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Electrical Issue

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 6:47 pm
by RalphTomaccio
I've run into another issue related to my flare replacement. Got everything together but the side marker lamp in the flare doesn't light. I checked the bulb and the filaments looked broken so I bought a couple of new bulbs. I also checked the fuse and it, too, was blown, so I replaced that as well. The problem is that the bulb still doesn't light.

Any suggestions as to where I go from here?

TIA

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:30 pm
by BlackNBlue-ISH
Are those fused somewhere along the way?

Maybe the wiring got yanked a bit to hard and loosened up somewhere?

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 10:41 pm
by Marky
Good chance you've cut or, more likely, pinched a wire and it's shorting to the body. Trace it back as much as you can and see if you can find any issues. Naturally, the pinched point will be in the spot most difficult to see or reach, which is why it got pinched there.

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:39 pm
by Frank
Ralph :) Nice find. Check to see if the bulb or fuse blew again first. If its both , there is a dead short. Probably when the flare got damaged. Follow the wire from the socket. If its just the bulb , the issue is close to or is the socket. A test light is handy as you wont go through your stock of bulbs or fuses. If the fuse dont blow without the bulb , its gotta be the socket. No charge Dude ! FjR68

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 12:31 pm
by RalphTomaccio
Thanks for your responses.

I was attempting to make a turn going between two trees spaced not far apart and over leaf covered rocks when I slipped off a rock. The front of the flare hit a tree and was ripped completely off, breaking it, the bracket and tearing the well liner in the process. The side marker unit was completely broken off the bracket it's attached to with the bulb socket pulled from the two wires, so I'm sure there was enough force to cause a break in a wire somewhere. I have a multimeter somewhere but am having a hard time finding it because of our recent move. I took a simple battery tester and connected it to the socket wires with the lights on and didn't record any voltage. I think finding any pinches or break is going to be troublesome with the way the wires are covered with wire loam and routed through a rather packed engine compartment. The fuse did not blow after replacing it so I think it's more of a break or is disconnected somewhere.

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 1:36 pm
by Kurt
Ralph,
I'll take a look at it Saturday at the GG run. I'll bring my meter and some clip leads to track it down.

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 1:47 pm
by RalphTomaccio
Thanks, Kurt.

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 5:00 pm
by schwalby
If you know where the other end of the wire terminates would it be easier to just run a new wire?

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 5:06 pm
by RalphTomaccio
schwalby wrote:If you know where the other end of the wire terminates would it be easier to just run a new wire?
That thought ran across my mind as well. We'll see Saturday after Kurt takes a peek at it.

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 6:02 pm
by schwalby
Great minds....

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 3:48 pm
by RalphTomaccio
Well, how embarrassing! Everything got checked out and the only issue was ME. The electrical all checked out fine. Apparently, I was not putting the wire contacts into the back of the bulb socket quite far enough for them to make contact. Geesh, do I feel dumb! As always, thanks to Dave and Kurt for their help.

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 4:03 pm
by schwalby
Been there done that. Well not with pushing bulbs all the way in but equally goofy mistakes.

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 7:15 am
by Frank
Every one starts out as a ROOKIE ! Bet ya a dollah you wont do that again. FjR68

Re: Electrical Issue

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 1:06 pm
by DDewar53
I've had bulbs break and cut my fingers when pushing them in, so I'm always a little bit leary of pushing too hard.