Running Light Problem, Above Driver, Four Lights Still Out.

[Skyisle]

Hi guys and thanks in advance for your help. My 89 Toyota Sunrader V6 21' drivers side mid-rig kitchen has been in two shops lately. First Amacks RV here in Woodland for a day. They were to do a complete service check in readiness for a trip. They fixed a water leak at the bathroom sink and replaced an electrica panel to the water pump or water heater. I should know but can't remember. The RV and paperwork isn't here at house. I took rig from the RV dealer to a garage (Precision Auto) for an automotive check Its been there a week almost. Expensive! I learned the timing chain had never been replaced despite the seller's claim. Garage saved it for show and tell. It was in dire shape ready to fail. Geesh. But my issue today is the running lights. Most werent working when they got the RV. I had them all sealed in 2011 when the rig was leaking like a sieve from vent, windows and most of these lights.

I pressure washed the rig on a cold day just before taking it to Amacks RV. Perhaps the lights took on too much moisture despite the seals. It was too cold for them to dry out fast? I'm thinking I may have fried the bulbs when I started the rig seeing they had no time to dry??

For whatever reason 9 of 13 lights werent working for Precision Auto when they got the RV after it had been checked and serviced by RV repair facility. Precicion Auto was hesitant to strip seals but they did at my request. They changed bulbs, replaced old lenses and installed two new fixtures to get all but four lights working. At $92 an hour I can't afford to keep them dinking in the dark. Their main business is not RVs but they have tall bay doors and specialize in foreign make autos so they do work on RVs. They are the only mechanical garage in town who do RVs. With no tow vehicle, as a widow, my first choice is to deal locally. Besides, dealing locally is just good practice.

The four non-working lights are above the drivers seat on the left side and facing forward. Its that wraparound corner area above the driver. As I understand what I've read on the forum and the wiring scheme posted: on these Sunraders the electricity generally runs from the passenger side rear to around the drivers side rear and up that left side to the drivers side front.

Question: When the RV repair folks swapped out the electric control panel for the water heater/pump on that left side where the kitchen is - could it have affected the running lights above from that point to the last light in the circle above driver's seat? I don't want to suggest they created a problem if the two issues are totally unrelated. Their fee per hour is $95! I like these Amack guys but their QC is lacking in my opinion. I'm a senior physically impaired widow - relatively clueless about automotive stuff and new to RVing. Maybe I am too vulnerable for my own good? Maybe I am asking too much for our times?

If you see NO connection between my heater/pump repair and the malfunctioning running lights: could you offer other "repair or check this" suggestions?

Could there be a fuse somewhere I'm unaware of that controls just this quarter of the RVs running lights?

If I have to go out of town for service: Does anyone have experience with RV Dr. George in Sacramento? I've thought of taking the RV to them for service. My long time exhusband and I are close friends. He drives from Red Bluff to Sacramento to deal with RV Dr. George for their rig which says well of the place but I'd appreciate forum input as well. Camping World in Vacaville doesn't get stellar reviews the last I looked so I am nervous about taking it there.

I am readying for a trip to Arizona and will sincerely appreciate your clarifications, suggestions and direction. Thanks very very much!

Edited January 29, 2015 by Skyisle

[linda s]

Any place you go will be expensive. This place is a drive but this guy repaired my friends Sunrader 4x4 after a serious accident. Dave couldn't say enough good things about this guy. Went above and far beyond anything Dave expected of him. Repair guys name is Ed. Call and tell him a friend of Dave Campa's recommended him and ask if he has time to do the job and how long it would take.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/precision-rv-repair-grass-valley

Linda S

Dr George died but his sons are continuing with the business. I have heard good things about them. Don't know if they are familiar with Sunraders though

Last light in the circle is the front passenger on the side. If your other lights work it must be the connections at the failed lights

[Maineah]

There is no easy answer for clearance lights some Toy homes have fuses some are fused right and left some are not.fused in the coach at all. if none of the front light work most likely it is where they start across the front. The first light will have two sets of wires connected the last will only have one.The Sunrader being fiberglass has no body ground so each light has two wires either one can give you problems I hate to be so negative but you really need to find some one that has dealt with clearance lights I think you might want to deal with a truck shop they have to deal with this every day. I doubt if replacing your switch panel had any thing to do with the lights. I'm not a big fan of Camping World they are the WalMart of the camping world.

[Skyisle]

Thanks very much Linda! I've got a brother in Grass Valley so I might have a ride to and fro from his place. Only problem is its not in the direction I'm traveling and time is short. I'll give them a look and a call though. Your suggestion is a good one indeed. I knew George was gone but didn't know circumstances. I liked George after meeting him once and talking with him over the phone. He was a character and did know Sunraders. I met someone who knew him. I guess they must have told me he worked on Sunraders so when I settled on wanting one I went to ask him what to look for in a used motor home and Sunraders in particular. I did call them about my light problem the other day. Without having EIM there (my rig's name) they could only offer that it must be a short or a ground problem. Precision Auto says they ruled out a ground problem.

A neat thing about RV Dr George in Sacto is their inventory. It is incredible! If it is for an RV they probably have one or more. I want them to eventually replace my dinette with something more practical. From their website I gather they service the Jelly Belly roving RV. Cute. And Geirge showed me his toy collection featured on their website. Very cute. Thanks for your suggestion.

[Skyisle]

Thanks Maineah for your input. I must have been responding to Linda and didn't see your comment. The garage swapped out the last new for old fixture on EIM and to their amazement the last four lit up brightly. They don't know why except they think it was like having half a string of Xmas lights blacking out because one fixture has a bad bulb. Whatever!! Happy me. Hope they continue to work well. Thank you both for your insights! My next post may be about adding a rear view camera in EIM. I have cataracts maturing in both eyes but neither quite ready for laser surgery. The lenses on EIMs rear window help lots but I could use a boost. Before I post I'll search and see if others have already asked and answered my query. Thanks folks

[Gulfstream Greg]

Glad to hear you got it fixed. Our sunrader (sold it) had the same problem. If you still had the OEM lights they daisy chain from one to the next. The wires just shoved into a spring tension connector on the light itself. If you take the cover off you should be able to see those wire ends poking into/through the brass assembly's. What happens is that they get corroded right there where they push into the tension connector. If one goes bad all the rest down stream loose power. Only way I could fix it permanently was to clean up those wire ends and brass assembly's and solder the wires to the brass.