My brake lights and flashers are acting weird!

I just had a smilar problem on my 34' Class A. The wiring harness for
the trailer light outlet had come loose and scraped against the ground
the last time I "bottomed out" the rear end. The harness was pretty
chewed up. I should get some little wheels back there :)

Be careful in the wind. It can damage your doors if you don't open
them VERY carefully. You may not even be able to get the door closed
once the wind has gotten a hold of it and hurt it. Happened to me
TWICE ...I know...I know...

Erik

...

It's almost certainly the turn signal switch. If your coach uses the same
bulb for rear turn and brake, the turn signal switch connnects the brake
light voltage to both rear bulbs when in the center position. When moved to
right or left, it disconnects that bulb from the brake light voltage and
connects it - and the corresponding front bulb - to the turn signal flasher
voltage, while leaving the opposite side rear bulb connected to the brake
light voltage. The center brake light is connected to the brake light
voltage -before- the turn signal switch. A quick google found this diagram
http://www.smartdraw.com/examples/circui... which might
help in visualizing what is going on.

Alan

Many thanks Alan. I think that's it. I found out this afternoon that
the steering wheel no longer locks either. Something either snapped or
shifted inside the column where the ignition crosses over to the signal
light location.

Helloooooooo, Ford garage?
LZ

...

I've had to replace turn signal switches on: '75 F250, 83 F250, '85 Crown
Victoria, 88 F250, and a 93 F250. I'm getting pretty good at it but now I
own a GMC. :-)

Max

I was just browsing some parts pages.

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/turn-signal-lev...

Apparently these are a commonly replaced item.
LZ

So now you just replace the GMC?

--
Kevin W. Miller

Thanks, I'll check that out.
I hope it hasn't kicked up yet by the time I have to head for the shop.
They're predicting gusts to 49 Knots. It's about 10 miles in heavy
traffic.
LZ

Lone Haranguer <
I just went through pretty much the same thing on my old Dodge, and it
was by far the most infuriating and time consuming fix I had to
contend with. Not a single wiring diagram for the beast anywhere. I
had to pull much of the dash out to get at some wiring back there.
Troubleshooting indicated a problem in the steering column switches,
and there may be one the emergency flasher still doesn't work.
Many of the signals are connected to the brake light switch, so give
it a check with a jumper. But the problem with the brake lights turned
out to be a *very sneaky rear lens that required repeated observasion
to diagnose. Remember to keep the doors shut when testing these
circuits unless you are sure the dome,etc. are on another fuse. Even
if they are you will show a drain on the battery with a door open and
can mistakenly think it's on another circuit.

Gio

Gio

Fortunately my motorhome dash just hinges open. Your experience at
troubleshooting parallels mine. It's something in the steering column
that's affecting ONLY the flashers and the side brake lights. The
center strip brakelight works. I had the covers off this morning to
check that all connections were secure. Couldn't find anything amiss.
Backup lights work too.

I have no wiring diagram either so I'll just be fiddling until something
clicks.

Extreme desperation might even lead me to the Ford garage! When I
bought this motorhome (coincidentally in this same town) the turn
signals did not cancel. A trip to the Ford dealer in MN revealed that a
certain part was left out when the chassis was assembled (in Mexico).
They cobbled one together and installed it. I have no idea what it
looks like but it may have failed. In that case, Ford might even pay to
fix it.
LZ