Community Forums

code2e · 12-22-2019, 10:39 PM

It would seem to me the headlights have been eliminated as a fault since problem occurs with only park lights on. I read that taillights and rear signals were separate and owner thought the front lights and signals were also. Front parking lights are required by law, so they exist. Sometimes there is both a single filament bulb and a dual filament bulb used on each side. In that case the dual bulb has both parking and turn filaments. Dual filaments that touch each other or faulty ground on the dual filament socket will cause your problem. I have been twisting wrenches for a living 50 years. I would remove a front lens and see what you have. Good luck.

TRIPLE 555 · 12-22-2019, 11:25 PM

Bulbs steel ground where available to work.A bit of rust and loose connection needs to be dealt with.

rickshaw49 · 12-23-2019, 06:32 AM

As previously stated the first step is to check the grounds. Second is check the bulbs and sockets. Sometimes the upper filament on a double filament bulb will break off at one end then the filament itself will make contact with the lower circuit. this causes feedback into the system upper system which can manifest itself in strange behaviors in both systems. Just one more thing to investigate. Happy Motoring!

Frost31720 · 12-23-2019, 07:20 AM

Could be a cross short causing it

causing all the little things that come on turn on/off. Cross shorts are a challenge. Just my thoughts

MSHappyCampers · 12-23-2019, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy S

Have you installed aftermarket LED taillight bulbs? I had a problem when I put some led bulbs in, they didn’t make good contact in the socket.

I bought new high-quality bulbs from Auto Zone.

MSHappyCampers · 12-23-2019, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeverGrowUp

VERIFY that the GROUND is good. I had a problem years ago with the headlight ground being bad. I solved it by directly grounding the headlight instead of through the wiring harness.

I tried grounding the rear turn signal light. The turn signal light in the headlight assembly only has two wires, no ground.

I removed the #1157 dual filament bulbs in the rear, cleaned the sockets good, applied dielectric grease, and installed new bulbs.

PHAETON119 · 12-23-2019, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

When my headlights are on the left turn signal does not work! When I pull the headlight switch on, the left turn signal indicator on the dash display lights up about half brightness, and when I turn on the left turn signal it shows a weak flash on the dash but doesn't flash the outside turn signal lights! The turn signal works fine with the headlights off.

I didn't know there was any kind of connection between the headlights and the turn signal. Can anyone point me in the right direction to finding this problem?

I really appreciate your input!

If you have not found it yet the first place I would look would be at the trailer light pigtail. Possibly a chafed wire or as I suspect it to be the round plug to support trailer brakes the wires inside could have slipped a little and touching another wire. After the issue with my generator fuel filter I have decided to take good advice and check the simple stuff first. Good luck.

ea142003 · 12-23-2019, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

When my headlights are on the left turn signal does not work! When I pull the headlight switch on, the left turn signal indicator on the dash display lights up about half brightness, and when I turn on the left turn signal it shows a weak flash on the dash but doesn't flash the outside turn signal lights! The turn signal works fine with the headlights off.

I didn't know there was any kind of connection between the headlights and the turn signal. Can anyone point me in the right direction to finding this problem?

I really appreciate your input!

Does this only happen when towing? I too had some weird things happening like that, including cruise control shutting off when a turn signal was turned on. Turns out it was a bad/compromised connection with the towing cable and or TOAD. It was a simple fix...just had to clean all of the contacts really well. Then use some dielectric grease on those terminals. I always tow, so i had no comparison without the TOAD. Never leave the tow cable hooked up when not in use. If no dielectric grease is used, its only a matter of time before moisture will seep into the connection and start corrosion. I always zip tie my electric cable to the RV connection, and I would leave it hooked up when not using. I no longer do that practice.

More than likely it was a grounding issue for me, as no fuses were being blown. DC voltage can do some weird things when the ground is compromised. "phantom signals"

Good luck.

Darrin

Warlock · 12-23-2019, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

When my headlights are on the left turn signal does not work! When I pull the headlight switch on, the left turn signal indicator on the dash display lights up about half brightness, and when I turn on the left turn signal it shows a weak flash on the dash but doesn't flash the outside turn signal lights! The turn signal works fine with the headlights off.

I didn't know there was any kind of connection between the headlights and the turn signal. Can anyone point me in the right direction to finding this problem?

I really appreciate your input!

You have a bad ground somewhear in the system, with the head light off the turn signal is using the head as a ground.

MSHappyCampers · 12-23-2019, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ea142003

Does this only happen when towing? I too had some weird things happening like that, including cruise control shutting off when a turn signal was turned on. Turns out it was a bad/compromised connection with the towing cable and or TOAD. It was a simple fix...just had to clean all of the contacts really well. Then use some dielectric grease on those terminals. I always tow, so i had no comparison without the TOAD. Never leave the tow cable hooked up when not in use. If no dielectric grease is used, its only a matter of time before moisture will seep into the connection and start corrosion. I always zip tie my electric cable to the RV connection, and I would leave it hooked up when not using. I no longer do that practice.

More than likely it was a grounding issue for me, as no fuses were being blown. DC voltage can do some weird things when the ground is compromised. "phantom signals"

Good luck.

Darrin

It does the same thing without the toad hooked up!

MSHappyCampers · 12-23-2019, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warlock

You have a bad ground somewhear in the system, with the head light off the turn signal is using the head as a ground.

It just does this with the headlights on.

engine103 · 12-23-2019, 11:41 AM

Hi Joe, like the bad guy says during questioning, "I don't know nothing about nothing" but I do know I hate chasing electrical problems. If I'm right, didn't you just upgrade your headlights from stock to what you are dealing with now? and I assume that the stock lights were working okay but you just wanted brighter lights? Maybe your stock light housing has some metal components that allowed grounding to the frame or body where your new (maybe all plastic) do not. Sometimes when trying to find a problem that didn't exist before it's easier to work backwards to see what changed even if it means going back to the original light housing and bulbs just to confirm that your electrical system is working as it should.

Ljwt330 · 12-23-2019, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

It just does this with the headlights on.

Joe, please correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you post that it happens with just the parking lights on?

If so, I don't think this is a minor point and all who are jumping in late need to know this is not a headlight issue, it is a parking light issue. The anomaly happens as soon as the parking/running lights are energized. That is the problem circuit.

With that being said, if the parking lights are in the same fixture as the headlights, then there is some relevancy in inspecting the entire fixture for ground/short issues.

Steve 716 · 12-23-2019, 02:23 PM

When I had my Bounder my turn signals on one side quit working and, as I recall, other lights began having issues. I traced it back to the front side marker light. In addition to the bulb burning out the socket was rusted. When I replaced the socket everything started working again. After verifying proper operation I replaced the bulb. I'm not sure how they wired the coach to cause this but one never knows.