Electrical Gremlins

[Pete Masterson]

Two or three months back, I discovered that I didn't have tail lights
(turn signals, stop lights, back up lights all worked). All other
driving lights work. This discovery occurred when I had a lube pump
installed in my car and (as part of the job) the technician hooked up
the lighting system.

When I got it home, after some trouble shooting, I discovered that a
wire was not connected to the Bosch Relay (on the output side). I
reattached the wire and the lights worked ... and worked for several
hours while coming back from the Southwest Rally last October
(including lighting my toad). The disconnected wire seemed odd to
me ... I couldn't imagine that someone removed the wire on purpose...
but, I suppose, someone may have been trying to disconnect something
and may have pulled the wrong wire. I note that the "headlight on"
light and alarm sound when this circuit is working (and the ignition
key is in the 'off' position).

We went for a short trip in November and the tail lights may not have
been working or my wife didn't see them during the light-check. I
attributed this to the morning sun at her back as I did a light check
as we departed but now I wonder if the lights had quit working at
that time.

Now, after a brief trip over the holiday, not only are the tail
lights not working, neither are the clearance lights nor the
dashboard lights (both the instruments _and_ the dashboard). These
lights had been in good working order before this trip.

I'm going to start trouble shooting tomorrow, but I wonder if anyone
has some ideas. The only thing that's occurred since I re-attached
the wire to the relay (it was still attached) is that we've had
several rain storms and some cool weather (barely below freezing, but
the heater was 'on' in the basement).

I have not noticed any water or moisture in the front panel (behind
the door on the front of the bus) nor have I noticed any electrical
odors. Fuses have not blown nor circuit breakers broken. No obviously
fried wires are visible.

Any comments will be helpful.

Pete Masterson
aeonix1@...
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
El Sobrante, CA






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