Parking Light Circuit - Heavy Current Draw [message #346594] |
Sun, 18 August 2019 16:31 |
Christo
Messages: 109 Registered: April 2019 Location: Weymouth, MA
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Looks like it's electrical gremlin day on GMCforum! Here's another one: While on an excursion this weekend I turned on my parking lights and noticed a significant voltage drop (.5 to 1 volt below the normal 13.5). I haven't driven the coach much at night since acquiring it four months ago, so I don't know if this is a new problem. However, I did notice something new the other day -- my left front clearance light isn't working. The final symptom is that the headlight switch rod (that the knob attaches to) is getting very hot -- consistent with high current draw. I won't be using the lights any more until this problem is addressed!
My first suspicion is a partial short in the clearance light due to corrosion that draws a lot of current but not enough to blow a fuse. I consulted the service manual and it looks like it would be straightforward to unplug the connector to the front clearance lights to see if this isolates the problem. Another potential trouble spot is that I recently pulled down the inside rear cap to install a backup camera, and as luck would have it I chose to wire it into the rear clearance light circuit. As suspicious as that sounds, I don't believe it's the root cause. The camera and rear clearance lights are working fine and the camera doesn't draw much current. Nevertheless, the wiring back there did get disturbed.
I would welcome any advice about common problems that these symptoms point to, diagnostic approach, etc. Thanks!
Christo Darsch
GMC Nor'easters
1977 Eleganza II - "The Komet"
3.50 Power Drive, Disc Brakes, Alcoas
Weymouth, MA
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