Headlights won't go off

[Greg Young]

Hi folks -

My headlights just won't turn off. This happened suddenly when I was testing them as we are preparing for a trip. I switched on the lights, and they won't go off.

I have the relay mod installed. And instead of one relay for low, one for high, I have four relays - two each for each side (1 high, 1 low). Since both low beams are on, it can't be just one of the relays. (though I did try replacing one anyway to no avail)

At first I thought it was the dashboard headlight switch, so I replaced that but no change.

I'm pretty sure that somehow I've got a short on the wire from the dash switch to the relay, but I don't see any problems and can't figure out why it would be triggered by turning on the headlight switch.

Any thoughts very much appreciated. I'm about ready to call in a pro on this one.

Greg Young

1986 PT40 Bluefire

Oceanside CA

[sfedeli3]

Greg, is there any chance that you switched on the "security" light switch above
the bed in the back of the coach? This will cause the headlights and landing
lights to come on and stay on. It's also possible that the relay which is
activated by that switch could be providing voltage to the headlight circuit.

Shane Fedeli
85PT40
Hershey, PA

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Greg Young wrote:
>
> Hi folks -
>
> My headlights just won't turn off. This happened suddenly when I was testing
them as we are preparing for a trip. I switched on the lights, and they won't go
off.
>
> I have the relay mod installed. And instead of one relay for low, one for
high, I have four relays - two each for each side (1 high, 1 low). Since both
low beams are on, it can't be just one of the relays. (though I did try
replacing one anyway to no avail)
>
> At first I thought it was the dashboard headlight switch, so I replaced that
but no change.
>
> I'm pretty sure that somehow I've got a short on the wire from the dash switch
to the relay, but I don't see any problems and can't figure out why it would be
triggered by turning on the headlight switch.
>
> Any thoughts very much appreciated. I'm about ready to call in a pro on this
one.
>
> Greg Young
> 1986 PT40 Bluefire
> Oceanside CA
> >
>

[Greg Young]

Hi Shane. Thought of that and the security switch was off. It acted normally when I switched it on and off. Is there a separate relay just for the headlights on that switch?

Home is where my iPhone is.

On Aug 18, 2010, at 5:44 PM, "sfedeli3" <"sfedeli3@comcast.net"> wrote:

Greg, is there any chance that you switched on the "security" light switch above the bed in the back of the coach? This will cause the headlights and landing lights to come on and stay on. It's also possible that the relay which is activated by that switch could be providing voltage to the headlight circuit.



Shane Fedeli

85PT40

Hershey, PA



--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", Greg Young wrote:

>

> Hi folks -

>

> My headlights just won't turn off. This happened suddenly when I was testing them as we are preparing for a trip. I switched on the lights, and they won't go off.

>

> I have the relay mod installed. And instead of one relay for low, one for high, I have four relays - two each for each side (1 high, 1 low). Since both low beams are on, it can't be just one of the relays. (though I did try replacing one anyway to no avail)

>

> At first I thought it was the dashboard headlight switch, so I replaced that but no change.

>

> I'm pretty sure that somehow I've got a short on the wire from the dash switch to the relay, but I don't see any problems and can't figure out why it would be triggered by turning on the headlight switch.

>

> Any thoughts very much appreciated. I'm about ready to call in a pro on this one.

>

> Greg Young

> 1986 PT40 Bluefire

> Oceanside CA

> >

>

[Dan and Cindy]

Greg

If you turn off the headlight switch, you should be removing the 12V to the
headlights. Pull the dash out a little and check to see if there is 12V going
out when the switch is off. Worst case for now eliminate the 12V to the relays.
Then try to troubleshoot how it is getting the 12V.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Greg Young wrote:
>
> Hi folks -
>
> My headlights just won't turn off. This happened suddenly when I was testing
them as we are preparing for a trip. I switched on the lights, and they won't go
off.
>
> I have the relay mod installed. And instead of one relay for low, one for
high, I have four relays - two each for each side (1 high, 1 low). Since both
low beams are on, it can't be just one of the relays. (though I did try
replacing one anyway to no avail)
>
> At first I thought it was the dashboard headlight switch, so I replaced that
but no change.
>
> I'm pretty sure that somehow I've got a short on the wire from the dash switch
to the relay, but I don't see any problems and can't figure out why it would be
triggered by turning on the headlight switch.
>
> Any thoughts very much appreciated. I'm about ready to call in a pro on this
one.
>
> Greg Young
> 1986 PT40 Bluefire
> Oceanside CA
> >
>

[Greg Young]

Hi Dan!

