2003 Freightliner FL60 Dump Truck.
When turning on the lights, all the marker lights on the truck turn on and then cut off after 1 second. The brake lights, signals, hazards, and headlights all work Normally. Only the marker/clearance light are having issues.
The problem occurred while I was driving (Jan. 2019), everything was fine to this point, then out of nowhere all the marker lights cut out.
After the first time the cut out, when you try again, only the front marker lights turn on, while the rest of the truck is dark, then the lights cut out after a second.
I also had the lights flicker by them selves, even with the switch in the OFF position. The lights would flash once every 10-15 seconds.
When the lights cut out, you can hear the relay click. I swapped out the relay and still had same problem. People suggest corrosion, but I replaced front markers (pedestal light on fender) and tail lights with LED (July 2018). All those connections are tight. All marker lights on the dump box were not replaced, visual inspection on those seem to check out.
Marker Lights aren't working on '03 Freightliner FL60
Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Mocking750, Jan 13, 2019.
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It is mostly likely a circuit breaker tripping. The cause of it is an electrical short. I had the same thing happen on a semi trailer. I finally found a chaffed wire that was shorting and the problem went away after I insulated it.
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I didn't notice any damaged or corroded wires. I will look again incase I missed something, Figure it could be something inside the lights themselves? However the marker/brake lights and signal lights are emitted by the same light box, and the signals work fine.
Ill see if I can find a short somewhere in the system. and send an update. -
That is a brain burner.
There have been no FL's here in a while so I am a little distant and have none to look at but.
1: Trucks in general have the head and tail lights on one switch, one circuit.
2: Marker and clearance lights are on another switch, another circuit.
3: Both of these circuits can run through one duel circuit switch like some Volvos do.
You never mentioned tail lights? What do they do?
The front marker lights should be with the rest of the marker lights. Never say always and always say maybe. But why do they come on for a second and the others do not?
I believe in a circuit like that all the lights after a short can not work or be dim before the breaker trips. That is a clue where to look.
Then you say the lights flicker on with the switch off. That could be a bad switch. Could that also cause a short that trips a breaker? I doubt it.
I have seen a Columbia with corrosion on connectors cause problems. Some were behind the kick panels and others were in the rear cab corners. They could track voltage between wires and keep relays engaged or screw up other functions. Never saw them kick breakers.
A bad wiring harness is a fear. Isolate it as best you can by unplugging every connector along the way.
Hope that helps but now you probably have more questions than answers. -
Yeah, that raises a few more questions.
The system on this truck has one single, 3-position switch. OFF// All Marker, Clearance and Dash Lights // All Markers PLUS Head Lights. All the lights have their own Relay; Head Light, Marker Light, Left Signal, Right Signal, Brakes. Etc all are on their own relay.
I figure that the front marker lights only come on because my Short is in the back of the truck somewhere.
I kind of traced the wires and it basically goes from the switch/fuse, to the Cab clearance lights, then to the marker lights in the front (Newly installed lights) then from there it goes all the way back to the tail lights [(Newly installed Lights) Tail Marker lights same problem, brake light works fine] then wiring goes to the dump box. So I assume the short is in the back causing power to not get to the back half of the truck at all. So that just the front marker lights light up. With that said though i still haven't found and damaged wires. -
you are on the right track
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You got a hot light. Pull them out one by one until the rest of them light up. Then you know the bad one
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Assumption is it may have become pinched/frayed with raising bed up and down.
Sitting still,raise the bed all way up and see if they burn..
If burn, lower slowly or in 1 foot increments till down, noting when they flicker
or go out/breaker trips.
This is based on a JerrDan roll back I had such a problem with and found in this manner.
Luck.... -
Update: I disconnected every light, one by one; and had multiple lights disconnected simultaneously. The problem continued throughout the entire diagnostic. I visually inspected all wires/harnesses that I had access to. As well as; at all connection points, including connections to the trailer harness and wiring at the box's pivot point. All wires seem to be in good order. No rubs, breaks, burns, or corrosion. I did not check wiring going along frame rail as they are all inside of a sleeve.
I was told by a mechanic friend that it could be a problem within the trucks computer (but that seems unlikely to me) or within the fuse/relay panel somewhere.
I have a feeling this is going to be a very expensive and time consuming issue...
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