Community Forums

quadman · 08-04-2016, 12:33 PM

Hi Everybody,
I have a 2003 National Tradewinds 375LE diesel with a 330 Cat on a Spartan chassis. My wife was following me and told me I had no turn signals or brake lights. We just picked this motorhome up last week and haven't driven it at night. The signal indicators on the dash work. Any clues or suggestions that might be the problem. Any help would be appreciated.I don't know where the fuse or relay might be. Owners manual doesn't go into detail.

BFlinn181 · 08-04-2016, 01:45 PM

Most chassis fuses are in an electrical compartment on left front, under driver's station. Check there for chassis fuses.

G Schulz · 08-06-2016, 09:23 AM

Check the ground to the frame for the rear lights. Also check to see if what they are grounded to is actually grounded. I had a similar problem in my coach and found the grounding stud was not a good ground. I ran a wire from the actual frame to the frame in the rear and all is good now.

2009 Safari Cheetah 40'
350 HP Cat
2014 Ford Focus
Air Force One

Skip426 · 08-06-2016, 09:31 AM

A call to Spartan Motor Home support line would be in order ( have your serial number handy) for chassis wiring diagrams and schematics. These documents will tell you if your chassis has a remote fuse/relay box for the rear lighting.

1-800-543-4277
www.spartanchassis.com

will stevens · 08-06-2016, 10:20 AM

When I first picked up my Fleetwood Revolution I thought there was a serious problem with my rear lights
Turned out to be blown bulbs. I think there was 5 total blown.
Changed bulbs, never had a further issue.

Frutza · 08-06-2016, 11:45 AM

of course check the bulbs first, your getting the dash lights but how about the front turn signals? Is it the same bulb for brake and turn? Then check the 4 ways or hazard lights, the brakes and turn signals run thru the 4 ways, some times turning them on and off a couple of times cleans them up

rssnape · 08-07-2016, 12:14 PM

I had an issue one time on my chassis that a connector in the harness came unplugged.

1997 Tiffin Allegro Bus 37', Cat 3126

Mudfrog · 08-07-2016, 12:26 PM

This may be different on some chassis but i thought that on most vehicles, the dash indicators would come on solid if a bulb was bad. Not sure how the indicator would act with a blown fuse, bad ground, or other lose connection but i would lean towards one of those..

Skip426 · 08-07-2016, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

This may be different on some chassis's but i thought that on most vehicles, the dash indicators would come on solid if a bulb was bad. Not sure how the indicator would act with a blown fuse, bad ground, or other lose connection but i would lean towards one of those..

Many vehicles in automotive , were equipped with a load sensitive signal flasher , that would , flicker instead of flash or not flash , to tell the driver there was a bulb out. Once a HD flasher was installed ; for trailer towing or in the case of coaches, side signals ; the feature wasn't available.

BFlinn181 · 08-07-2016, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

This may be different on some chassis but i thought that on most vehicles, the dash indicators would come on solid if a bulb was bad. Not sure how the indicator would act with a blown fuse, bad ground, or other lose connection but i would lean towards one of those..

An RV uses heavy duty flashers to handle the addition of trailer lights, they might change speed when a bulb is out, but usually won't because of the heavy duty flasher.

If the OP has checked fuses, the next step would be to check for 12v (+) at the taillights. If the power is coming in, then check ground connections. A jumper wire will by-pass a bad ground and verify if the bulb and socket are good.