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| [GMCnet] blowing headlights [message #267572] |
Mon, 15 December 2014 08:31  |
Ek_Lektro
Messages: 167
Registered: March 2011
Karma: 2
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I noticed that one headlight bulb had blown out, and when i went to replace it with another, it blew out after 10 seconds! I have 4 suspects: 1) when i replaced it, i just left the bulb hanging (pretty securely), just for testing, before i screwed everything in. in retrospect, does it need the ring in place for grounding? 2) the headlight switch has been flaky for a long time, and finally got to the point that the rheostat (dash-lights) feature doesnt work anymore. but i'd imagine that if the switch was the issue, it'd blow both headlights at the same time? the other side works fine. 3) something else (like needing to trace all wiring for fraying, grounding out, etc) 4) coincidence.
Of course i want to figure this out before i risk blowing another bulb. I suppose i could measure voltage on each of the 3 prongs, and compare them side to side?
What do the experts say?
And ha ha, if i manage to blow another bulb during testing, What's the consensus on any good LED replacements?
thanks again!
Greg / SolarSonic / Los Angeles
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| Re: [GMCnet] blowing headlights [message #267575 is a reply to message #267572] |
Mon, 15 December 2014 09:04  |
Jim at the Co-op
Messages: 291
Registered: May 2014
Location: Orlando Florida
Karma: 2
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Did you run the motor? If not try it again with another bulb -- you were
elected for the fickled finger of fate award. If you did run the motor,
you may have an overcharging alternator.
Good luck,
Jim bounds
---------------------
On Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 9:31 AM, Ek_Lektro wrote:
>
> I noticed that one headlight bulb had blown out, and when i went to
> replace it with another, it blew out after 10 seconds! I have 4 suspects:
> 1) when i replaced it, i just left the bulb hanging (pretty securely), just
> for testing, before i screwed everything in. in retrospect, does it need
> the ring in place for grounding? 2) the headlight switch has been flaky
> for a long time, and finally got to the point that the rheostat
> (dash-lights) feature doesnt work anymore. but i'd imagine that if the
> switch was the issue, it'd blow both headlights at the same time? the
> other side works fine. 3) something else (like needing to trace all wiring
> for fraying, grounding out, etc) 4) coincidence.
> Of course i want to figure this out before i risk blowing another bulb. I
> suppose i could measure voltage on each of the 3 prongs, and compare them
> side to side?
> What do the experts say?
> And ha ha, if i manage to blow another bulb during testing, What's the
> consensus on any good LED replacements?
> thanks again!
> Greg / SolarSonic / Los Angeles
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] blowing headlights [message #267602 is a reply to message #267572] |
Mon, 15 December 2014 14:58 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
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To answer one question that has not been addressed. The headlight ring does not need to be grounded. It has no electircal function.
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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| Re: [GMCnet] blowing headlights [message #267612 is a reply to message #267572] |
Mon, 15 December 2014 16:37 |
Bullitthead
Messages: 1411
Registered: November 2013
Karma: 5
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When you replaced it with "another", was that a brand new bulb? If so, take it back and get 2 new ones so you can replace both at the same time and keep the one that still works as a spare.
The retaining ring has nothing to do with grounding, it just holds the bulb in the bucket.
An overcharging alternator is a primary culprit, but you will likely blow many smaller bulbs before a sealed beam headlight gives up. If you want to check the voltage at the light socket, study the bulb and note which terminal has 2 leads going to it on the inside. This will be the ground terminal and you measure voltage from there to either of the other 2 terminals. One is for low beam and the other one is the high beam terminal. You might want to double check those connectors before condemning the bulb.
Terry Kelpien
ASE Master Technician
73 Glacier 260
Smithfield, Va.
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| Re: [GMCnet] blowing headlights [message #267632 is a reply to message #267572] |
Mon, 15 December 2014 20:58 |
Ek_Lektro
Messages: 167
Registered: March 2011
Karma: 2
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> Did you run the motor? If not try it again with another bulb -- you were
> elected for the fickled finger of fate award. If you did run the motor,
> you may have an overcharging alternator.
I didn't run the motor... nope!
> If you want to
> check the voltage at the light socket, study the bulb and note which terminal has 2 leads going to it on the inside. This will be the ground terminal
> and you measure voltage from there to either of the other 2 terminals. One is for low beam and the other one is the high beam terminal. You might want
> to double check those connectors before condemning the bulb.
voltage checked normal, so i took a chance, and...
It was just the bulb! (and it was not recent new... sitting a long time)
anyway, I think its just the "law of averages" when you're working on 2 coaches at the same time!
