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Need help with a weird lighting issue

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Antonovich, Sep 16, 2020.

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  1. Sep 16, 2020 #12
    Antonovich

    Antonovich Light Load Member

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    So it looks like mine are either reversible or I got lucky and installed correctly because they do work. My issue is about trailer lights getting stuck on, not truck lights.
     
    Antonovich, Sep 16, 2020
    Antonovich, Sep 16, 2020
    #12
  2. Sep 16, 2020 #12
    GreenPete359

    GreenPete359 Road Train Member

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    Open your pigtail up & check to make sure all the connections inside of it are tight.
     
    GreenPete359, Sep 16, 2020
    GreenPete359, Sep 16, 2020
    #12
  3. Sep 17, 2020 #13
    uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    My dash indicator was also on. If I disconnected the trailer. Then the truck worked fine.
     
    uncleal13, Sep 17, 2020
    uncleal13, Sep 17, 2020
    #13
  4. Sep 17, 2020 #14
    Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    The trailer signal feed and turn indicator share the same power source from the trailer turn relays. The trailer left and right turn have their own relays but the relays are controlled by the flasher. So either you have the wrong style of flasher and enough power is going through to keep the lights on, or the trailer lights are back feeding somehow. If you remove the trailer turn relay and indicator stays on, this means the trailer is backfeeding somewhere. If not, I would say your flasher isn't compatible.
     
    Heavyd, Sep 17, 2020
    Heavyd, Sep 17, 2020
    #14
    Antonovich, daf105paccar and 062 Thank this.
  6. Sep 17, 2020 #15
    Antonovich

    Antonovich Light Load Member

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    But that's the thing, my dash indicators stay on regardless if I have a trailer or not. Though my turn signals still work as they should on the truck.
     
    Antonovich, Sep 17, 2020
    Antonovich, Sep 17, 2020
    #15
    uncleal13 Thanks this.
  7. Sep 17, 2020 #16
    nerd_sniped

    nerd_sniped Bobtail Member

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    http://bodybuilder.navistar.com/General/Documents/svcmanpdf/0000011981.pdf
    upload_2020-9-17_11-14-26.png
    The dash indicator and trailer are driven by the turn relay (red circle) the lamps on the tractor (green circle) are driven directly by the flasher.

    CEC Industries, LTD. Your Global Partner In Lighting Solutions
    upload_2020-9-17_11-17-53.png
    It sounds to me like your flasher isn't rated for low enough currents. A single LED stop lamp could be as low as the 0.1A range.

    If you unplug the stop lamp on the tractor (simulating a burnt-out bulb), see if the indicator on the dash behaves the same way. If so, it is a pretty good bet that the flasher is designed to indicate a lamp failure by latching on. The flasher thinks your low current LED is a failed lamp.
     
    nerd_sniped, Sep 17, 2020
    nerd_sniped, Sep 17, 2020
    #16
    speedyk and daf105paccar Thank this.
  8. Sep 17, 2020 #17
    Antonovich

    Antonovich Light Load Member

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    Imgur: The magic of the Internet

    I noticed the turn relays are different. Left is 50A, right is 40A. When I turn on my 4-way flashers I've noticed the right dash indicator would flash a little bit. It still hangs on longer than normal, but it does flash. However, right turn signal it doesn't flash.

    I also tried another flasher, CEC 45A, same thing.
     
    Antonovich, Sep 17, 2020
    Antonovich, Sep 17, 2020
    #17
  9. Sep 17, 2020 #18
    nerd_sniped

    nerd_sniped Bobtail Member

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    The 50A vs 40A difference in the relays has to do with the output level that the relays can handle. I wouldn't be surprised to see your 4-ways work even if the regular turn doesn't. Two lamps...double the current. What turn lamps are you using?
     
    nerd_sniped, Sep 17, 2020
    nerd_sniped, Sep 17, 2020
    #18
  10. Sep 17, 2020 #19
    Antonovich

    Antonovich Light Load Member

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    LED's are Yorkim 3157

    After playing around with different combinations, I noticed that the 2 front turn signals are the cause. I went and bought regular 3157 bulbs. The 2 side turn signals are not affected by LED's and still work just fine. The dash signals also flash correctly. However, if I unplug a regular bulb from the front turn signal, or if I switch to LED bulb in the front, that's when I get the stuck dash signal. So, a short or bad wire / connection on the front signal harness?

    EDIT: you know what, whatever. I found the culprit. I just switched back to regular bulbs up front. Will leave the side and rear LED. Seems to be working normally. Will test out with a trailer when I get a load. If all goes well then I guess I can't have LED turn signals up front.
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2020
    Antonovich, Sep 17, 2020
    Antonovich, Sep 17, 2020
    #19
  11. Sep 17, 2020 #20
    daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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    Did you try the LED's with the polarity reversed?
     
    daf105paccar, Sep 17, 2020
    daf105paccar, Sep 17, 2020
    #20
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