There's definitely 12V getting to the relay from somewhere. However, I don't find any voltage at the switch. So it's getting it from somewhere else. I've tried to trace the control lines back from the relays, but there's so much spaghetti, and they're wrapped like most wires on the BB in a heavy black fabric casing. I'll keep trying.

If I can't diagnose and fix this before the weekend, I may try pulling the headlight line off the circuit breaker when I stop. I'd be driving with headlights on in daytime, but nothing wrong with that. We have to be on the road by Monday first thing and have a lot of packing to do!

Greg

Each time you judge yourself you break your heart.
-Kirpal Venanji

---

From: Dan and Cindy <86bluebird@...>
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, August 18, 2010 7:04:37 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Headlights won't go off

Greg



If you turn off the headlight switch, you should be removing the 12V to the headlights. Pull the dash out a little and check to see if there is 12V going out when the switch is off. Worst case for now eliminate the 12V to the relays. Then try to troubleshoot how it is getting the 12V.



--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", Greg Young wrote:

>

> Hi folks -

>

> My headlights just won't turn off. This happened suddenly when I was testing them as we are preparing for a trip. I switched on the lights, and they won't go off.

>

> I have the relay mod installed. And instead of one relay for low, one for high, I have four relays - two each for each side (1 high, 1 low). Since both low beams are on, it can't be just one of the relays. (though I did try replacing one anyway to no avail)

>

> At first I thought it was the dashboard headlight switch, so I replaced that but no change.

>

> I'm pretty sure that somehow I've got a short on the wire from the dash switch to the relay, but I don't see any problems and can't figure out why it would be triggered by turning on the headlight switch.

>

> Any thoughts very much appreciated. I'm about ready to call in a pro on this one.

>

> Greg Young

> 1986 PT40 Bluefire

> Oceanside CA

> >

>

[Dan and Cindy]

Where did you pick up the 12V for the relays? The headlight switch is only the
trigger.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Greg Young wrote:
>
> Hi Dan!
>
> There's definitely 12V getting to the relay from somewhere. However, I don't
> find any voltage at the switch. So it's getting it from somewhere else. I've
> tried to trace the control lines back from the relays, but there's so much
> spaghetti, and they're wrapped like most wires on the BB in a heavy black
fabric
> casing. I'll keep trying.
>
> If I can't diagnose and fix this before the weekend, I may try pulling the
> headlight line off the circuit breaker when I stop. I'd be driving with
> headlights on in daytime, but nothing wrong with that. We have to be on the
> road by Monday first thing and have a lot of packing to do!
>
> Greg
>
> Each time you judge yourself you break your heart.
> -Kirpal Venanji
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Dan and Cindy <86bluebird@...>
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wed, August 18, 2010 7:04:37 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Headlights won't go off
>
>
> Greg
>
> If you turn off the headlight switch, you should be removing the 12V to the
> headlights. Pull the dash out a little and check to see if there is 12V going
> out when the switch is off. Worst case for now eliminate the 12V to the
relays.
> Then try to troubleshoot how it is getting the 12V.
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Greg Young wrote:
> >
> > Hi folks -
> >
> > My headlights just won't turn off. This happened suddenly when I was testing
> >them as we are preparing for a trip. I switched on the lights, and they won't
go
> >off.
> >
> >
> > I have the relay mod installed. And instead of one relay for low, one for
high,
> >I have four relays - two each for each side (1 high, 1 low). Since both low
> >beams are on, it can't be just one of the relays. (though I did try replacing
> >one anyway to no avail)
> >
> > At first I thought it was the dashboard headlight switch, so I replaced that
> >but no change.
> >
> >
> > I'm pretty sure that somehow I've got a short on the wire from the dash
switch
> >to the relay, but I don't see any problems and can't figure out why it would
be
> >triggered by turning on the headlight switch.
> >
> >
> > Any thoughts very much appreciated. I'm about ready to call in a pro on this
> >one.
> >
> >
> > Greg Young
> > 1986 PT40 Bluefire
> > Oceanside CA
> > >
> >
>

[Greg Young]

I ran a line from the buss and breaker board in front of the dashboard, down to relays mounted on the inside of the headlight housing. That line is fine. The relays only switch on when they have the trigger voltage, as they're supposed to.

