Marker lights don't work, turn signals do?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by bigNATURE, Jan 9, 2015.

  1. bigNATURE

    bigNATURE Medium Load Member

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    Hello, I just did a delivery last night in Milwaukee and I had to unplug my pigtail to hook up the power to my crane, anywho, that may have something to do with why my marker lights on the side of my truck, the tail lights, and trailer marker lights won't work. They'll flash on and my voltage meter will jump down, then the lights will shut right back off, and my voltage meter will return to normal, or jump back down. THE TURN signals and brake lights will work and so do the 4-way flashers. And also my overhead marker lights will turn on.

    I don't see any exposed wire, just got my tail lights rewired and covered really well,

    first thing I'm going to do is replace my two switches that turn on the headlights and marker lights. The lights on the switches don't work anymore and that may be part of the culprit if not the whole culprit.

    any ideas or suggestions?? ...

    thanks in advance

    [2009 387 Pete]
     
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  3. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    You probably have a short somewhere. I had this same problem once but I actually saw when the lights went out. Turns, 4 ways, and brake lights all worked buy no running lights. It was an led marker light that had shorted out. One that was a little flaky most of the diodes were out in it already.
     
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  4. Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

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    agreed you have a short somewhere, the battery jumping down is the short and then it trips the circuit breaker lights go off.
     
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  5. bigNATURE

    bigNATURE Medium Load Member

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    What would be the best way to go about checking everything?...
     
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  6. daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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    If you don't see any obvious damage to one off the marker lights.................the question to ask is do you have Led's or Bulbs in your lights?
    If bulbs,take then all out and replace 1 by 1 till the system goes crazy.

    With leds........same principal but you need to find a place where you can disconnect them and that might be easier said then done.
    If you can disconnect groups off lights.
     
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  7. bigNATURE

    bigNATURE Medium Load Member

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    Texas city, tx
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    I got bulbs on the sides of the truck, and led's on the tail lights, go figure lol... And it's led's on the trailer. I mean, it literally happened after I delivered, in the snow, at -8 degrees, and my pigtail was out exposed, and it may have got wet, I read another post on here about moisture in the pigtail screwing things up...

    Will replace the bulbs first today...
     
  8. Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

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    i dont know that i would throw money at it by replacing all the bulbs. pull them out one at at time inspect the wiring and you can unplug the lights one at a time if its a short in the light itself you will find one that no longer trips the breaker. start with the simple stuff first clean the pig tail connection spray it out with some electrical contact cleaner pull out the bulk head plug on the trailer and look at the wiring there. follow your wires the length of the trailer and make sure nothing got pinched or rubbed threw anywhere.
     
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  9. bigNATURE

    bigNATURE Medium Load Member

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    Texas city, tx
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    Okay.. Will be doing.. Thanks
     
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  10. bigNATURE

    bigNATURE Medium Load Member

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    Texas city, tx
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    Do you remember where and exactly what type/amperage that fuse was?

    thanks
     
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  11. Zooky

    Zooky Bobtail Member

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    Aug 16, 2014
    Farmington NM
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    I have had similar issues before and found out it was the turn signal switch. I have had that be the case on 2 different trucks.
     
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