neptune

SHOPRAT - thanks for the feedback. I have done most of that sensible stuff and even have a circuit-tracer whereby I can put a signal on one end of a wire (with the battery cable off, natch) and then use a sensor to see which wire is being energized. Doing this I have been able to begin to get a general handle on where the wires run, but I really cannot get at them. One interesting point. I can use a VTVM and get a 12.3 reading off the rear right light, but even using a bare bulb to test, the bulb does not light. If I then put a bulb in the forward right light and check the vltage on the rear light, there is no voltage. I hypothesize that somewhere there is either a power wire or the ground wire that is connected by just a thread or two such that voltage is registered across the "fault" but there isn't enough "thread" of wire to accept an amperage draw. But - how to take things apart to find it? I'd just rewire, but I cannot get the wires loose or determine precisely where they run inside the plastic of the Chinook portion, thus I am wondering if there might be some info as to how this Chinook addition to the Toyota body was built and how the wires run inside the plastic. I have attached a photo to show exactly what "Matilda" looks like. I suspect the problem is in the vertical plastic area behind the door of the cab, and I can find where this exits the plastic and runs forward under the truck chassis and engine block to the batery/fuse. I would be surprised if the problem were in the Chinook portion itself, but cannot access that vertical area without tearing thigs apart. I can see the red (+) wire in there, but cannot find where the green (- ground) wire runs until it attches to the chassis. Oh well - Would a Toyota dealer have any idea how this is wired and how to get at it, or would I be best off taking it to an auto-electrical shop? Maybe an RV dealer? Thanks again for your help - or that from anyone else who migh have some helpful ideas. Neptune@ecentral.com Boulder, CO.

Have (and love) A 1976 Chinook that I assume is a Pick-up model. I am haveing a bit of a problem with the interior lighting inside the motorhome portion on the right side. I have a circuit tester, and can trace the lines by putting pulses down a wire and searching for the pulse further along the wires. I understand that the lights (two on each side for the motorhome interior) come from a separate fuze-protected line direct from the battery, and understand how it routes underneath the cab frame, T's off to left and right, and then goes up somehow into the motorhome itself. I really sort of trace the red (+) line up the side near the door, but cannot see where the green (-) wire runs. Am also having a problem with both teh tail light as well as the license plate light on the right. Have spent quite a bit of time trying to trace these lines to find the fault (s) (unrelated I am sure) and am running out of energy and enthusiasm. I do have the Toyota Trucks Repair Manual, but of course this does not address the wiring inside the motorhome itself. So - I am puzzled as to how to find the fault in these wirings unles I can find out where the wires run in the motorhome. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Location in Boulder, Colorado. neptune@ecentral.com