and rewire.

MSGulfCoast · 01-11-2014, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonL

I am looking at a 1997 Monaco Windsor drawing labeled "Front Run Plate". It shows a 15 amp fuse for clearance lights and a 20 amp fuse for running lights. I don't know where that "Run Plate" is located. I think it is the same as what Spartan calls "Front Panel" which I am still hunting on our recently purchased 96 Holiday Rambler. Hope this is of some help to you.

Don

Don - PM sent with vendor info. I too have a 20 amp fuse labelled running lights and the side marker lights are supplied power through it. Can't figure out what the one labeled clearance lights actually is since the side lights are called clearance lights also. There's also a relay labelled ICC lights which I swapped out but didn't help with the problem.

RonNBama · 01-11-2014, 07:02 AM

I told you not to trust that guy who sold that Dynasty. You could look at him and tell he was sleazy.

MSGulfCoast · 01-11-2014, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonNBama

I told you not to trust that guy who sold that Dynasty. You could look at him and tell he was sleazy.

Yeah I knew when he said he rode motorcycles he wasn't to be trusted!

MSGulfCoast · 01-21-2014, 04:36 PM

Thanks for the help on this. I found a couple of badly burned terminals on the headlight switch which I replaced but that still didn't solve the problem with the cab clearance lights so I started exploring the ICC switch (don't know if that's the correct name but the switch used to flash thanks and when a passing truck is clear). Found the wiring wasn't hooked up properly.

After figuring out how it should be connected when I press the switch with headlight switch in the off position the inner headlights, side markers, dash lights and taillights flash but not the top cab lights. When the headlights are on the top cab lights flash and the dash light flash (side markers don't) but I'm not sure whether anything else does as I couldn't tell without another set of eyes.