I thought it easiest to put the relays near the headlights since the trigger lines (originally the power lines) were already there.

So why are the trigger lines showing voltage (thereby triggering the relays) when the switch is off and showing no voltage? And why suddenly, right after I turned on the headlight switch, when the bus hadn't been moved in two months?

Remember that the fluorescents in the living room would only come on randomly? I never have been able to fix that. We have electrical gremlins.

Greg

On Aug 18, 2010, at 7:20 PM, "Dan and Cindy" <"86bluebird@sbcglobal.net"> wrote:

Where did you pick up the 12V for the relays? The headlight switch is only the trigger.



--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", Greg Young wrote:

>

> Hi Dan!

>

> There's definitely 12V getting to the relay from somewhere. However, I don't

> find any voltage at the switch. So it's getting it from somewhere else. I've

> tried to trace the control lines back from the relays, but there's so much

> spaghetti, and they're wrapped like most wires on the BB in a heavy black fabric

> casing. I'll keep trying.

>

> If I can't diagnose and fix this before the weekend, I may try pulling the

> headlight line off the circuit breaker when I stop. I'd be driving with

> headlights on in daytime, but nothing wrong with that. We have to be on the

> road by Monday first thing and have a lot of packing to do!

>

> Greg

>

> Each time you judge yourself you break your heart.

> -Kirpal Venanji

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: Dan and Cindy <86bluebird@...>

> To: "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"

> Sent: Wed, August 18, 2010 7:04:37 PM

> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Headlights won't go off

>

>

> Greg

>

> If you turn off the headlight switch, you should be removing the 12V to the

> headlights. Pull the dash out a little and check to see if there is 12V going

> out when the switch is off. Worst case for now eliminate the 12V to the relays.

> Then try to troubleshoot how it is getting the 12V.

>

> --- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", Greg Young wrote:

> >

> > Hi folks -

> >

> > My headlights just won't turn off. This happened suddenly when I was testing

> >them as we are preparing for a trip. I switched on the lights, and they won't go

> >off.

> >

> >

> > I have the relay mod installed. And instead of one relay for low, one for high,

> >I have four relays - two each for each side (1 high, 1 low). Since both low

> >beams are on, it can't be just one of the relays. (though I did try replacing

> >one anyway to no avail)

> >

> > At first I thought it was the dashboard headlight switch, so I replaced that

> >but no change.

> >

> >

> > I'm pretty sure that somehow I've got a short on the wire from the dash switch

> >to the relay, but I don't see any problems and can't figure out why it would be

> >triggered by turning on the headlight switch.

> >

> >

> > Any thoughts very much appreciated. I'm about ready to call in a pro on this

> >one.

> >

> >

> > Greg Young

> > 1986 PT40 Bluefire

> > Oceanside CA

> > >

> >

>

[Fred Hulse]



Greg

I don't quite know how that all is wired,but.........

have you looked at the dimmer switch?

Fred & Jeanne Hulse
Morristown,Arizona
97 WLWB41

[Dan and Cindy]

Good point Fred. They are almost always a problem.

Greg, as far as the living room fluorescent lights go, there is a connector in
the passenger side overhead about midway behind the backing. I wired around the
bad pins. Check that out.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Hulse" wrote:
>
> Greg
> I don't quite know how that all is wired,but.........
> have you looked at the dimmer switch?
> Fred & Jeanne Hulse
> Morristown,Arizona
> 97 WLWB41
>

[Greg Young]

I will check the dimmer tomorrow. Does anyone have a part number handy?

Home is where my iPhone is.

On Aug 18, 2010, at 8:06 PM, "Dan and Cindy" <"86bluebird@sbcglobal.net"> wrote:

Good point Fred. They are almost always a problem.



Greg, as far as the living room fluorescent lights go, there is a connector in the passenger side overhead about midway behind the backing. I wired around the bad pins. Check that out.



--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", "Fred Hulse" wrote:

>

> Greg

> I don't quite know how that all is wired,but.........

> have you looked at the dimmer switch?

> Fred & Jeanne Hulse

> Morristown,Arizona

> 97 WLWB41

>