And now.. the turn signals!... both front and back passenger side are intermittent. I traced it down to the bulb receptacle in both cases. Seems like the front unit could/should be GM replaceable? but the back one has been troublesome for a while, and seems a different story. Basically, the bulb spring action is stronger than the connection in the back, which is broken, and i'm holding it on with cable ties (not too successfully). AutoZone and Pep Boys didn't have anything for it... Anybody know how do i fix or all-out replace this one?
Thanks, and cheers
Greg / SolarSonic / Los Angeles
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| Re: [GMCnet] blowing headlights [message #267638 is a reply to message #267572] |
Mon, 15 December 2014 22:16 |
<rallymaster
Messages: 361
Registered: May 2014
Karma: 2
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old leftover 6 volt headlights???
RonC
On Mon, 15 Dec 2014 18:58:14 -0800 Ek_Lektro writes:
>> Did you run the motor? If not try it again with another bulb --
> you were
>> elected for the fickled finger of fate award. If you did run the
> motor,
>> you may have an overcharging alternator.
>
> I didn't run the motor... nope!
>
>> If you want to
>> check the voltage at the light socket, study the bulb and note
> which terminal has 2 leads going to it on the inside. This will be
> the ground terminal
>> and you measure voltage from there to either of the other 2
> terminals. One is for low beam and the other one is the high beam
> terminal. You might want
>> to double check those connectors before condemning the bulb.
>
> voltage checked normal, so i took a chance, and...
> It was just the bulb! (and it was not recent new... sitting a long
> time)
> anyway, I think its just the "law of averages" when you're working
> on 2 coaches at the same time!
>
> And now.. the turn signals!... both front and back passenger side
> are intermittent. I traced it down to the bulb receptacle in both
> cases. Seems like the front unit could/should be GM replaceable?
> but the back one has been troublesome for a while, and seems a
> different story. Basically, the bulb spring action is stronger than
> the connection in the back, which is broken, and i'm holding it on
> with cable ties (not too successfully). AutoZone and Pep Boys
> didn't have anything for it... Anybody know how do i fix or all-out
> replace this one?
>
> Thanks, and cheers
> Greg / SolarSonic / Los Angeles
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] blowing headlights [message #267639 is a reply to message #267633] |
Mon, 15 December 2014 23:02 |
mild bill
Messages: 98
Registered: November 2014
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Karma: 0
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ljdavick wrote on Mon, 15 December 2014 21:08Sorry to be so cynical.
Thats exactly what I thought when I read the thread and noticed the handle.worked for a man that ran mci coaches and so cheap he ran 12 volt headlights in series on the 24 volt system so if one headlight burnt out he had no headlights. Died a rich man never experiencing leisure. I think hist biggest joy was making money. Pour soul but the kids are plrnty happy. I digress.yeah if enginebwas off just bad luck, if engine was running alternator (voltage reg) or isolator.
Electrical problems from a man named Ek_Lektro?!?!?
I just had to bust your beans!
Larry Davick
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[Updated on: Mon, 15 December 2014 23:06] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] blowing headlights [message #267690 is a reply to message #267572] |
Wed, 17 December 2014 07:44 |
Ek_Lektro
Messages: 167
Registered: March 2011
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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> Electrical problems from a man named Ek_Lektro?!?!?
>
> I just had to bust your beans!
very good observation Larry :)
Previous to my life with the GMC, my "eclectic electronic" endeavors
were limited to making music with Apple computers and a myriad of interconnected peripherals....
but then thanks to the GMC, a whole new world opened up (and swallowed me)
(since i had no formal training in the hands-on 12 volt stuff)...
It all started by getting a sine wave inverter, beefing up the house battery banks,
and adding the solar on the roof... thereby giving me a mobile studio run off sun-power (!)
and of course i was so excited by this, that i went out and bought the 2nd coach,...
(And... right about then, it seemed things started disintegrating into endless cycles of troubleshooting...
chasing our tails... ha ha ha ha!!!!) (Living and learning)
Good thing we've got this forum to fall back on from time to time.
I'm in a constant state of appreciation for the people here who contribute their knowledge
so freely. Without the GMC net, i might've given up on the motorhome life right about the time
we blew an engine in the middle of Texas, back in 2002. Rather, its amazing how a few people from
this forum put their heads together and helped us transform a catastrophe into an adventure :)
I definitely receive more info from this forum than i'm able to contribute myself...
(which puts me into that constant state of appreciation category)
However, i should mention that having my motorhomes out there in action for so many years
(with their metallic paint-jobs and big solar roof racks)
I keep running into people who've similarly transformed their own lives, based on a glimpse of mine,
years ago, in person... the RVs obviously left an impression..
