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DawnandBill's avatar
DawnandBill
Explorer
Aug 14, 2022

Tail Lights will not turn off

Hi. The tail lights on our 2001 Windsport will not turn off unless the chassis battery is switched off (the headlights, running lights and brake lights do go off).
While camping recently we experienced this problem. When we started our troubleshooting, we began by switching the light switch on and off a couple of times (tail lights stayed on).
We then removed one red lens on the tail lights and they all turned off. Maybe it's a coincidence, not sure.
Any ideas would be very helpful. Thank you!
  • Were there any modifications made to the motorhome just before this happened? I would definitely start at the taillight that lets the lights turn off when removed. Maybe wiggle the wires around and see if the lights come on and off. Do the lights go off if you remove the taillight from the coach but leave the wires connected?
  • your last sentence says something? sounds like a short a wire touching inside the connector. might wiggle the plug ,a place to start.
  • I will assume Ford Class A chassis. With the Headlight switch OFF, there should be NO POWER(12 volts) to the Rear Tailights at all. But, you DO have power. I would(if at my shop) and I could duplicate the problem, disconnect the Headlight Harness from the Dash Headlight switch and see if the lights go OUT. If so, I would then replace the Headlight switch. If they stayed ON, I would then go to the various Relays in both Chassis fuse blocks that control the various electrical wiring and remove the relays one at a time to see if the lights go out. If you are NOT the original owner, then I would check the 7 way tow plug and see if somebody has altered the wiring or added something. Doug
  • Do you have a charge line in the trailer plug? I would bet there is a bad ground forcing power thru the light.
  • Any chance the spring has gone lazy and its actually the brake lights?
    Easy enough to take a look and see if the brake switch is being touched.

    I'm thinking more along the lines as the others have said though, bad ground back feeding through the lights.

    Brake light is the easiest to check.
  • Bruce Brown wrote:
    Any chance the spring has gone lazy and its actually the brake lights?
    Easy enough to take a look and see if the brake switch is being touched.

    I'm thinking more along the lines as the others have said though, bad ground back feeding through the lights.

    Brake light is the easiest to check.


    BINGO. That would be the reason they stay on when key is off. Doug