Posted 2013-05-19 11:37 PM (#152150) Subject: electrical problem or just burnt out bulb?
Member
Posts: 15
Location: Michigan
I own a 2001 Sundowner 2 horse gooseneck that I bought used in '08. I think it's a Valuelite. I pull it with a new 2012 F250 diesel. I've done a general search on this subject but didn't come up with much: Some, but not all, of my running lights are out. 3 of the 4 big orange lights on the top of the gooseneck work. The small orange light in front of the left wheel well is not working, but the red one on the back of the same wheel well works fine. On the opposite side of the trailer, the small red light on the rear of the wheel well is out. At the back of the trailer, 2 of the 3 large red lights at the top of the doors are working. The lights inside the trailer work fine, as do my blinkers, exterior loading lights, and tail lights. From my description, does this sound electrical? I'm assuming (and I could be way off!) that if it was electrical a whole block of lights would be out in the same area? I vaguely remember last year that a single bulb was not working, but I dont think this many were out. I'm not completely sure though. I took it to General RV l for the yearly maintenance safety check since my regular Sundowner dealer has gone out of business. When i picked it up from General RV I didn't drive with the lights on, so imagine my surprise hauling home from a horse show the following weekend in the dark when many of the running lights were out! General RV has been horrible to deal with so I"m trying to avoid having to go back there. I kind of wonder if they even really looked at the trailer? Thanks for any help!!
Posted 2013-05-20 8:10 AM (#152155 - in reply to #152150) Subject: RE: electrical problem or just burnt out bulb?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Most older running light assemblies allow you to remove the lens and replace the bulbs. Many times the bulb's base contact will corrode over time and become inoperative. Determining whether the problem is a bulb or electrical supply problem, is easily solved with a test light or multi meter. With the hot lead going to the socket's base and the other to ground, any electrical indication would favour a burnt out bulb.
When you install new bulbs, add some dielectric grease to the base. This will lower the chances of oxidation and require less maintenance over time.
Posted 2013-05-20 12:57 PM (#152166 - in reply to #152150) Subject: RE: electrical problem or just burnt out bulb?
Member
Posts: 15
Location: Michigan
IMAG0471.jpg, IMAG0472.jpg,IMAG0473.jpg,IMAG0474.jpg,IMAG0475.jpg. Those are the pics of the trailer plugged into truck to show which lights are working and which aren't.IMG952478.jpg,IMG954545.jpg. These last two are pics of the lights after my friend's husband was able to snap them off. Looks they are rotted out on the inside. Hopefully this is our only problem and it will only require new lights! Shouldn't General RV have noticed this? I can't imagine they wouldve corroded over night like this.....
Posted 2013-05-20 1:35 PM (#152169 - in reply to #152150) Subject: RE: electrical problem or just burnt out bulb?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
General RV would have looked at whatever they were told to look at. There might be a communication issue between you and the service writer, or between the writer and the tech. But the mechanic gets paid for what he fixes, and I would think would just as soon fix yours as somebody elses.
I have seen some RV shops that don't much cotton to horse trailers. So that might not have gotten things on the right foot either. Some of their mechanics look down their nose on horse trailers.
Posted 2013-05-20 2:00 PM (#152170 - in reply to #152150) Subject: RE: electrical problem or just burnt out bulb?
Member
Posts: 15
Location: Michigan
I brought it in for a safety check and spring maintenance and specifically told them to make sure everything was in safe working order (electric, lighting, floors, breakaway battery, brakes, bearings, etc). They did tell me it needed new tires and I took it to discount tire right after I picked it up from General RV. General RV's website says they work on horse trailers. Either way, I will be finding somewhere else for repairs from now on. I wasn't thrilled with their customer service. My bill states "tech checked frame and decking, battery and breakaway all work and tested good." Says nothing about lights or electric. When I called them after I had running lights not working the service manager told me, "Yeah, the tech checked the lights, I just asked him, they worked fine when the trailer was here." Since neither of us has proof on paper I don't know if I have a valid complaint or not or if I should ask for a partial refund? When I picked it up I was in a huge rush and only checked my tail lights and blinkers like I always do but since it was daytime I didn't haul with the lights on and therefore didn't realize the problem until I was hauling in the dark. Lesson learned! It just makes me leary because I wonder how thoroughly (or not) the trailer really was checked over. I'm at a disadvantage as a young single woman when it comes to this kind of thing!
Posted 2013-05-20 6:36 PM (#152177 - in reply to #152150) Subject: RE: electrical problem or just burnt out bulb?
Expert
Posts: 2955 Location: North Carolina
I have 2000 Sundowner. Likely you have the same lights as mine. The bulbs are replaced as a sealed unit with the colored lens. They just pop out if you release the tab on one end. The narrow lights at the roof are standard truck parts. The chunky lights on the fenders are a special part specific to Sundowner. The contact pins are located off center unlike the standard lights. Call Sundowner customer service or a nearby dealer for them.
electrical problem or just burnt out bulb?