Some got Airstreams, some got GMC's (some joined this list!), lots of them installed solar...
These are people who might've never considered being able to afford (and maintain)
a motorhome for themselves, previously....
as well as people who might have never managed more than an oil change before, on their car.
(And that was me... 16 years ago!)
Since then our RV studios have been slowly morphing from the down-and-dirty days of "Eklektro"
into the more hopeful "SolarSonic" (but the email address remains!)
Only in Los Angeles, aye?? :)
Greg / 1976 custom 21-footer which just got a repositioned fridge, and its wheel wells covered in soundboard...
1978 Eleganza... won't start up now, even with new starter, new battery, and bypassed neutral safety switch... ha!
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| Re: [GMCnet] blowing headlights [message #267752 is a reply to message #267690] |
Thu, 18 December 2014 06:07 |
Jim at the Co-op
Messages: 291
Registered: May 2014
Location: Orlando Florida
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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I too have seen the GMC come out of the closet as the next generation gets
creative in their lifestyles. Many of you may feel the only avenue left
for our classic coach is a slowly downward spiral of occasional use then
x's on it's eyes and them end up back yard art. This is totally untrue,
currently there is only one motorhome on my lot, other than mine, that
belongs to someone on this forum. The next generation is discovering what
we have, how inexpensive it is to get out on the road with one compared to
anything else they could do and they are getting involved. You may not see
them here on this forum, they may be lurkers but for the most part they are
looking for something different in their RV experience than folks here
are.
Just helped a sale of a coach I put together 10 or 15 years ago to a young
guy who does extreme bike racing. He intends on making his coach a mobile
bike shop/ living quarters when he attends races. His idea is sound and I
expect the coach will service him well. Not just to dote over, guys -- and
gals are turning to vintage RV's for a unique fun lifestyle. Greg's
coaches out there though they are outfitted weird to many of you are very
interesting to the next generation. They are learning from us that an RV
lifestyle with one of these machines can be fun, exciting and a low cost
way to do neat things.
This is what will keep our coaches out of the bone yard and out of the
museums as "the last one". Like it or not, our GMC is still growing up
still being used the same way the first owners used them. The "dream"
really is still alive...
On Wed, Dec 17, 2014 at 8:44 AM, Ek_Lektro wrote:
>
>
>> Electrical problems from a man named Ek_Lektro?!?!?
>>
>> I just had to bust your beans!
>
> very good observation Larry :)
>
> Previous to my life with the GMC, my "eclectic electronic" endeavors
> were limited to making music with Apple computers and a myriad of
> interconnected peripherals....
>
> but then thanks to the GMC, a whole new world opened up (and swallowed me)
> (since i had no formal training in the hands-on 12 volt stuff)...
> It all started by getting a sine wave inverter, beefing up the house
> battery banks,
> and adding the solar on the roof... thereby giving me a mobile studio run
> off sun-power (!)
> and of course i was so excited by this, that i went out and bought the 2nd
> coach,...
> (And... right about then, it seemed things started disintegrating into
> endless cycles of troubleshooting...
> chasing our tails... ha ha ha ha!!!!) (Living and learning)
>
> Good thing we've got this forum to fall back on from time to time.
> I'm in a constant state of appreciation for the people here who contribute
> their knowledge
> so freely. Without the GMC net, i might've given up on the motorhome life
> right about the time
> we blew an engine in the middle of Texas, back in 2002. Rather, its
> amazing how a few people from
> this forum put their heads together and helped us transform a catastrophe
> into an adventure :)
>
> I definitely receive more info from this forum than i'm able to contribute
> myself...
> (which puts me into that constant state of appreciation category)
> However, i should mention that having my motorhomes out there in action
> for so many years
> (with their metallic paint-jobs and big solar roof racks)
> I keep running into people who've similarly transformed their own lives,
> based on a glimpse of mine,
> years ago, in person... the RVs obviously left an impression..
> Some got Airstreams, some got GMC's (some joined this list!), lots of them
> installed solar...
> These are people who might've never considered being able to afford (and
> maintain)
> a motorhome for themselves, previously....
> as well as people who might have never managed more than an oil change
> before, on their car.
> (And that was me... 16 years ago!)
> Since then our RV studios have been slowly morphing from the
> down-and-dirty days of "Eklektro"
> into the more hopeful "SolarSonic" (but the email address remains!)
> Only in Los Angeles, aye?? :)
>
> Greg / 1976 custom 21-footer which just got a repositioned fridge, and its
> wheel wells covered in soundboard...
> 1978 Eleganza... won't start up now, even with new starter, new battery,
> and bypassed neutral safety switch... ha!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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