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G Schulz · 06-14-2016, 10:48 AM

I have intermittent signal light issues with my Safari Cheetah motorhome. When I turn on the signal lights the one on the other side flashes with it but very faint. Also if I use the four way flashers the two in the front work but the two in the rear do not. As well if I step on the brake both signal light indicators on the dash light up. Then if I wait a bit everything is back to normal. Must be a grounding problem but I could use a little insight as to where to look for it. It is built by Monaco on a Roadmaster chassis.

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

BFlinn181 · 06-14-2016, 11:21 AM

I think you're right about the ground being the problem, each light probably has a ground connection. I'd check and clean every one of the lights I could access.

USA-RVNomads · 06-15-2016, 06:39 AM

Pull the lamps and check the amount of current getting to the socket. If its low you have a pinched wire somewhere up stream or possibly a loose ground. You'll have to trace the wiring harness to find the ground, there should be one at each corner but giving how they build them...it might only have one at the front of the chassis.

Another thought, check the lamp upstream of the dim bulbs/harness for corrosion.

G Schulz · 06-15-2016, 07:04 AM

Looks like I'll have to go wire tracing for all the grounds. Trouble is its not consistent. At the present time it's working so I guess I'll have to check all the grounds I can find.

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

jelag · 06-17-2016, 01:04 PM

part of what your experiencing is power traveling through the wires to another bulb, thus one or more bulbs light incorrectly... this is most often a ground problem..

Its common for the electrical connector on the back of lamp to an issue... if you pull the lamp assembly out of the body, check those connections... and of course the bulb to the lamp assembly... electrolysis between the bulb and base is usually the problem... lightly clean and than add some Vaseline to the connections... I usually use a dielectric grease... available at most auto parts stores... but a simple fix is with Vaseline...

G Schulz · 06-18-2016, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelag

part of what your experiencing is power traveling through the wires to another bulb, thus one or more bulbs light incorrectly... this is most often a ground problem..

Its common for the electrical connector on the back of lamp to an issue... if you pull the lamp assembly out of the body, check those connections... and of course the bulb to the lamp assembly... electrolysis between the bulb and base is usually the problem... lightly clean and than add some Vaseline to the connections... I usually use a dielectric grease... available at most auto parts stores... but a simple fix is with Vaseline...

I did pull all the rear bulbs out of the sockets and found a little corrosion but nothing serious. I do have dielectric grease so I will apply it to guard against future problems. I think I need to find the ground that is common to the lights in the back. Should have time this weekend to do it.

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

G Schulz · 07-11-2016, 07:45 AM

Well I finally found the problem. It was a grounding problem but a hard one to find. I found the grounding lug for the rear tail lights. Cleaned everything up put it back together with anti corrosion compound and it was still intermittent.
When I was under there I noticed that the rear part of the frame is only bolted to the actual frame. I ran a wire linking both frames to grounding studs and everything is working fine now. Turns out ground wasn't really ground.

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